Road or Sea: How to Ship Goods from Europe to Russia
From Europe to Russia there are two main legs: road via Poland and the Baltics from our consolidation warehouses in Vilnius and Warsaw, and sea via Rotterdam to St Petersburg. Road is faster and more flexible; sea is cheaper on volume.
The short answer
Up to 5–7 pallets and when the goods are needed sooner, road is the better option: from €850 for 3 pallets (Warsaw → Moscow), 4–7 days from Warsaw, collection from any address in the EU. From 5–10 m³ and for heavy cargo, sea via Rotterdam is cheaper: from €200 per package (from €500 per Euro pallet); groupage takes about 2 weeks, a container 6–7 days in transit.
What decides the choice
The right choice depends on the density of the cargo and how close your premises are to the hub. Either way, we collect from your premises, lodge the EU export declaration (EX1) for you and send you proof of export for VAT zero-rating, while customs clearance in Russia is handled on your customer’s side.
We only handle goods that are not subject to EU, UK, Swiss or US sanctions, and we screen HS codes and parties before accepting a booking.
The two options at a glance
Road (LTL/FTL) — 4–7 days from Warsaw
Groupage from €850 for 3 pallets (Warsaw → Moscow).
Sea (LCL/FCL) — groupage about 2 weeks, container 6–7 days in transit
LCL from €200 per package (from €500 per Euro pallet).
Comparison on the key criteria
| Criterion | Road | Sea |
|---|---|---|
| Transit time to Moscow | Poland 3–5, Germany 4–7, Italy 7–10 days + consolidation | Groupage from 2 weeks via Rotterdam — St Petersburg; container 6–7 days in transit to St Petersburg (declared to the port 3 days before the vessel sails) |
| Cost | From €850 for 3 pallets (Warsaw → Moscow) — best value up to a few pallets | From €200 per package (from €500 per Euro pallet) — best value from 5–10 m³ and for heavy cargo |
| Route flexibility | Collection from any EU address, weekly departures | Tied to vessel schedules and the port |
| Minimum consignment | No weight limit (from €200) | From 50 kg |
| Risks | Queues at road border crossings, inspections | Waiting for a sailing, transhipment at the port |
| Typical cargo | Urgent and medium consignments, groupage purchases from several suppliers | Machinery, equipment, building materials, large regular volumes |
Indicative “turnkey” rates; we confirm the price for your consignment.
When to choose road
Road is the default for consignments of up to 5–7 pallets and urgent deliveries: weekly groupage departures from Vilnius and Warsaw, and collection from the supplier’s door in any EU country.
When to choose sea
Sea makes sense for heavy and bulky regular deliveries: a full container of equipment via Rotterdam works out noticeably cheaper than a truck, if your customer is prepared to wait.
Logistician’s tip
The deciding factor is often where you are located: from northern Germany and the Benelux, the sea leg starts almost at your door, while from the Czech Republic or Austria any sea option includes road haulage to the port, which eats up the saving.
Frequently asked questions
How long does groupage from Europe take by road?
Transit from the consolidation warehouse: from Poland 3–5 days, from Germany 4–7, from Italy 7–10. Add the time to build the groupage load (trucks depart on a schedule, usually weekly) and customs clearance — in total, allow 10–18 days door to door.
When is sea from Europe cheaper than road?
For volumes from 5–10 m³ and heavy cargo: the LCL tariff is from €200 per package (from €500 per Euro pallet) versus road from €850 for 3 pallets (Warsaw → Moscow). For full containers of machinery, equipment or building materials, the difference with a truck can reach a factor of two. Groupage via Rotterdam takes about 2 weeks, a container 6–7 days in transit; the container must be declared to the port 3 days before the vessel sails.
Can goods from several European suppliers be combined?
Yes, it is a standard set-up: suppliers deliver to our consolidation warehouse in Vilnius or Warsaw, the goods are combined into one shipment with a single set of documents and leave on the weekly departure.
Which mode is best for equipment?
It depends on weight and urgency: a single machine of up to 3–5 tonnes usually goes by road (faster, no transhipment), while a production line or regular deliveries of heavy assemblies go by sea in a container. We calculate both options and show you the difference.
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