chinpost Your production line is down because of one 30 kg part. A product sample has to be shown to a customer next week. You have refrigerated medicine close to its expiry date. In all three cases, a 40-day ship is no answer — this is where air freight from China comes in: 3 to 7 days, from the origin airport in China to Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran.
But air is expensive and has its own rules: the price is charged on “chargeable weight”, not the weight the scale shows; the rate differs from one Chinese city to another; and one packing mistake can double the bill. In this guide you will learn the logic of rate-setting, the volumetric-weight formula with examples, and exactly which cargo is worth sending by air — and which is not.
Air rates change weekly — sometimes daily — so you will not find a fixed rate table in this guide. Instead you will learn the pricing logic, and you can get the live per-kilo rate for your cargo on ChinPost’s WhatsApp (answered in under half an hour).
See ChinPost’s real base air rates and clearance costs with figures in our shipping cost guide from China to Iran; the air freight service itself is described on the air freight service page.
Per-Kilo Rates — The Pricing Logic (Not a Fixed Table)
The air rate depends on these factors and changes week to week:
- Origin city: each origin’s rate depends on the flight schedule, capacity, cargo type and inland transport cost — no city is “always” the cheapest.
- Inland transport in China: if the cargo first has to travel overland to a main hub (Guangzhou/Shenzhen), that cost is added to the rate; cargo from Yiwu or Hong Kong therefore usually ends up pricier.
- Heavier weights get discounts: tariffs are tiered — the rate for 500 kg and above is not the same as for 100 kg. For shipments above one tonne, always get a dedicated rate.
- Capacity is limited: flights on the Shenzhen–Guangzhou route currently operate 5 days a week and China has not cut any flight; even so, each flight’s capacity is limited and cargo heavier than 1,000 kg in peak season may be split across several flights — factor that into your timing.
Get the live per-kilo rate on ChinPost’s WhatsApp — send the origin, weight and cargo type and receive the rate of the day with its validity period.
A teaching example (figures are hypothetical): suppose the rate is 38 CNY per kilo; 200 kg of electronic parts comes to 200 × 38 = 7,600 CNY base freight (≈ $1,133 at the rate of the day). Then add: air clearance, customs duties and transport to the warehouse. Base freight is only part of the final bill — and this is how it is calculated.
Volumetric Weight — The Trap Many Fall Into
Calculate your cargo’s volumetric weight with the shipping cost calculator before requesting a quote, so you know the approximate price in advance.
In air cargo, the airline charges for every kilogram of “space” just as it does for every kilogram of weight. The standard formula:
Volumetric weight (kg) = Length × Width × Height (cm) ÷ 6,000 and chargeable weight = whichever is greater: actual weight or volumetric weight.
Worked example: a carton of 60×50×40 cm with an actual weight of 12 kg: volumetric weight = 60 × 50 × 40 ÷ 6,000 = 20 kg. Since 20 > 12, you pay for 20 kg — 67% more than the actual weight!
Now imagine the same goods packed tighter, in a 50×40×35 carton: volumetric weight = 50 × 40 × 35 ÷ 6,000 ≈ 11.7 kg. Now the actual weight (12 kg) governs. By optimising the packing alone, the freight drops by about 40%.
Practical lesson: before the packing is finalised, get the carton dimensions from the supplier and calculate the volumetric weight yourself. Many suppliers, without realising it, cost you money with a carton bigger than needed.
Which Cargo Is Worth Sending by Air? (And Which Is Not)
Air is right for:
- High-value, light goods: phones and parts, chips, watches, gold and jewellery — where the freight is negligible against the value of the goods
- Urgencies: a stopped production line, a delivery commitment to a customer, a trade fair coming up
- Samples: 5 to 50 kg to check quality before the main order
- Perishable and sensitive goods: medicine, special foodstuffs, flowers
- Documents and small critical items
And it is not worth it for:
- Heavy, low-value cargo (for example 2 tonnes of fittings) — sea freight costs a fraction of the price
- Goods with air restrictions: lithium batteries without standard testing and packing, certain chemicals, pressurised liquids — these carry separate and expensive formalities
- When you are not in a hurry and your profit margin is thin
Rule of thumb: if the air freight exceeds 15–20% of the goods’ value, think again — unless the “opportunity cost” of delay (a stopped line, a late-delivery penalty) is greater.
