With the increasing frequency of China-South Africa trade, South Africa has become an important trading partner of China in Africa. This article will introduce the cost of shipping from China to South Africa in detail to help companies optimize costs.
How to Ship from China to South Africa
Sea Freight
Sea freight is the most economical option and is suitable for bulk goods. However, the transportation time is long. It usually takes 25-35 days for goods to be shipped from major ports in China to South Africa. Ocean freight is mainly divided into two types of transportation services. You can choose FCL and LCL according to the specific cargo:
- Full container load (FCL): suitable for bulk goods, usually using 20-foot or 40-foot containers, directly to major ports in South Africa.
- Less than container load (LCL): suitable for small batches of goods, loading goods from different shippers in the same container, effectively reducing costs.
Air Freight
Air freight is the fastest mode of transportation, suitable for small, light and urgently delivered goods, generally flying from major airports in China to South Africa, and it takes 5-7 days to arrive. It is mainly divided into two types:
- Ordinary air freight: usually refers to standard air transportation services transported by air, usually bulk transportation.
- Express air freight: usually refers to a fast air transportation service, mainly provided by specialized express companies. Express air transport is very time-efficient and usually completes the transport within 1-3 days, which is suitable for urgently needed goods.
Calculation of Cargo Weight and Volume
Freight charges from China to South Africa are usually calculated based on the actual weight or volumetric weight of the cargo, whichever is higher. This ensures that freight forwarders can reasonably calculate both large and light cargo and small and heavy cargo.
Actual weight
Actual weight refers to the actual weight of the cargo, in kilograms (kg).
For example, if the cargo weight is 50 kg and the volumetric weight is 40 kg, the actual weight of 50 kg will be used for calculation.
Volumetric weight
Volume weight is calculated based on the volume of the cargo to ensure that cargo that takes up more space can be reasonably charged.
Calculation formula: Volumetric weight (kg) = length (cm) × width (cm) × height (cm) ÷ 6000.
If the volumetric weight is higher than the actual weight, the freight will be calculated based on the volumetric weight.
Cost of LCL Ship from China to South Africa
LCL means that the goods of multiple shippers are combined and loaded into one container for transportation. Each shipper only needs to pay for the space occupied by his own goods. The fees are composed of the following parts
- Basic freight: LCL is charged by volume or weight of the goods, usually per cubic meter or per ton.
- Destination port charges: including unloading fees, port handling fees, document fees, etc. at the South African destination port.
- Document and handling fees: including LCL handling fees, packing fees, bill of lading fees, etc.
- Customs declaration and clearance fees: export customs declaration fees (China), import customs clearance fees (South Africa) and any surcharges for specific goods.
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | LCL Cost/CBM |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Cape Town | $65-$100 |
| Shenzhen | Cape Town | $60-$100 |
| Qingdao | Cape Town | $62-$95 |
| Ningbo | Cape Town | $65-$96 |
| Shanghai | Durban | $70-$100 |
| Shenzhen | Durban | $65-$100 |
| Qingdao | Durban | $65-$90 |
| Ningbo | Durban | $65-$100 |
| Shanghai | Elizabeth | $62-$94 |
| Shenzhen | Elizabeth | $63-$100 |
| Qingdao | Elizabeth | $66-$99 |
| Ningbo | Elizabeth | $60-$100 |
Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Containers from China to South Africa
Full container transport refers to the transportation mode of transporting goods that are enough to fill a container. Usually one cargo owner is responsible for the transportation of one container. The cargo owner can choose 20ft and 40ft containers according to the goods.
The following is the cost range of transporting from China to South Africa:
- Basic freight: Full container load (FCL) charges are calculated based on the type and size of the container. Commonly used containers are 20-foot and 40-foot containers, which are usually charged at a fixed rate.
- Port of destination charges: South Africa’s port unloading charges, terminal handling charges, document charges, etc., and the full container load charges are usually higher than the LCL charges.
- Customs declaration and clearance charges: Export customs declaration charges (China), import customs clearance charges (South Africa), and the charges for customs clearance by container are usually higher than LCL charges.
