REAL SHIPPING CASE STUDY

Shipping Furniture from Shenzhen to Switzerland: Sea Freight Case Study

This case study explains how we arranged shipping furniture from Shenzhen to Switzerland for a mixed furniture order, including sofa, table, chair, sun lounger and round coffee table.

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Furniture shipment packed in wooden crates and loaded onto a truck for sea freight from Shenzhen to Switzerland.

ORIGIN

Shenzhen, China

Destination

Switzerland

Method

Sea Freight

CARGO

Furniture

SHIPMENT OVERVIEW

Case Summary

This shipment involved 10 pieces of furniture exported from Shenzhen, China to Switzerland. The cargo included indoor and outdoor furniture items, so the main focus was export packaging, accurate HS codes, customs clearance and final delivery coordination.

Why DDP Sea Freight?

Sea freight was the best option for this furniture shipment because the cargo was bulky and not urgent. It helped reduce shipping cost compared with air freight or express delivery.

Route

Shenzhen → Switzerland

Mode

Sea Freight

Cargo

Furniturea

ItemDetails
OriginShenzhen, China
DestinationSwitzerland
Shipping MethodSea Freight
Cargo TypeFurniture
ProductsSofa, table, chair, sun lounger, round coffee table
Quantity10 pieces
Gross Weight1,492 KG
Cargo Volume9.2 CBM
HS Codes9401719000, 9403200000

CLIENT NEEDS

Client Requirement & Shipping Challenge

The client needed to ship a mixed furniture order from Shenzhen to Switzerland. Before booking the shipment, we had to confirm the cargo details, verify quantities, check the HS codes and review the commercial invoice and packing list.

Client Requirements

  • Confirm product names and quantities
  • Verify gross weight and cargo volume
  • Check invoice, packing list and HS codes
  • Arrange export clearance and delivery support

Operational Focus

  • Use strong export packaging
  • Mixed products used different HS codes
  • Cargo volume affected shipping cost
  • Prepare for Swiss customs and VAT

SOLUTION

Recommended Shipping Solution

For this shipment, we recommended sea freight instead of air freight. The cargo volume was 9.2 CBM, and the furniture was not urgent. Sea freight offered a better balance between cost and transit time.

Cargo Review

We first reviewed all cargo details, including product names, HS codes, package quantity, gross weight and cargo volume. This helped reduce the risk of customs clearance delays.

Packaging Check

The furniture was protected with wooden frames and wrapping. Strong export packaging helped reduce the risk of scratches, pressure damage and moisture during handling and sea freight.

Sea Freight Booking

Sea freight was arranged for the 9.2 CBM shipment. This option was more cost effective than air freight and suitable for bulky furniture cargo.

Service Note: For furniture shipments, use strong export packaging, confirm accurate HS codes, and check cargo volume before booking. These details help control shipping cost and avoid customs clearance delays.

CARGO HANDLING

Real Cargo Photos

The furniture was checked and staged outside the warehouse before pickup. Each item was packed in a wooden frame to keep the cargo protected during local handling.

Furniture shipment packed in wooden crates before export from Shenzhen to Switzerland.

After pickup, the furniture was loaded onto the truck and arranged by size and weight. The wooden crates helped keep the cargo stable during transfer to the export warehouse.

This large sofa was packed separately with a wooden frame and protective wrapping. For bulky furniture, strong packaging is important before long-distance sea freight.

Large sofa packed in a wooden crate for sea freight shipping from Shenzhen to Switzerland.

PROCESS

Shipping Process from Shenzhen to Switzerland

The shipment followed six coordinated stages from cargo confirmation to final delivery in Switzerland.

1. Confirm Cargo Details

We confirmed the furniture list, quantity, gross weight, cargo volume and HS codes before booking.

2. Arrange Warehouse Delivery

The supplier delivered the furniture to our Shenzhen warehouse. After receiving the cargo, the warehouse team checked the outer packaging and verified quantities.

3. Prepare Export Documents

We checked the commercial invoice, packing list and HS codes before export clearance from China.

4. Arrange Sea Freight

The cargo was shipped by sea freight from China to Europe. For shipping to Switzerland, cargo usually arrives at a European entry port before inland transport to the final delivery address.

5. Swiss Customs Clearance

Switzerland is not part of the EU, so imports follow Swiss customs procedures. Swiss customs may check HS codes, invoices, cargo details, customs duties and VAT payment information.

6. Final Delivery

After customs clearance, the furniture was arranged for final delivery to the consignee in Switzerland.

TRANSIT TIME

Transit Time & Service Notes

Sea freight from China to Switzerland usually takes about 30–36 days, depending on sailing schedules, available capacity, port routing and inland delivery arrangements.

For urgent or high value goods, air freight is also available. Air freight to Switzerland usually takes around 4–6 days, but the cost is much higher because air shipment is charged by chargeable weight and dimensions.

Small air cargo may arrive through major airports such as Zurich Airport. However, for bulky furniture, sea freight is usually more cost effective than air transport.

If the shipment volume becomes larger in the future, full container load shipping may be considered. For smaller shipments, shared container load shipping is usually more flexible.

REFERENCE VALUE

Why This Case Matters

This case shows why furniture importers need to plan cargo details before shipment. Product names, HS codes, cargo volume, packing list, commercial invoice and delivery requirements can all affect shipping cost and customs clearance.

It also shows why sea freight is often the best option for bulky furniture. Compared with air freight, sea freight helps save cost and provides a reliable route for sofas, tables, chairs, sun loungers and other furniture products.

For importers shipping to Switzerland, working with a freight forwarder helps manage export clearance, ocean transport, Swiss customs clearance, VAT payment and final delivery more smoothly.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Sea freight is usually the best option for bulky furniture shipments. It is more cost effective than air freight and works well for sofas, tables, chairs, sun loungers and other large items.

Sea freight from China to Switzerland usually takes about 30–36 days. The final transit time depends on sailing schedules, available capacity, port routing and inland delivery.

Air freight is suitable for urgent, small or high value goods. For large furniture, air transport is usually expensive because the cost is based on chargeable weight and cargo dimensions.

Common documents include the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and HS codes. Swiss customs may also check detailed cargo descriptions, customs duties and VAT payment information.

Yes. LCL shipping is suitable when the cargo volume is not enough for a full container load. For this shipment, the cargo volume was 9.2 CBM, so shared container load shipping was a practical option.

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