Shipping from China to Kutaisi
China → Kutaisi · via KUT air / Poti sea · clearance by Georgian Revenue Service
Freight from China into Kutaisi clears through KUT air / Poti sea. Kutaisi is western industrial city and free zone, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
On the destination side, Georgian Revenue Service handles clearance; budget 2–6 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
Routing and transit on this lane
Georgia has had a free trade agreement with China since 2018 — the only one in the Caucasus — so most goods enter duty-free with a valid certificate of origin, leaving only 18% VAT. Poti and Batumi also serve as the Black Sea end of the Middle Corridor for cargo continuing to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Central Asia.
| Air gateways used | TBS (Tbilisi), BUS (Batumi) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 3–5 business days |
| Sea gateways used | Poti, Batumi, Anaklia (under development) |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 25–35 calendar days via Suez to the Black Sea |
| Gateway serving Kutaisi | KUT air / Poti sea |
| Inland leg to Kutaisi | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 2–6 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Import duty and tax position for Kutaisi
Imports into Georgia are cleared by Georgian Revenue Service. The headline position is: VAT 18%; customs duty of 0%, 5% or 12% only — and 0% on most goods under the China–Georgia free trade agreement. The de-minimis threshold is GEL 300 for personal parcels.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: Technical regulation conformity for regulated goods; certificate of origin to claim FTA preference. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Georgia: The FTA preference requires a correctly issued certificate of origin; without it the standard 0/5/12% tariff applies. Black Sea sailing schedules can be affected by regional shipping conditions.
Air, sea or overland into Kutaisi?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Air Freight | 3–5 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| 🚢 Sea Freight | 25–35 calendar days via Suez to the Black Sea | volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed |
Transit shown is China departure to the Georgia gateway and excludes the same-day inland leg to Kutaisi and 2–6 days of clearance.
Pre-shipment checklist for Kutaisi
- Plan around the China-side windows too: Chinese New Year and Golden Week both compress capacity on the Georgia lane.
- Confirm the consignee in Kutaisi can act as importer of record — Georgian Revenue Service will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: Technical regulation conformity for regulated goods; certificate of origin to claim FTA preference.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Budget for the inland leg: same-day delivery beyond gateway clearance to reach Kutaisi.
Mode guides for Kutaisi
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Kutaisi take?
China to the Georgia gateway is 3–5 business days by air, 25–35 calendar days via Suez to the Black Sea by sea. On top of that, allow 2–6 days of clearance with Georgian Revenue Service and a same-day inland leg to Kutaisi.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Kutaisi?
Georgian Revenue Service applies: VAT 18%; customs duty of 0%, 5% or 12% only — and 0% on most goods under the China–Georgia free trade agreement. The de-minimis position is GEL 300 for personal parcels. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Kutaisi.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Kutaisi?
Yes. Delivery to a Kutaisi address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Georgian Revenue Service, and the same-day inland leg. Confirm whether your consignee wants the goods at a warehouse, a marketplace fulfillment center or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.
When is the busiest time on the China–Georgia lane?
Space and rates tighten around Sep–Nov, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year in January or February and Golden Week in early October. Book one to two weeks earlier in those periods.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Kutaisi?
Yes. Battery cargo by air follows IATA PI 965–970 depending on how the cells are packed, and moves on certified channels via TBS (Tbilisi), BUS (Batumi). Surcharges apply and the declaration has to be made before booking.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Kutaisi?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight — length × width × height in centimeters divided by 6000 for air — and bill the greater of the two, rounded up to the next kilogram. Light, bulky cargo is almost always billed on volume.
Other delivery cities in Georgia
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Georgia change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your own HS code with Georgian Revenue Service or your broker before you ship.
- Georgian Revenue Service
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IPPC — ISPM 15 wood packaging standard
- WCO — Harmonized System nomenclature
- IMO — IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
Page data last reviewed: November 2026.
Shipping by industry
This page covers the route and clearance picture for the destination. Packing, classification and the compliance step that actually holds a shipment depend on what you are sending — these guides cover that by commodity.
- Inflatable Products Toys, Sports, Outdoor & Leisure
- Bolts Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Industrial Boilers General Machinery & Industrial Equipment
- Building Materials Building Materials & Construction Products
- Plumbing Products Building Materials & Construction Products
- Engineering Plastics Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Home Furniture Furniture & Home Products
- Garden Products Furniture & Home Products
- Illuminated Signs Retail, Display & Commercial Fixtures
- Metal Products Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Storage Tanks Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Transformers New Energy, Power & Electrical
Checking the Georgia duty position yourself
Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by Georgian Revenue Service against your declared HS code at the time of entry; where the amount is material, verify the current rate through ITC Market Access Map before committing to an order.
Most landed-cost surprises trace back to classification rather than freight. the WCO Harmonized System defines the heading structure every customs administration builds on, and ITC Market Access Map will show you the duty a given heading attracts in this destination.
For ocean cargo, restricted commodities move under the IMO's IMDG Code, and the container has to be declared and stowed accordingly. Batteries, flammables and corrosives all have a compliant ocean path; what causes rolled bookings is finding out about them after the container is packed.
Watch: the process behind this route
This guide covers routing and clearance for Kutaisi. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.
The Customs Clearance Process: A Comprehensive Guide — ShipERP by ERP Integrated Solutions. Published on YouTube by a third party; we link it because it explains the process well, not because we produced it or endorse the provider.
Customs clearance in Georgia
Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border — plus who files the entry.
Georgia clearance requirements →