China is Ireland’s largest Asian trade partner: bilateral trade reached €8 billion in 2011, €5.1 billion of which was in goods. Products exported from Ireland to China include chemicals, pharmaceuticals, office machinery and software. HSBC projects that Ireland’s exports to China will grow by 11 per cent a year from 2016 to 2030, at which point China is expected to be Ireland’s fourth biggest trading partner.
Sources: Enterprise Ireland, GOV.UK, Irish Exporters, McKinsey Global Institute
For more detailed information when trading with China, download our China Fact Sheet.
Locations: 495
Gateways into the Country: 10
Number of Service Centres: 131
DHL Delivery Zone: 8
Vehicle Fleet: 1819
| China: Country Profile | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital: | Beijing | EXPORTS FROM CHINA | |
| Population: | 1.3 billion | Exports from China: |
US$ 1.971 trillion (2012 est.) |
| Area: | 9,596,961 sq km | Export Commodities: | Electrical and other machinery, including data processing equipment, apparel, radio telephone handsets, textiles, integrated circuits. |
| Currency: | 1 yuan/renminbi (CNY) = 10 jiao = 100 fen | Top Export Destinations: | USA, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, India, UK, Hong Kong |
| GDP: | US$ 12.26 trillion (2012 est.) | IMPORTS INTO CHINA | |
| Time Zones: | UTC +8; no summertime observed | Imports into China: |
US$ 1.653 trillion (2012 est.) |
| Languages: | Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages | Import Commodities: | Electrical and other machinery, oil and mineral fuels, optical and medical equipment, metal ores, motor vehicles. |
| Ethnic Groups: | Han Chinese 91.5%, Zhuang, Manchu, Hui, Miao, Uighur, Tujia, Yi, Mongol, Tibetan, Buyi, Dong, Yao, Korean, other nationalities 8.5% | Top Import Origins: | Germany, USA, Hong Kong, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Singapore. |
| Transit Times | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| The times provided for dutiable shipments are based on the time expected for Customs in China to clear the shipment. This is contingent upon the value of the shipment. |
Destination | Non-Dutiable Shipment | Dutiable Shipment |
| Beijing | 3 days | 5 days | |
| Shanghai | 3 days | 5 days | |
| Tianjin | 4 days | 6 days | |
| Shenyang | 4 days | 6 days | |
| Wuhan | 4 days | 6 days | |
DHL can assist you with trading with China. Contact the DHL Express team on 1890 725 725
DHL Customer Services is also available on 1890 725 725
CNY 50. If calculated duty/tax is under CNY 50 then the shipment is classed as duty free.
The list below is in addition to DHL’s standard list of prohibited items.
Advertising brochures or pamphlets and non-advertising booklets or brochures
Send as goods if quantity exceeds 100 items. Shipment needs to go through formal clearance.
Alcoholic beverages, cosmetics, foodstuffs, grain samples, plants and plant products and seeds
Certificate of Origin, sanitary certificate from origin country authority and import licence from CIQ required.
Animal products
Certificate of Origin, veterinary certificate from origin country authority and import licence from CIQ required.
Books (hardback or paperback) for non-commercial use and publications not for public resale
Include ‘NOT FOR SALE’ or similar mark on the publications.
CDs, diskettes & computer tapes
For computer software, clearly state the purpose of importations, e.g. commercial/research/training/company internal use. Only authorised importers holding an import licence may import audio or video products for commercial or entertainment purposes.
Communications equipment, computer components and parts, mobile phones, mobile phone accessories & components, machine and electronic parts and telecommunications equipment
Import licences from CIQ and the Ministry of Commerce may be required depending on the detail of information of the commodity.
Costume jewellery
Import licence from CIQ required.
Drugs: Prescription and non-prescription
Certificate of Origin, sanitary certificate from origin country authority and import licence from State Food & Drug Administration required.
Magazines, periodicals, journals
For commercial purposes: can only be imported by government-authorised receivers. For personal purposes: must be limited to 50 pieces or 10 sets.
Personal effects
Limited to unaccompanied baggage or commodities and gifts sent from one private individual to another within reasonable quantity for personal use.
B2C (e-shopping) shipments cannot be cleared as personal effects but will go through the general clearance process.
Value limits: Shipments to or from Hong Kong: CNY 800; shipments to or from another country: CNY 1,000. Shipments exceeding the limit cannot be cleared as personal effects, except when the shipment is a non-separate single item – Customs approval is required for this.
Personal effects: Unaccompanied baggage
Limited to shipments imported within 6 months from the entry date on passport. The passport needs to have a valid visa and entry/exit stamp by immigration. Baggage Declaration Form needs to be stamped by Border Customs. Include a full list of articles.
Personal effects: Commodities & gifts
Copy of receiver ID, item list in detail and pro forma invoice required.
Personal mail / private correspondence
Only permitted if the recipient is a foreign student, foreign tourist or chief representative with a non-Chinese passport. Must be sent as goods.
Passports
Further explanation required if quantity exceeds personal usage.
Ship spares
Can only be cleared by an authorised third-party agent in the port city in which the ship is anchored.
Medical or dental supplies & equipment, tobacco
Import licences from CIQ and the Ministry of Commerce required.
Master tapes and video cassettes for resale
Import licences from the Ministry of Culture or State Administration of Radio Film and Television required.
For x-ray machines, please contact DHL Customs Services before shipping.
