Shipping from China to Africa

Date: 22/05/2017

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Take advantage of our crossing System where all African countries and cities are connected with all Chinese cities. If the African company has their own service online (pointer laser for example), can offer directly to Chinese consumers or vice versa.

new from CargoFromChina.com

he history of international trade between Africa and China is long-standing, and the amount is rising quickly these years. Importing from China is one of the top choices for African importers looking for cost-effective goods.

We work together with a great number of well known carriers to provide high flexibility logistics services to Africa. We are able to seek the most suitable freight forwarding solutions for your international supply chain.

Shipping Document: Electronic Cargo Tracking Note

The documents for customs clearance is special when importing into Africa. Except the normal Commercial Invoice, Packing List & Bill of Lading, a cargo note is a must at most cases.

china-africa-cargo-note A cargo note sample

More than half countries in Africa need Electronic Cargo Tracking Note to clear the cargo. Different names used in different countries are listed below.

CTN: Cargo tracking note
CTN NO.: Cargo Tracking Note Number
ECTN: ELECTRONIC CARGO TRACKING NOTE
BSC: Bordereau de Suivl des Cargaisons
BESC: BORDEREAU DE CARGAISON
FERI: Fiche Electronique des Renseignements Importation
COC: Certificate of Conformity
BIC: BORDEREAU D’IDENTIFICATION DES CARGAISONS
CRN: CARGO REGISTRATION NOTE
SONCAP: Standards Organization of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programe
CNCA: CONSELHO NACIONAL DE CARREGADORES DE ANGOLA

Though there are many different callings in each country, but this note serves the same target. When the importers declare customs at the destination port, they need to provide this number.

Angola – CNCA Certification
Benin – BESC Certification
Cameroon, Congo, Chad, Tanzania and Togo – ECTN Certification
DRC – FERI Certification
Gabon – BIC Certification
Guinea, Mali, Central African, Senegal, Nigeria and Guinea – CTN NO. Certification
Ivorian, Madagascar -BSC Certification
Kenya – COC Certification

Before Shipping: How to choose the best carrier?

Choosing the right carrier means you are on the right way to a cheap logistics solution. You can consider these maritime companies: MSK, CMA, NDS, DELMAS, SAF, PIL, MSC, Hamburg Suda, KLINE, CSCL, ZIM and so on.

In China-Africa transportation, MSK accounted for 60% of the total market volume, and it domain the African ocean transportation for years.

When it comes to North Africa, CMA which belongs to France is competitive for a historical reason. PIL is doing the best to East Africa.

SAF and Delmas are two African local carriers. And Delmas is the only one specialized in African route, and has the ability to evacuated and distribution very quickly after the arrival of the containers.

Shipping to West Africa

Main Ports: Cotonou, Lome, Tema, Lagos, Abidjan, Douala, Libreville, Luanda.

Many importers in Africa will buy FOB, and assign MSK. Because MSK has a very reliable service for customs clearance at the destination, and can manage transportation to inland cities.

CMA is professional with a steady schedule. More importantly, the freight cost is lower than MSK.

MSC, as you may know, needs more transit time than others. But with the lowest price, it’s still popular.

NDS has advantages on clearing at Luanda with a cheap price.

Shipping to South Africa

Main ports: Durban, Cape Town, Elizabeth.
Main inland cities: Johannesburg, Gaborone, Harare, Lusaka.

This route, including not only ocean to South Africa, but also inland trucking to Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lusaka. The transit terminal can be Durban, or Beira in Mozambique, or Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

SAF is the most advantageous carrier. Though be acquired by MSK in 1999, but it still maintains independent operation. MSK to South Africa always rent spaces from SAF.

Shipping to East Africa

Main ports: Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Djibouti.
Main inland cities:
From Mombasa to KAMPALA, JINJA, KIGALI, JUBA;
From Dar es Salaam to BUJUMBURA, KIGALI, LUSAKA, KITWE, NDOLA, CHINGOLA, BLANTYRE, LILONGWE, BAKAVU, GOMA, LUBUMBASHI, LIKASI, KOLOWEZI.

PIL is the best in most cases and it can deliver heavy containers.

Mombasa container freight station Mombasa CFS

Shipping to North Africa

Main ports: Algiers, Oran, Casablanca, Tripoli, Alexandria.

CMA has high freight rates, but a really good service. Importers from Algiers always choose CMA.

After Shipping: How to clear customs?

There will be different regulations applied for different destination countries. Let’s take Kenya for example.

Paper works

Commercial Invoice
Packing List
Bill of Lading
IDF Form C-61
Form C-52
Certificate of Compliance

Common External Tariff (CET)

Raw materials: 0%
Semi-manufactured goods: 10%
Manufactured goods: 25%

Import clearance process

import clearance process for Kenya

What we can do for you?

Whatever you ship and however you need your freight to be treated, we will treat your goods as if they were our own. We are constantly searching for the most efficient and cost efficient solution to Africa.