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Shipping from China to Bahrain in 2026: routes, customs, 5% duty and 10% VAT

Goods from China to Bahrain pay 5% customs duty on the CIF value and then 10% VAT on CIF plus duty, collected once at the first GCC entry point. Bahrain's container gateway is Khalifa Bin Salman Port, but as of November 2026 the Strait of Hormuz is still effectively closed to container ships, so much Bahrain cargo lands at Jeddah or a UAE east-coast port and crosses into Bahrain by truck over the King Fahd Causeway.

7 min readUpdated: Golden Way · Dubai · Guangzhou

Key points

  • Duty: 5% of CIF for most Chinese goods; VAT: 10% of CIF plus duty (plus any excise).
  • Khalifa Bin Salman Port at Hidd is Bahrain's container port, operated by APM Terminals Bahrain.
  • In 2026 the common alternative is sea to Jeddah, then a Saudi land bridge to the King Fahd Causeway.
  • Duty paid in another GCC state is not charged again in Bahrain if proof is shown; Bahrain VAT still applies.
  • Our team confirms the routing and gives an all-in quote within one working day.

How cargo from China reaches Bahrain in 2026

Bahrain is an island state inside the Arabian Gulf. In normal years, mainline and feeder ships from Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen or Nansha discharge at Khalifa Bin Salman Port, often after transshipment at Jebel Ali or another hub. Since the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed to normal shipping at the start of March 2026, container traffic to ports inside the Gulf has fallen sharply, and Lloyd's List Intelligence reported in October 2026 that container transits remained minimal. Bahrain-bound boxes therefore often take a land bridge: discharge at Jeddah on the Red Sea, or at Khor Fakkan or Fujairah on the UAE east coast, then truck across Saudi Arabia to the King Fahd Causeway, the only land link between Bahrain and the mainland.

5%customs duty on the CIF value
10%Bahrain VAT on CIF plus duty
13,486Saudi trucks to Bahrain via the causeway, 1–25 March 2026
1land link: the King Fahd Causeway
ShenzhenJeddahDammamKing Fahd CausewayManama
SeaRoad
  • Simplest paperwork: one import declaration in Bahrain.
  • Depends on carriers accepting Bahrain bookings while Hormuz is disrupted.
  • Usually a transshipment at a regional hub; schedules are irregular in 2026.
  • Check where the empty container must be returned before you book.

Khalifa Bin Salman Port

Khalifa Bin Salman Port at Hidd, on the north-east of the country, is Bahrain's main container and general cargo port and is operated by APM Terminals Bahrain. The 2026 disruption hit it hard: cargo movement stopped completely in March 2026 and part of April, and the operator reported a sharp fall in first-half profit because of fewer vessel calls. Activity then recovered: local press reported about 112,600 tonnes of general cargo in June 2026, the highest monthly figure in two years. For container cargo from China, whether a direct or feeder call is available in a given week is a carrier decision, so we compare it with the land bridge on every quote.

The King Fahd Causeway: Bahrain's road to the mainland

The causeway links Bahrain with Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province near Al Khobar and is the only way a truck can reach Bahrain. In March 2026, when sea access collapsed, Saudi customs data showed 13,486 trucks crossing to Bahrain in the first 25 days of the month, second only to the Batha crossing to the UAE. Every truck goes through Saudi exit and Bahraini entry formalities on the causeway, so paperwork must be complete before the truck leaves the port.

  • A Saudi transit declaration (or a UAE and a Saudi transit declaration if the truck starts in the UAE), with the truck sealed.
  • Commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin matching the transit documents exactly.
  • A CMR or road consignment note naming the Bahraini consignee.
  • Any permit Bahrain requires for restricted goods, obtained before the truck reaches the border.
  • Driver, truck and haulier permits valid for Saudi transit and entry into Bahrain.
  • Foreign trucks deliver and return; they do not do domestic distribution inside another GCC state.

Bahrain customs duty and 10% VAT

Bahrain applies the GCC common external tariff. Most goods from China pay 5% customs duty on the CIF value, that is the invoice value plus insurance and freight to the first GCC port. Some lines are exempt (many basic foods and medicines, for example) and tobacco is taxed at 100%. VAT has been 10% since 1 January 2022 and is administered by the National Bureau for Revenue; on imports it is charged on CIF plus duty plus any excise. Basic foods and some other categories are zero-rated. Bahrain Customs requires duties and taxes to be paid before goods are released.

