Which cargo can be assessed?
- Spare parts and production-line equipment
- Commercial samples and initial orders
- Electronics and high-value equipment
- The urgent part of a larger order
NIKCO.LOG China freight guide
Air freight from China to Iran
For urgent parts and time-sensitive orders, confirm flight routing, cargo acceptance and chargeable weight before booking.
Time-sensitive shipmentsActual and volumetric weightAirline acceptance checks
AIR FREIGHTSelection of transportation method
When cargo arrival
It is important for your business.
Air freight is worth considering when delays are costly or shipment volume is low relative to cargo value. Low weight alone is not enough: dimensions and airline acceptance also matter.
Air freight or another mode?
For bulky or heavy cargo without urgency, compare sea freight too. Sometimes the urgent part travels by air while the rest uses another mode. Decide on total cost and delivery timing.
Compare Iran–China freight modesAir-freight costs from China
The rate per kilogram
It is not complete without cargo dimensions.
Rates depend on origin, commodity, chargeable weight, capacity and service scope. When comparing quotations, ask where the service ends and which charges are included, alongside the per-kilogram rate.
Actual weight
The measured gross weight of the shipment ready for transport, including packaging.
Volumetric weight
The space occupied by the package is converted into an equivalent weight. A common formula using centimetres is length × width × height ÷ 6,000.
Chargeable weight
The greater of actual and volumetric weight is usually the initial basis for the freight charge. Confirm the divisor, rounding and minimum charge with the service.
Calculation example · 10 identical cartons
120 kg actual weight, 200 kg chargeable weight
Each carton measures 60 × 50 × 40 cm and weighs 12 kg. Total actual weight is 120 kg; with a divisor of 6,000, volumetric weight is 200 kg. The initial chargeable basis in this example is 200 kg.
Calculate your volumetric weight online ↗10 × 60 × 50 × 40 ÷ 6000200 kgShipment volumetric weight
Rate per kilogram × weight is not always the total cost.
Supplier collection, inland transport in China, warehouse and airport handling, documents, special-cargo charges, destination handling, clearance and inland delivery may be charged separately. Request written inclusions, exclusions, quotation validity and the agreed end point of the transport service.
From the seller to the agreed destination
Where does transport responsibility begin?
State the supplier's city or address and purchase Incoterm, for example FCA with the exact named place. FOB is for sea and inland waterway transport and is not suitable for describing an air-freight handover.
AIRPORT TO AIRPORT
Airport to airport
The core service runs between origin and destination airports. Factory collection, origin formalities, import clearance and inland transport may be outside the quoted scope.
DOOR TO DOOR
Door to door
may include supplier collection and final delivery. The label alone does not establish whether clearance, import duties, insurance or unloading are included. Check each quotation's scope.
What things are required to receive from the seller?
Provide the collection address, ready date, loading responsibility and final packaging details. For multiple suppliers, send these separately for each order to assess collection, consolidation and the impact of waiting for the last order.
The supplier's city is the starting point
Shipping from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai and other cities
The nearest airport is not always best. Inland cost, cargo and dimension acceptance, bookable capacity and direct or connecting routing must be considered together.
Guangzhou
An origin option for suppliers in Guangdong and surrounding areas of southern China.
Shenzhen
For collection from Shenzhen and nearby industrial areas; factory location and cargo acceptance are decisive.
Shanghai Pudong
An eastern China origin option; collection from Shanghai and nearby cities is assessed together with inland costs.
Beijing and other origins
For a supplier in another city, provide the actual address so airport and inland-transfer options can be assessed.
Listing these origins does not imply a direct flight or confirmed capacity to Iran; routing is established at enquiry.
Transport stages and lead time
Aircraft arrival
is not the end of the delivery process.
Rather than one fixed number for all shipments, request timing from cargo readiness to the agreed delivery point. Flight waiting, connections, destination handling and clearance are additional to flight duration.
- 01
Specifications and acceptance
Commodity, packaging and weight are reviewed, with missing details or special-cargo documents completed.
- 02
Collection and transfer
Cargo is collected from the supplier or handed over at the agreed point; factory distance and readiness date matter.
- 03
Origin operations
Weighing, packaging checks, documentation and origin formalities follow the agreed service scope.
- 04
Booking and flight
After booking and acceptance are confirmed, cargo travels on a direct or connecting service. Airport arrival does not mean departure the same day.
- 05
Destination operations
Arrival, unloading, documents and airport procedures are completed. Arrival time differs from the time cargo is ready for release.
- 06
Clearance and delivery
Responsibility for clearance and inland transport must be agreed from the outset; allow time for these stages separately from main carriage.
For more detailed inquiries
Prepare cargo information and documents together.
- Commodity description, package count, gross weight and final dimensions
- Collection city and address if pickup is required
- Purchase Incoterm and its named place
- Date of preparation, destination of Iran and delivery deadline
- Packing List and Commercial Invoice, if ready
- Value of goods if you need to check insurance or related services
Shipper and consignee names and package counts on the draft air waybill (AWB) must match shipment documents. Commodity permits and customs requirements depend on the goods and service scope.
Battery, liquids and chemicals
Lithium batteries, battery-powered equipment, power banks, paints, adhesives, aerosols and certain liquids may be dangerous or restricted goods. Acceptance depends on classification, quantity, packaging and airline conditions.
Assessment may require an SDS, technical specifications, UN number where applicable, packaging photos and battery details. A UN 38.3 test summary matters for applicable batteries. An SDS or any single document does not itself confirm acceptance.
Request a freight quoteImporters' questions
Before requesting an air-freight quote
What is the air-freight rate per kilogram from China?
There is no fixed rate for all shipments. Origin city, commodity, actual and volumetric weight, routing and scope all matter. Send weight, dimensions and supplier city to assess a rate with clear inclusions and exclusions.
Can I enquire without a packing list or exact weight?
For an initial assessment, send commodity, package count and approximate weight and dimensions. An estimate does not replace a final quotation based on the actual packed shipment.
What is the minimum acceptable weight?
Minimum acceptance, minimum freight and minimum billed weight depend on service and rate terms. Provide actual weight and dimensions to assess suitability.
How long does air freight from China take?
Collection city, cargo readiness, flight capacity, direct or connecting service and destination handling affect timing. Request an estimate from collection to the agreed delivery point, not just flight duration.
Do you have direct flights from Guangzhou and Shenzhen?
The airport and choice of direct or connecting service must be assessed against capacity and cargo acceptance at the time of enquiry. Listing these cities does not imply that a direct service is currently available.
Is clearance in Iran also included in the price?
Air freight and import clearance are separate stages. Responsibility for clearance, costs and inland delivery must be stated in the quotation; these services are not automatically included in 'freight from China'.
Can goods containing batteries be shipped?
Battery type, capacity, standalone or installed status, packaging and documents must be checked. Acceptance cannot be confirmed until the cargo and airline conditions have been reviewed.
Air-freight enquiry
From your cargo details
to a freight plan.
Send origin and destination cities, commodity, package weight and dimensions, and cargo ready date so route, lead time and cost can be assessed.
Details to prepare
- Collection city and final destination
- Commodity and packaging
- Package count, weight and dimensions
- Cargo ready date and delivery deadline