- Duties and taxes: Duties and value-added taxes calculated based on South Africa’s import regulations and commodity types.
| POL (port of loading) | POD (port of discharge) | 20ft container cost | 40ft container cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Cape Town | $2550-$3450 | $3000-$4800 |
| Shenzhen | Cape Town | $2500-$3600 | $3150-$4750 |
| Qingdao | Cape Town | $2550-$3750 | $3050-$4750 |
| Ningbo | Cape Town | $2650-$3700 | $3150-$4650 |
| Shanghai | Durban | $2750-$3450 | $3050-$4800 |
| Shenzhen | Durban | $2700-$3700 | $3100-$4700 |
| Qingdao | Durban | $2650-$3850 | $3050-$4750 |
| Ningbo | Durban | $2800-$3550 | $3050-$4850 |
| Shanghai | Elizabeth | $2850-$3750 | $3150-$4750 |
| Shenzhen | Elizabeth | $2750-$3450 | $3100-$4600 |
| Qingdao | Elizabeth | $2600-$3700 | $3000-$4800 |
| Ningbo | Elizabeth | $2850-$3700 | $3050-$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 Nigeria
Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Containers from China to Kenya
Cost of Shipping 20ft & 40ft Containers from China to Egypt
Cost of Air Freight from China to South Africa
Air freight is a mode of cargo transportation by aircraft, which is suitable for the transportation of time-sensitive goods or light and small items. Cost components:
- Air freight: It is charged according to the actual weight or volume weight of the goods (whichever method is more expensive). The unit of air freight is usually per kilogram (KG), and the cost is higher than sea freight.
- Export and import handling fees: air freight customs declaration fees and handling fees at the South African destination airport, including loading and unloading, ground service fees, etc.
- Customs declaration and customs clearance fees: air freight customs declaration fees (China) and customs clearance fees (South Africa), which are usually slightly lower than sea freight customs declaration fees.
- Additional fees: including fuel surcharges, security inspection fees, peak season surcharges, etc., which may be higher especially during holidays or peak demand seasons.
The following is the cost range of air freight and express delivery from China to South Africa:
| Departure Airport | Arrival Airport | Courier charges (USD/kg) | Ordinary Cost Range (USD/kg) |
| Shanghai Pudong | OR Tambo | $8.50 – $10.50 | $4.50 – $7.50 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | OR Tambo | $8.50 – $11.50 | $4.00 – $7.80 |
| Beijing Capital | OR Tambo | $8.0 – $10.00 | $4.50 – $7.80 |
| Shanghai Pudong | Cape Town | $8.30 – $11.30 | $4.50 – $8.00 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | Cape Town | $8.50 – $10.20 | $4.00 – $7.50 |
| Beijing Capital | Cape Town | $8.60 – $10.50 | $4.50 – $7.80 |
| Shanghai Pudong | King Shaka | $8.50 – $10.80 | $4.50 – $8.00 |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | King Shaka | $8.50 – $10.60 | $4.00 – $7.80 |
| Beijing Capital | King Shaka | $8.50 – $10.20 | $4.50 – $7.50 |
To give you an idea of the cost of shipping to other countries, here are some of the shipping costs:
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
Factors Affecting the Cost of Shipping from China to South Africa
The freight from China to South Africa is affected by the following factors:
- Route selection: Different sea routes have large differences in distance and time, which affect the transportation cost
- Cargo type: Special goods such as dangerous goods, refrigerated goods and fragile goods require special handling and require additional fees.
- Seasonal fluctuations: Peak seasons (such as China’s export peak season) may lead to higher freight rates, while off-season prices are relatively low.
- Destination customs clearance fees and taxes: South Africa’s tariffs, value-added taxes, etc. on imported goods will increase the total cost.
- The number of flights and space availability determine the cost of air freight.
Tips to Reduce Freight Costs from China to South Africa
To reduce freight costs from China to South Africa, companies can refer to the following strategies:
Choose LCL Shipping
For small quantities of goods, choosing LCL transportation can reduce costs.
Optimize transportation time
If the goods are not urgent, you can choose economical air or sea transportation to save freight.
Optimize cargo packaging
Pack the goods reasonably to reduce volume and weight, thereby reducing freight costs.
Book in advance
Book in advance to get lower prices in the off-season and avoid the peak of the peak season.
Work with freight forwarders
Choose professional freight forwarders to help optimize logistics solutions, control costs, and avoid increased costs due to incomplete documents or customs delays.
Compare multiple freight forwarding companies
Consult multiple freight forwarding companies, compare quotes and services, and choose the most cost-effective transportation plan.
The cost of shipping from China to South Africa is affected by many factors. This article will show you how companies can reduce shipping costs by consolidating, choosing economical air freight or arranging the delivery time to maximize the benefits of shipping goods.
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