Shipping from China to the EU: Duties, VAT and Battery Rules

We ship every order directly from China. This means your power station crosses a customs border and travels as dangerous goods. This guide explains what happens on the way, which taxes apply, how our DAP and DDP delivery terms differ, and what the EU's battery and electronics rules mean for you as a customer. The binding details for your order are always in your quote and in our shipping information.

How long delivery takes

The usual delivery time is 10–25 business days from payment. The journey has several stages:

Preparation and export clearance in China. The goods are packed for dangerous goods transport, labelled and declared for export.
Main transport. Depending on the destination, size and battery capacity, goods travel by air, rail, sea or road freight with a carrier approved for lithium batteries. Very large, heavy units often go by sea or rail and take longer; the quote says so.
Import clearance in the EU. Customs checks the declaration, and import VAT and any customs duty are paid.
Last-mile delivery by a carrier that accepts lithium batteries.

Public holidays, peak seasons and customs inspections can add a few days. You receive a tracking number by email as soon as the shipment leaves.

Import VAT: always due

Since July 2021, import VAT is due on every commercial shipment into the EU, whatever its value. It is charged at the standard rate of the destination country, for example 19 % in Germany, 20 % in France, 21 % in the Netherlands and Spain, and 22 % in Italy. It is calculated on the value of the goods plus the transport costs to the EU and any customs duty.

Our website prices do not include import VAT, because the amount depends on your country and on the delivery terms. Your quote shows the total you pay.

Customs duty

Customs duty depends on the tariff classification of each product. For lithium-ion battery products it is typically a low single-digit percentage of the customs value, and some products, such as many solar modules, are duty-free. The exact rate is determined at import.

The €150 limit and what changed in 2026

For many years, consignments with a value of up to €150 were exempt from customs duty. Since 1 July 2026, this exemption no longer exists (Council Regulation (EU) 2026/382). As a transitional measure until 1 July 2028, a flat customs duty of €3 for each different type of item (counted by tariff sub-heading) applies to such low-value e-commerce consignments, in particular those declared under the Import One-Stop Shop. After that, the EU plans to apply the normal customs tariffs to all goods, through a new central customs data system.

For power stations, this change makes little difference: they are almost always worth more than €150, so normal customs duty rates have always applied to them. It mainly affects small accessories such as cables or adapters ordered on their own.

IOSS: only up to €150

The Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) lets sellers charge EU VAT at checkout for consignments worth up to €150, so the buyer pays nothing on delivery. Because most of our products exceed this value, IOSS does not apply to them. Import VAT is paid at import instead, either by us (DDP) or by you (DAP).

DAP or DDP: who pays the import charges?

Every quote states one of two delivery terms (Incoterms®):

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). We pay import VAT and customs duty. They are included in the total of your quote, and you pay nothing more when the parcel arrives. This is the simplest option for most private buyers.
DAP (Delivered At Place). We pay transport to your address, but import VAT, customs duty and the carrier's clearance fee are paid by you, usually before or at delivery. The carrier contacts you with the amount. The quote includes an estimate.

Businesses often prefer DAP because they act as the importer and can usually deduct the import VAT as input tax under their national VAT rules. They need an EORI number for this. Countries outside the EU, such as the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Norway, have their own rules; if we deliver there, the quote explains the charges.

Lithium batteries travel as dangerous goods

Power stations and extra batteries contain lithium-ion batteries, which are classified as Class 9 dangerous goods in international transport:

UN3480 covers lithium-ion batteries shipped on their own, such as extra batteries.
UN3481 covers lithium-ion batteries contained in or packed with equipment, such as a power station.

For you, this means:

Only carriers and forwarders approved for dangerous goods may transport these products. Many standard parcel services do not accept large lithium batteries, which is one reason why shipping is quoted individually.
Parcels carry Class 9 lithium battery labels. This is required by law and does not mean anything is wrong.
Air transport rules limit the state of charge of lithium-ion batteries shipped on their own or packed with equipment to 30 % or less, and carriers often apply similar limits to batteries inside equipment. Your station may arrive partly charged. Charge it fully before first use.
Returns are also dangerous goods shipments, which makes them more expensive than an ordinary parcel. Our returns policy explains the process.

EU battery rules: what they mean for you

The EU Battery Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1542) applies to all batteries sold in the EU, including those built into power stations. For customers, the most relevant points are:

Collection and recycling. Batteries must not go into household waste. The crossed-out wheeled bin symbol on the product or packaging is a reminder of this. Return old batteries to a collection point or to a seller who takes them back. Our battery and WEEE disposal page explains your free return options, including how to return old batteries to us.
Producer responsibility. Since 18 August 2025, producers, including sellers who ship batteries to consumers from outside a country, must register in each EU country where they sell batteries and finance their collection and recycling, usually through an authorised representative and a producer responsibility organisation.
More information on the battery. The regulation is introducing new labelling requirements step by step, including information on capacity and chemistry and, later, a QR code. Larger batteries will also need a digital battery passport.
CE marking. Batteries placed on the EU market must carry the CE marking, showing that the manufacturer declares conformity with EU requirements.

Electrical equipment: WEEE

A power station is also electrical and electronic equipment. Under the EU WEEE rules, old devices must be collected separately. In most countries you can hand them in free of charge at municipal recycling centres, and many retailers must take back old devices. Hand in removable batteries separately; the battery built into a power station stays in the device, so do not open it. Before handing in a connected device, delete any personal data stored on it. Details, including our own take-back, are on our disposal page.

What our quote tells you

Before you pay, your quote shows:

the price of the goods and the shipping costs;
whether delivery is DAP or DDP, and an estimate of import charges for DAP;
the estimated delivery time;
the estimated maximum cost of returning the goods if you withdraw from the purchase.

This way you know the full cost before you commit. If anything is unclear, ask us before paying. Our terms and conditions explain how the quote and payment form the contract.

Summary

Shipping from China to Europe takes about 10–25 business days. Import VAT is always due, and IOSS only covers consignments up to €150, so for a power station you either receive a DDP quote with all import charges included or pay them yourself on a DAP delivery. Lithium batteries travel as Class 9 dangerous goods, which shapes both delivery and returns. EU battery and WEEE rules make sure that old batteries and devices are collected and recycled. If you would like to compare chemistries before you order, read our guide LiFePO4 vs NMC.