Asia – Mediterranean via Suez
Mediterranean services are the ones most likely to use Suez again (57% in September 2026), which puts the cargo back through Bab el-Mandeb, rated a SUBSTANTIAL threat.
Europe · sea freight from Shenzhen
Shipping from Shenzhen to Bilbao
Shenzhen to Bilbao
South China Sea · Malacca Strait · Indian Ocean · Bab-el-Mandeb · Suez Canal · Sicily Channel · Strait of Gibraltar · Bay of Biscay
- ShenzhenChina origin
- South China Sea
- Malacca Strait
- Indian Ocean
- Bab-el-Mandeb
- Suez Canal
- Sicily Channel
- Strait of Gibraltar
- Bay of Biscay
- BilbaoSpain
This route runs from Dongguan and Shenzhen factories via Yantian, where the one-box route had moved 409 battery containers by September 2026, then follows a Suez corridor that Mediterranean services are using again more than any other Asia–Europe lane; at the far end is the port of Bilbao.
The Spanish side checks RII-PYA registration alongside the EU battery rules. The 5 points below are particular to this lane; each comes with what we do and the paperwork it touches.
What we need to start
- Typhoon season Jun–Oct
- Yantian / Shekou export
- EU declaration of conformity
- RII-PYA number
- Spanish-language safety information
Route profile
How Shenzhen → Bilbao differs from other lanes
Spain
RII-PYA registration with its number on every invoice, quarterly market data including batteries inside equipment, and the EU-wide CE and label duties.
Where this route gets difficult
What to watch between Shenzhen and Bilbao: 5 points
In the order the cargo meets them: at the loading port, at sea, at Bilbao and at customs in Spain.
- Origin port
Factory stuffing in Dongguan, loading at Yantian: avoid a second opening
Much Shenzhen battery export is stuffed inland and trucked to the terminal. In May 2026 Yantian MSA and Dongguan MSA ran a cross-regional 'one-box' pilot: four battery containers were inspected jointly at the Dongguan factory and loaded at Yantian without being opened again. It shows that the inspection record made at the factory is what matters at the terminal.
What Anxin does: We ask at booking whether your factory and the terminal's MSA office can use the one-box arrangement, and we have stuffing photos, the packing certificate and the DG declaration match exactly, so the container is not held for re-inspection.
- Sea corridor
Suez itself is working normally
The JMIC's September 2026 update rated the northern Red Sea and Suez Canal MODERATE, with the canal operating in both directions and container lines returning selectively, and the Eastern Mediterranean LOW. The risk on this corridor is concentrated at the southern entrance of the Red Sea rather than at the canal.
What Anxin does: We check before each booking whether the service has changed routing since the last quote.
- Import country
The ICS2 entry summary is due before loading in Shenzhen
For Bilbao, EU security pre-filing happens at the other end of the voyage: the ICS2 entry summary must reach the system 24 hours before the container is loaded in Shenzhen. No filing means no loading, and a missing EORI number is enough to reject it.
What Anxin does: We collect the consignee's EORI number, an HS-level goods description and the house-bill parties at booking, and make sure the party filing the ENS has them before the Shenzhen cut-off.
- Import country
CE marking and a declaration of conformity in the right language
Since 18 August 2024 a battery sold in the EU needs the CE marking and an EU declaration of conformity from its manufacturer. The declaration has to be available in the language Spain requires, and the importer is the one who must check both before the goods are released for sale.
What Anxin does: We ask the manufacturer in China for the declaration of conformity and a photo of the CE marking on the battery or its packaging before loading, and pass them to the Spain importer. We check that the documents exist and match the goods; we do not assess conformity.
- Import country
Safety information in a language Spain accepts
An importer has to ensure that batteries are accompanied by instructions and safety information in a language that end-users in Spain can easily understand, as the Member State determines. Inserts and carton print are much simpler to adjust before packing in China.
What Anxin does: We ask the importer which language Spain requires and check carton and insert photos against it before loading.
Documents & compliance
Documents to line up for Shenzhen → Bilbao
Test reports, safety data sheets and import certificates come from the shipper, factory and importer, not from Anxin; our part is to review them before booking.
