Shipping from South Korea to Saudi Arabia — Freight Cost & Transit Times
A standard 40ft container from Busan to Jeddah Islamic Port costs approximately US$2,400 (range $2,112–$2,760) with a total sea transit of 24 days and typical door-to-door lead time of 31–35 days including port handling and customs clearance. Saudi Arabia applies 5% customs duty and 15% VAT on imported goods.
Freight & duty summary
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| 40ft container (low–high) | $2,112 – $2,760 |
| 20ft container (low–high) | $1,373 – $1,794 |
| Origin ports | Busan |
| Destination ports | Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdulaziz Port, Jubail |
| Major carriers | HMM, Maersk, ONE |
| Customs duty | 5% |
| VAT | 15% |
| FTA benefit | Standard MFN rates apply |
Indicative General Cargo rates; refreshed monthly by DocMakTrade's trade desk.
Departure port comparison — South Korea to Saudi Arabia
| Departure port | 40ft (USD) | 20ft (USD) | Sea transit (days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Busan | $2,400 | $1,560 | 24 |
Rates differ by loading port because of terminal handling and inland positioning costs in South Korea.
Freight cost comparison — most requested lanes into Saudi Arabia
Indicative 40ft container freight into Saudi Arabia across the lanes importers request most often. The South Korea lane is highlighted, so you can see instantly whether switching origin would materially change your ocean freight line item. Figures are the mid-point of each lane's assessed range and exclude duty, VAT and destination clearance.
- India → Saudi Arabia — $1,500 per 40ft container (indicative)
- Turkey → Saudi Arabia — $1,900 per 40ft container (indicative)
- China → Saudi Arabia — $2,200 per 40ft container (indicative)
- Vietnam → Saudi Arabia — $2,300 per 40ft container (indicative)
- South Korea → Saudi Arabia — $2,400 per 40ft container (indicative)
- Italy → Saudi Arabia — $2,900 per 40ft container (indicative)
- Netherlands → Saudi Arabia — $3,038 per 40ft container (indicative)
Documents and customs for Saudi Arabia
Documents usually required
- Commercial invoice (signed, showing HS codes and Incoterm)
- Packing list with gross/net weights and package marks
- Bill of lading (original, telex release or sea waybill)
- Certificate of origin (chamber-attested where requested)
- SABER product and shipment certificates for regulated products
- SFDA approval for food, cosmetics and medical goods
Customs notes
- 5% common tariff, some categories 12–20%. 15% VAT is the highest in GCC.
- Typical customs clearance at Jeddah Islamic Port: 2–4 working days once documents are complete.
- VAT base: CIF value plus duty; settlement currency SAR.
- Trade agreements recognised by Saudi Arabia: GCC Customs Union, GAFTA.
Prepare the paperwork with the commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin makers, then check the full Saudi Arabia import guide.
Best time to ship South Korea → Saudi Arabia
Rates are usually steadiest March–June; the Chuseok holiday (September–October) can delay factory pickups.
What moves on the South Korea → Saudi Arabia lane
South Korea is a petrochemical and high-grade steel origin, with almost all Gulf-bound boxes routed through Busan.
Direct Far East–Middle East strings from Busan, frequently combined with a China port rotation.
Saudi Arabia is the largest consumption market in the GCC, with demand concentrated in construction materials, petrochemical feedstock, food staples and industrial equipment for Vision 2030 projects.
Commodities commonly imported from South Korea
Arrival ports in Saudi Arabia
Other origins shipping to Saudi Arabia
Other destinations from South Korea
Run the numbers for this lane
Frequently asked questions
Explore more on DocMakTrade
Import destinations
Popular shipping routes
Ready to run the numbers?
Run the freight estimator for South Korea → Saudi Arabia.