Sea Freight from China to Colombo
China → Colombo · via CMB air / Colombo sea · clearance by Sri Lanka Customs
We move sea freight cargo from South China into Colombo through CMB air / Colombo sea. Colombo is commercial capital and the single main gateway, which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.
On the destination side, Sri Lanka Customs handles clearance; budget 3–7 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
Routing and transit on this lane
Colombo is one of the best-connected transshipment ports in the Indian Ocean, so direct South China sailings are frequent and reliable. Import control licensing has been used repeatedly as a foreign-exchange management tool, so the restricted list should be checked at the time of booking rather than assumed.
| Sea gateways used | Colombo, Hambantota, Trincomalee |
|---|---|
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 10–16 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Colombo | CMB air / Colombo sea |
| Inland leg to Colombo | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 3–7 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Duty, tax and clearance into Colombo
Imports into Sri Lanka are cleared by Sri Lanka Customs. The headline position is: VAT 18%; customs duty plus PAL (ports and airports levy) 10% and CESS on selected goods. The de-minimis threshold is No practical de-minimis.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: SLSI conformity for regulated goods; import control license for restricted categories. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Sri Lanka: Import control licenses apply to a shifting list of non-essential goods. CESS and PAL can add materially to the landed cost on consumer items. Confirm the current license position for your HS code before shipping.
Before you book: Colombo checklist
- Put the Colombo delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Confirm the consignee in Colombo can act as importer of record — Sri Lanka Customs will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Colombo take?
China to the Sri Lanka gateway is 10–16 calendar days. On top of that, allow 3–7 days of clearance with Sri Lanka Customs and a same-day inland leg to Colombo.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Colombo?
Sri Lanka Customs applies: VAT 18%; customs duty plus PAL (ports and airports levy) 10% and CESS on selected goods. The de-minimis position is No practical de-minimis. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Colombo.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Colombo?
Yes. Delivery to a Colombo address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Sri Lanka Customs, 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–Sri Lanka 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.
What documents does Sri Lanka Customs require?
A commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where it lowers duty, and any product certification (SLSI conformity for regulated goods; import control license for restricted categories). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Colombo?
Yes. Battery cargo by sea moves under UN3480/UN3481 with an MSDS, and the dangerous-goods documentation is prepared as part of the booking into Colombo, Hambantota, Trincomalee. Surcharges apply and space is more limited than for general cargo.
Other delivery cities in Sri Lanka
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka Customs or your broker before you ship.
- Sri Lanka Customs
- 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.
- Fabric Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather
- Salon Furniture Beauty, Personal Care & Wellness
- Sheet Metal Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Compressors General Machinery & Industrial Equipment
- Electrical Cabinets New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Flooring Building Materials & Construction Products
- Plastic Products Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Ceramic Tableware Glass & Ceramic Products
- Tableware Furniture & Home Products
- Display Stands Retail, Display & Commercial Fixtures
- Umbrellas Consumer Goods & Gifts
- Bearings Metal Products & Industrial Components
Checking the Sri Lanka duty position yourself
Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by Sri Lanka Customs 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.
If you want to sanity-check a duty figure yourself, start from the heading rather than the product name — the WCO Harmonized System is the underlying nomenclature, and the WTO Tariff & Trade Data portal holds the applied rates by country pair.
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.
On the origin side, export declaration and any commodity inspection requirement fall under China Customs (GACC); we handle that filing as part of the service, but the requirement is theirs, not ours.
If this is your first shipment into Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Country Commercial Guide covers the practical import environment in more depth than a rate page reasonably can, and it is written by a party with no stake in your booking.
Watch: the process behind this route
This guide covers routing and clearance for Colombo. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.
Marine Insurance Explained - Understand the Cargo Insurance You're Getting — ABTS®. 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 Sri Lanka
Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border — plus who files the entry.
Sri Lanka clearance requirements →