Asia-Pacific · Sourcing guide
Sourcing chairs from China to Cambodia
Shipping chairs from China to Cambodia is a 7–14 day ocean move into Sihanoukville or Phnom Penh (river) — and the freight is usually the easy part. The numbers below cover the lane, the landed-cost math and what tends to surprise buyers.
Phnom Penh's construction growth has created steady demand for office and contract furniture, and Chinese suppliers already dominate the import market. Sihanoukville port is expanding capacity through new terminal phases, which should improve vessel frequency over the coming years. Both the ACFTA and the bilateral China–Cambodia FTA put most seating at 0% duty — the 10% VAT at import is essentially your only fiscal variable. Some assembly operations have set up in Cambodia specifically for origin diversification on US-bound shipments; that context shapes who your local buyers may actually be.
The market, briefly
Cambodia's import market is small but growing with construction in Phnom Penh; Chinese suppliers dominate. Sihanoukville port capacity is expanding with new terminal phases. Some furniture assembly has migrated here for origin diversification.
Landed cost: how to run the numbers
The full bill for Cambodia stacks up as FOB + ocean freight and surcharges + duty + VAT/GST + port/clearance fees + the final inland leg. Buyers who budget only FOB and headline freight get caught the same way every time: on budget seating the remainder typically adds another 20–40% to the invoice.
A worked example (estimate)
Take a concrete load: 300 knock-down task chairs at $30 FOB fill a 40HC and put $9,000 on the invoice. At the 2026-H1 band midpoint of $1,500, the ocean leg alone is roughly $5 a chair — and that is before anyone has charged you duty, local taxes, terminal fees or the truck. Re-run the figures at the top of the band too; swings of that size are routine on this lane. Treat all of it as illustration, not a quote.
For the underlying method, start with sea-freight budgeting, then Incoterms for chair buyers — and use container math when you plan the load.
Frequently asked
How long does shipping take from China to Cambodia?
Typical liner schedules into Sihanoukville/Phnom Penh (river) run 7–14 days port-to-port. Feeder via Singapore/Cai Mep into Sihanoukville; barge service up the Mekong to Phnom Penh. Add booking lead time, origin handling and customs clearance on both ends.
What does a 40ft container of chairs cost to ship to Cambodia?
As of 2026-H1, published spot ranges for the lane sit roughly between $700 and $2,200 for a 40ft/40HC — an estimate from public rate indices, not a quote. Surcharges, peak-season fees and inland legs come on top.
What import duty applies to chairs in Cambodia?
ACFTA and the China–Cambodia FTA put most Chinese-origin seating at 0% duty; 10% VAT at import. MFN rates otherwise run to ~15%. 10% VAT.
Which port should I route chairs through for Cambodia?
Sihanoukville, Phnom Penh (river) are the usual gateways. Your forwarder's local coverage matters more than the port itself.
All freight, transit, duty and tax figures are generic planning estimates compiled by the editorial desk, marked as-of 2026-H1. Tariffs and VAT change frequently; always verify current rates with your freight forwarder and a licensed customs broker before quoting or committing. Rates as of 2026-H1.