LineRateBaseWorked example (USD)
Goods value (invoice)–Supplier invoice20,000
Freight and insurance to the first GCC port–Example figure only, not a rate3,000
CIF value–Invoice + freight + insurance23,000
Customs duty5%CIF1,150
VAT10%CIF + duty (+ excise)2,415
Total duty and VAT––3,565
CIF value–
Duty–
VAT–
Duty and VAT–

Most goods from China pay 5% GCC duty on CIF, once, at the first GCC entry. VAT is on CIF + duty. Estimate only.

Clearing goods in Bahrain, step by step

  1. Check the goodsConfirm the HS code, the duty rate and whether the product needs an approval or conformity certificate in Bahrain before you pay the supplier.
  2. Agree the IncotermFOB or EXW with your own forwarder gives you control of the route; with CIF, the supplier's choice of discharge port can force a costly change in 2026.
  3. Pick the routeOur team compares a call at Khalifa Bin Salman with the Jeddah land bridge and the UAE east coast route for your cargo and dates.
  4. Book and load in ChinaPickup, inspection and consolidation at our Guangzhou warehouse, export declaration and loading at the Chinese port.
  5. Transit documentsFor a land bridge, the Saudi (and if needed UAE) transit declaration is filed and the truck is sealed at the port of discharge.
  6. File the Bahrain declarationThe owner, a representative or a licensed customs broker submits the import declaration electronically with all documents.
  7. Pay duty and VATCustoms duties, VAT and other charges are prepaid through the clearance system before release.
  8. Inspection and releaseCustoms may inspect based on risk or take samples; the exit order is then issued and the goods are delivered.

Documents checklist

Before your cargo leaves China for Bahrain

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Quick check: Bahrain import rules

Test what you know about importing into Bahrain

On what value is Bahrain's 10% import VAT calculated?
Your goods were cleared in Dubai with 5% duty paid. What happens in Bahrain?
What is the only road link between Bahrain and the mainland?

Frequently asked questions

How long does shipping from China to Bahrain take?

It depends on the route chosen that week. Sea to Jeddah or the UAE east coast plus trucking takes longer than a normal direct call because of the extra land leg and two borders. Our team confirms a typical door-to-door time for your booking.

What is the customs duty in Bahrain for goods from China?

Most goods pay 5% of the CIF value under the GCC common tariff. Some items are exempt and tobacco is 100%. We confirm the rate from your HS code.

What is the VAT rate on imports into Bahrain?

10%, since 1 January 2022. It is charged on CIF plus duty plus any excise. Basic foods and some other categories are zero-rated.

Can ships still reach Khalifa Bin Salman Port?

As of November 2026 container transits through Hormuz remain minimal and calls to Bahrain are irregular. Cargo often lands at Jeddah or the UAE east coast and is trucked over the King Fahd Causeway. We check current options for every booking.

Do I pay duty twice if I import into the UAE first and then truck to Bahrain?

Normally no. Duty paid at the first GCC entry point is not charged again if you show proof of payment. You still pay 10% VAT in Bahrain.

Who can clear goods through Bahrain Customs?

The goods owner, an authorised representative or a licensed customs broker, filing electronically with the required documents.

Was this article useful?

Sources

  1. Bahrain Customs Affairs – Commercial import procedure
  2. UAE ICP – The Concept of the GCC Customs Union
  3. Gulf News – Bahrain officially implements 10% VAT
  4. News of Bahrain (Daily Tribune) – Khalifa Port cargo hits two-year high after Hormuz disruption (Jul 2026)
  5. India Sea Trade News – APM Terminals Bahrain H1 2026 results
  6. Arab News – Saudi land ports record 88k truck movements to GCC in 25 days (Mar 2026)
  7. Arab Times – King Fahd Causeway between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain reopens (8 Apr 2026)
  8. Hapag-Lloyd – Update on transit shipments via Jeddah to the Upper Gulf (Aug 2026)
  9. Lloyd's List Intelligence – Strait of Hormuz Brief, 22 October 2026

General information checked on the date shown. Rules and rates change: our team confirms the details for your shipment.

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