At the Shenzhen end
- Confirmation from the carrier of the DG cut-off at Yantian or Shekou, rechecked in typhoon weeks
- Substance declaration covering mercury, cadmium and lead limits
- Safety data sheet and dangerous goods safe-carriage declaration for the MSA cargo report
- Customs packaging use-appraisal result for the dangerous goods packaging (with the maker's performance appraisal)
- Container packing certificate signed by a certified packing inspector after supervised stuffing
For the carrier and the voyage
- Routing (Red Sea or Cape) and any war-risk surcharge stated on the booking
- Consignee EORI and HS-level description to the ENS filer before loading
- UN 38.3 test summary for every cell and battery type
At the Spain end
- Instructions and safety information in the language Spain requires
- Haulier in Spain briefed with UN number, class 9 and tunnel code (E) for the road leg
- RII-PYA registration number of the Spanish producer
Before you book
Match the details first
We line up UN numbers, model names and package counts across the Shenzhen filings, the booking with the carrier and the documents for Spain before the booking is confirmed, so that a mismatch is fixed at origin rather than discovered at Bilbao.
Carriers we book with
Our booking panel; availability on this lane and acceptance of the declared UN numbers are confirmed for each booking. It does not mean that a listed carrier runs a direct service on this route. Carrier choice depends on the trade lane, cargo classification and each carrier's dangerous-goods acceptance at booking. The final carrier is confirmed on the booking.
Risk & mitigation
Risk table for Shenzhen → Bilbao
| Risk | Where | Mitigation | Who acts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Container reopened at the terminal because records do not match | Factory → Yantian | Photos, packing certificate and DG declaration cross-checked before trucking | Anxin |
| Declaration of conformity missing or not in the required language | Importer in Spain | Declaration and CE photo collected before loading | Manufacturer / importer |
| ENS not filed and the box is refused at loading | Loading port, Shenzhen | EORI and house-bill data passed to the filer at booking | Filer (carrier / forwarder) |
Questions
Shenzhen → Bilbao: questions we are asked
The importer's: name, registered trade name or trade mark and postal address with a contact point, on the battery or, if it is too small, on the packaging or accompanying document.
Often: in September 2026, 57% of Asia–Mediterranean services used the Red Sea routing. Bab el-Mandeb was rated a SUBSTANTIAL threat by the JMIC on 24 September 2026, so we confirm each service's routing before booking.
Yes, provided a certified packing inspector supervises the stuffing and signs the container packing certificate. Since May 2026 Yantian and Dongguan MSA have also piloted joint factory inspection so the container can be loaded at Yantian without reopening; we check whether your shipment can use it.
References
Regulations and port sources cited
- Registro de Pilas y Acumuladores: preguntas frecuentes (Ministerio de Industria y Turismo)
- Registro de Pilas y Acumuladores (RII-PYA) (Ministerio de Industria y Turismo)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 on batteries and waste batteries (ELI) (EUR-Lex / Publications Office of the EU)
- ICS2 Release 3: Prepare your business for sending goods to or via the EU by sea and inland waterways (European Commission, DG TAXUD (leaflet KP0423828ENN))
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 concerning batteries and waste batteries (Official Journal PDF) (EUR-Lex / Publications Office of the EU)
- Inland transport of dangerous goods (summary of Directive 2008/68/EC) (EUR-Lex)
- JMIC Update 099 to Advisory Note (Joint Maritime Information Center (via UKMTO))
- Yantian MSA runs 'one-box' model for lithium battery sea exports (Chinese), 8 May 2026 (Shenzhen Development and Reform Commission (source: Shenzhen MSA))
- Forecasting yearly number of tropical cyclones affecting Hong Kong (tropical cyclone season June–October, most active July–September) (Hong Kong Observatory)
- Export dangerous goods packaging inspection: service guide (Chinese) (General Administration of Customs of China (Lanzhou Customs service guide))
Next step
From enquiry to import
- 1EnquiryCargo, origin, destination
- 2Documents checkUN 38.3, SDS, packing
- 3BookingAfter carrier acceptance
- 4HandoverAt Shenzhen
- 5ImportClearance at Bilbao
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After you send it
We check carrier acceptance for Shenzhen → Bilbao before any booking, and ask for missing battery documents first.
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