EU Fitness Influencers: Importing Chinese Workout Gear & Supplements via Group Shipping(2025 Edition – 2 000-word playbook for European & North-American buyers)
• €53.8 billion EU fitness market, 35 % of equipment and 60 % of protein powders now originate from China . • CBAM Phase II (July 2026) adds €45–65 / t CO₂ on steel, aluminium, plastics & glass used in kettlebells, shaker bottles and LED collars . • Shanghai–Rotterdam LCL spot rate: €1.85 / kg (July 2025) – 30 % cheaper than 2024 peak .
Group shipping (consolidation) cuts landed cost 35–70 %, shortens lead-time by 14 days vs sea, and future-proofs against CO₂ tariffs.
Product Map – What You Can Consolidate & Where in China
Product
HS Code
EU Duty
CBAM Risk
China Hot-Spot
Typical Use
Electric treadmill
8479.89.97
2.7 %
Medium (steel)
Qingdao
Cardio zone
Cast-iron kettlebell
7326.90.98
2.7 %
High (steel)
Tianjin
Functional training
Ceramic dumbbells
6911.10
6 %
Medium (ceramic)
Chaozhou
Boutique studios
Whey protein powder
2106.90.90
0 % (EU)
Low (food)
Shanghai
Post-workout
LED therapy mask
9405.40
0 %
Medium (plastic)
Shenzhen
Aesthetic recovery
Supplements: EU Novel Food & EFSA dossier required for creatine, pre-workout powders .
2025 Group-Shipping Lanes – Live Rates & Transit
Origin → EU/UK
Mode
Transit
All-in €/kg*
Best For
Yiwu → Duisburg
Rail LCL
18 days
€2.30
500–8 000 kg mixed
Shanghai → Rotterdam
Sea LCL
32 days
€1.85
>20 t bulk
Shenzhen → Frankfurt
Air LCL
4 days
€4.10
Urgent restock
*Rates include THC, fuel & doc fee – July 2025 snapshot.
Rail LCL is 45 % cheaper than air and 14 days faster than sea.