Prohibited and Restricted Goods in Air Cargo
Check this list before counting on air — cargo turned back at the origin airport costs both money and time:
- Prohibited: explosives, pressurised gases without a permit, radioactive materials, some toxic chemicals
- Restricted (under standard conditions): lithium batteries (passing the UN38.3 test — a testing standard, not a permit — plus labelling and packing under IATA regulations), perfumes and pressurised sprays, cosmetics containing alcohol, power banks
- Needing advance notice: refrigerated goods (limited capacity), live animals, high-value works of art
Field note: many Chinese suppliers do not know their goods are “air-restricted” and hand them to the forwarder as ordinary cargo; the cargo then sits in the airport warehouse until a permit is arranged. If your goods contain a battery, spray, liquid or chemical, tell the forwarder from the start so the right route (and the real cost) is quoted.
Imam Khomeini Airport — Where Air Cargo Is Cleared
Most China–Iran air cargo is unloaded and cleared at Imam Khomeini International Airport, Tehran. The process:
- Arrival notice: when the cargo arrives, the forwarder/airline issues a Warehouse Receipt
- Documents: invoice, packing list, air waybill (AWB), commercial card, goods-specific permits
- Declaration in the customs EPL system and payment of import duties and tax
- Clearance and delivery: usually 2 to 5 working days if the documents are complete (varies by cargo type and documents)
Field note: air clearance is faster than sea, but the airport warehouse storage charge per day is higher. Prepare the documents before the cargo arrives; every day of delay in the airport warehouse is money.
Air, Sea or Rail? A One-Look Comparison
| Criterion | Air | Sea | Rail (Sarakhs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 3 to 7 days (air leg) | 30 to 45 days | About 12 to 16 days in transit; door-to-door longer |
| Relative cost | High | Low (far cheaper than air) | Medium |
| Best for | Urgent, light, high-value | Bulky, heavy, not rushed | The middle ground |
| Limitation | Weight/volume, dangerous goods | Time | Capacity and weekly schedule |
Many professional importers work “combined”: 80% of the cargo by ship, 20% urgent by air. That way neither the production line stops nor the whole profit margin goes to freight.
6 Tricks to Cut Air Freight Cost
1. Engineer the packing
Calculate the volumetric weight yourself and pack the carton tight.
2. Consolidate shipments
Combine several small shipments into one to reach a weight-discount tier.
3. Choose the origin smartly
The hub nearest the supplier means less inland transport.
4. Ship outside peak season
Peak capacity is limited and rates are higher.
5. Ask about charters and indirect flights
Sometimes an indirect flight with one stop is far cheaper.
6. Do not forget insurance
Air cargo carries risk too; take cargo insurance seriously.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum weight for air freight? There is no hard limit; from a few kilos (samples) to several tonnes. But below about 45 kg, express/postal tariffs (such as DHL) sometimes compete with ordinary cargo — compare them.
Can lithium batteries be sent by air? Only with the UN38.3 test passed, packing and labelling under IATA regulations, and the airline’s acceptance — and usually at an extra cost and with limited airlines. Without these conditions, the cargo may be rejected, held or returned at the origin airport.
Does the air freight include clearance in Iran? No, except under a DDP contract. The base freight is only “airport to airport”; clearance, duties and inland transport are separate.
How do I know whether my cargo is worth air or sea? Put the goods’ value, the urgency, and the freight-to-value ratio side by side. If in doubt, get quotes for both — five minutes of time can prevent a decision worth thousands of dollars.
Who calculates the volumetric weight? The airline/forwarder at origin, based on the cartons’ actual dimensions. But calculate it yourself beforehand so you are not caught by surprise.
Can air cargo be sent to cities other than Tehran? Yes; the cargo is usually cleared at Imam Khomeini Airport and then travels overland to Mashhad, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz and beyond. The rates quoted for these cities (slightly higher than Tehran) are the same combination of air freight + inland transport.
ChinPost With You
ChinPost manages your air cargo from China’s main cities (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing) to Imam Khomeini Airport: space booking at the best rate of the day, cargo consolidation in the China warehouse, air waybill issuance, insurance and fast clearance from the airport customs. For a live per-kilo rate, message ChinPost on WhatsApp.
Inland transport in Iran? Ask for a quote and compare — ChinPost quotes the inland leg together with the air freight.
Last updated: November 2026
Related guides: Shipping Cost from China to Iran · Customs Clearance from China to Iran · DDP Shipping from China to Iran · Persian original: حمل هوایی از چین به ایران
