Frequently asked questions

It depends on the port, carrier, routing and season. As planning ranges from Jebel Ali, a 20ft container typically books at USD 2,050 to 4,150 to Tema and USD 2,200 to 3,400 to Abidjan, with a 40ft to Abidjan at USD 2,900 to 4,300, before destination charges, clearance and duties. For other ports in our destinations list, send your cargo details for a dated quote.

A 20ft container from Jebel Ali to Lagos typically costs USD 2,400 to 3,600 and a 40ft USD 3,100 to 4,500, before Nigerian destination charges, clearing and inland haulage. LCL is quoted per shipment on your CBM and weight, and air freight for 100 kg plus USD 5 to 9 per kg. The Dubai to Nigeria guide covers the pitfalls.

Kenya is on our destinations list through the port of Mombasa, which is also a gateway for Uganda and Rwanda. We have not published planning ranges for East African lanes, so we quote them per shipment. Send us your cargo details and we will reply with a dated, itemised quote.

Rates move with the carrier, routing, season and surcharges, so the ranges in our guides are for planning budgets only. A booking needs a current, dated quote with the destination charges spelled out. Send your cargo type, volume or weight and timeline through the contact page.

By sea, plan on 30 to 38 days door to port into Lagos and 34 to 45 days into Abidjan once vessel waiting and discharge queues are counted. By air, Lagos or Abuja typically takes 5 to 8 days and Abidjan 4 to 8 days door to door. The Ivory Coast guide explains where the time goes.

LCL is typically cheaper below about 13 CBM to West Africa because you pay only for the space you use. Above about 18 CBM a 20ft container is usually cheaper once destination charges are counted. Our LCL vs FCL guide works through the break-even point.

Yes, and it is usually the biggest saving available to smaller importers. Suppliers deliver to our Dubai warehouse, and we consolidate, repack and ship the cargo as one booking with one set of documents.

When the cargo is urgent, high value per kg, perishable or a stockout risk, such as electronics, samples or spare parts. For most other cargo the sea lane wins on cost. Our air vs ocean freight comparison runs the numbers.

At minimum a commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading or air waybill, and for many goods a certificate of origin. Some countries add their own, such as Form M and PAAR for Nigeria or the BSC cargo tracking note for Côte d'Ivoire. Our customs clearance documents guide explains each one.

Yes. With a telex release the original bills are surrendered at the port of loading and the carrier instructs its destination agent to release the cargo to the named consignee, so nobody waits for couriered originals. The bill of lading guide covers the other release options.

Ghana charges duty on the CIF value of the goods, at 0, 5, 10, 20 or 35 percent depending on the HS code, with levies and VAT added on top. Getting the HS code right before you ship is what keeps the bill predictable. Our Ghana customs duty guide works through an example.

Customs clearance is one of our services, and we can quote it alongside the freight so the destination side is visible before you book. Tell us your destination port and what you are shipping, and we will confirm what clearance involves for that cargo.

Yes. Our destinations list covers 54 countries, including Mombasa in Kenya, Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Djibouti, Durban in South Africa and Maputo in Mozambique. Each country is listed with its main port or gateway port on the destinations page.

Landlocked countries have no seaport, so cargo moves through maritime gateways, for example Mombasa or Dar es Salaam for Uganda and Dar es Salaam or Durban for Zambia. Port choice can vary by carrier, cargo type, route and customs corridor. Tell us the final destination and we will confirm the routing in the quote.

General cargo and dangerous goods, with every dangerous goods shipment subject to approval, so declare items such as perfume, aerosols or batteries and send the Safety Data Sheet. Destination bans still apply, and the dangerous goods guide links the Ghana and Nigeria prohibition lists.