Kenya is an important economic hub in East Africa. With the construction of the “Belt and Road Initiative”, trade between China and Kenya has become increasingly frequent. Transportation costs have always been a focus of concern for companies. This article will introduce the costs of shipping from China to Kenya in detail to help companies optimize costs.
Cost of Sea Freight from China to Kenya
Sea transportation is the most common and affordable way of transportation from China to Kenya, but sea transportation takes a long time. It usually takes 30-40 days from major ports in China (such as Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Tianjin) to Mombasa Port in Kenya. It depends on the voyage, weather, and ports of call.
In sea transportation, you can choose full container shipping (FCL) and less than container shipping (LCL) according to the needs of the goods. The cost is usually composed of the following parts:
- Basic Freight: Basic freight is the most important part of the sea freight cost, usually calculated by the volume (cubic meters) or weight (tons) of the goods.
- Port Charges: Each port will charge a certain amount of port operation fees, mainly including loading and unloading fees, storage fees, post-unloading processing fees, etc.
- Bunker Surcharge: The fuel surcharge in sea transportation is usually adjusted according to the change of oil prices.
- Destination Port Charges: The charges at the destination port include unloading fees, storage fees, customs clearance fees, etc.
- Customs Clearance Fees: Customs clearance fees include customs inspection fees, tariffs and value-added tax, etc.
Cost of LCL Shipping from China to Kenya
LCL transportation refers to the transportation of multiple batches of goods in one container. This method is suitable for situations where a small amount of goods only fills a part of the container. The freight forwarder or logistics company is responsible for loading and unloading the goods, and the container space is shared with other goods during transportation.
The following are the costs of LCL transportation from China to Kenya:
| POL (Port of China) | POL (Port of Nigeria) | LCL Cost/cbm |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Mombasa | $105–$150 |
| Shenzhen | Mombasa | $116–$163 |
| Qingdao | Mombasa | $110-$168 |
| Ningbo | Mombasa | $110–$170 |
| Guangzhou | Mombasa | $105–$150 |
| Tianjin | Mombasa | $110–$143 |
| Dalian | Mombasa | $105–$155 |
Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Containers from China to Kenya
FCL (Full Container Load) refers to the transportation of full containers of goods. This method is suitable for large quantities of goods that need to be transported in full containers. The shipper is responsible for loading and unloading the goods and ensuring that the goods are not mixed with other goods during transportation to ensure their safety and integrity.
Below are the costs for shipping 20ft and 40ft containers:
| POL (Port of China) | POL (Port of Kenya) | 20ft Container Cost | 40ft Container Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Mombasa | $2150-$3200 | $3500-$4900 |
| Shenzhen | Mombasa | $2200-$3300 | $3450-$4750 |
| Qingdao | Mombasa | $2250-$3450 | $3650-$4950 |
| Ningbo | Mombasa | $2300-$3500 | $3250-$4850 |
| Guangzhou | Mombasa | $2250-$3250 | $3450-$5000 |
| Tianjin | Mombasa | $2300-$3300 | $3500-$4900 |
| Dalian | Mombasa | $2100-$3500 | $3450-$4850 |
Read below for container shipping costs to other countries to help you understand more:
Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Containers from China to Tanzania
Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Containers from China to South Africa
Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Containers from China to Nigeria
Cost of Shipping 20ft & 40ft Containers from China to Egypt
Cost of Air Freight from China to Kenya
Air transport is the fastest mode of transport, with strong timeliness and high safety. It is suitable for transporting small, light and urgently needed goods.
Usually, the transportation time from major airports in China (such as Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen) to Nairobi or Mombasa Airport in Kenya is generally between 3-7 days, depending on factors such as flights and transfers. The cost of air transport is generally composed of the following:
- Air Freight Charges: Air freight charges are usually calculated based on the weight or volume of the goods, with the larger value of weight and volume.
- Fuel Surcharge: Fuel Surcharge is an additional fee charged by airlines in response to oil price fluctuations.
- Security Surcharge: In order to deal with safety issues in air transportation, airlines usually charge a certain security surcharge.
- Airport Handling Charges: Airport handling charges include service fees such as loading and unloading, storage, and inspection of goods at the airport.
- Customs Clearance Fees: After air cargo arrives at the destination, it needs to go through customs clearance in the destination country.
Below are the costs of air freight from China to Kenya:
| Departure Airport (China) | Arrival Airport (Kenya) | Cost Range (USD/kg) |
| Shanghai Pudong | Nairobi | $5.0 – $8.0 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Nairobi | $5.0 – $7.8 |
| Beijing Capital | Nairobi | $5.5 – $7.8 |
| Shanghai Pudong | Mombasa | $5.5 – $8.0 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Mombasa | $5.0 – $7.5 |
| Beijing Capital | Mombasa | $5.5 – $7.8 |
If you want to know the container shipping prices in the surrounding areas:
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Egypt?
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Ghana
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Nigeria
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to South Africa?
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Tanzania
Factors Affecting Shipping Costs and Countermeasures
Influencing factors
- Cargo type and handling requirements: Fragile, dangerous or special specifications of goods require additional handling fees.
- Mode of transportation: The cost difference between air and sea transportation is large, and the price of air transportation is significantly higher than that of sea transportation.
- Port of departure and destination: Choosing different ports of departure and destination will lead to differences in freight costs, such as the different costs of Shanghai Port and Guangzhou Port.
- Seasonal fluctuations: For example, freight fluctuates during holidays or peak seasons.
Countermeasures
- Rationally choose the mode of transportation: Rationally choose the mode of transportation according to the characteristics of the goods, transportation time requirements, etc.
- Optimize cargo packaging: Reasonable packaging can reduce the volume of goods and reduce freight.
- Concentrated shipment: Concentrate multiple small batches of goods into a large batch for shipment, and you can enjoy more favorable freight.
- Advance consultation and booking: Consult the shipping company or airline in advance to understand the freight and ship schedule or flight information, so as to make timely reservations and enjoy possible discounts.
Freight Forwarder from China to Kenya
If you are looking for ocean freight services to deliver goods from China to Kenya, our China International Logistics Company can meet your needs.
With many years of experience, we can provide safe and fast air and sea freight services according to your needs to ensure that your goods arrive on time.
For sea freight, we provide a variety of container types and flexible transportation routes, and for air freight, we provide door-to-door air freight services to ensure that the goods are transported directly from your warehouse to the destination.
Whether you choose air freight or sea freight, Ubest Shipping can provide you with efficient and safe transportation services. Make every link of your goods from China to Kenya go smoothly. With our professional team, you can enjoy tailor-made transportation solutions, whether it is urgent air freight or bulk sea freight, we can provide you with reliable services.
Please feel free to contact us for more detailed information about air and sea freight services. We will provide you with the most suitable transportation solutions according to your needs to ensure that your goods arrive at the destination safely and on time.