Europe · Sourcing guide
Sourcing chairs from China to Greece
For a Greece-based buyer, the question is rarely whether a Chinese factory can make the chair — it is what the chair costs once it clears Piraeus. This page walks the freight, duty and timing numbers for the lane.
Piraeus is one of the fastest Asia–EU transit points on the map, sitting directly on the main East-West strings and offering some of the shortest sailing times into Southern Europe — 24–40 days is achievable. The port also handles substantial transshipment into the Balkans and Black Sea, giving it scale and frequency that smaller Mediterranean ports lack. Domestically, the hotel and taverna refurbishment cycle drives consistent demand for outdoor, stacking and banquet seating; buyers here know what they want and price-sensitivity is real. EU duty on most seating lines is negligible.
The market, briefly
Greece's hotel and taverna refurbishment cycle drives strong seasonal demand for outdoor and stacking chairs. Piraeus offers some of the fastest Asia–EU transit thanks to direct Med calls. The port also transships heavily into the Balkans and Black Sea.
Landed cost: how to run the numbers
Landed cost for Greece = FOB price + ocean freight (plus surcharges) + duty + VAT/GST + port and clearance fees + the inland leg. The mistake we see most is budgeting the FOB and the headline freight and nothing else — on budget seating the "everything else" routinely adds 20–40% to the invoice price.
A worked example (estimate)
Say you load a 40HC with 300 KD task chairs at $30 FOB — a $9,000 order. Using the midpoint of the 2026-H1 spot band ($3,400), ocean freight alone adds about $11 per chair before duty, VAT/GST, port fees and inland haulage. Run the same math at the top of the band before you budget: rate swings of this size are normal, not exceptional. Figures are illustrative — get live quotes.
Two guides cover the mechanics in depth: sea-freight budgeting and Incoterms for chair buyers. For load planning, see container math.
Frequently asked
How long does shipping take from China to Greece?
Typical liner schedules into Piraeus/Thessaloniki run 24–40 days port-to-port. Piraeus is a COSCO-operated hub with direct Asia–Med calls. Add booking lead time, origin handling and customs clearance on both ends.
What does a 40ft container of chairs cost to ship to Greece?
As of 2026-H1, published spot ranges for the lane sit roughly between $1,900 and $4,800 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 Greece?
EU tariff on most HS9401 seating is 0% (up to ~2.7% on some lines); Greek import VAT due at entry. Verify with your customs broker. 24% standard VAT.
Which port should I route chairs through for Greece?
Piraeus, Thessaloniki 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.