Africa transit times
| Region | Main ports | Typical transit |
|---|---|---|
| North Africa | Tanger Med, Casablanca, Alexandria, Port Said | 7–14 days |
| West Africa | Lagos (Apapa, Tin Can, Lekki), Tema, Abidjan, Dakar | 15–22 days |
| Southern Africa | Durban, Cape Town, Gqeberha, Ngqura | 22–30 days |
| East Africa | Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Djibouti | 22–35 days |
Indicative ranges. East African services may route via Suez or the Cape and often tranship. Port congestion at some African ports can add days.
Pre-shipment inspections and certificates
Several African countries need goods inspected or certified before they leave the UK, and shipping without the right certificate can mean fines or the goods being refused:
- Nigeria: import procedures start with the buyer's Form M, and regulated products need SONCAP certification
- Kenya: many goods need a Certificate of Conformity under the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme
- Other countries: various inspection, conformity or certificate-of-origin rules apply, depending on the product
We confirm what's needed for your destination before booking, so nothing is shipped without its paperwork.
Trade agreements
The UK has trade agreements with several African countries and groups, including the Southern African Customs Union and Mozambique, Kenya, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt. Many other African countries qualify for reduced or zero duty under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme. These mainly help imports into the UK. Check the rules of origin for your goods.
What moves on this trade
UK exports include machinery, vehicles and parts, used equipment, food and drink, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods. Imports include citrus, grapes and other fruit from South Africa, cut flowers, tea and coffee from East Africa, and cocoa and cashews from West Africa.
Delivering inland
Many destinations are well inland, for example Johannesburg, Nairobi, Kampala and Lusaka. Inland delivery by road or rail can take as long as the sea leg and needs local customs expertise. We arrange inland delivery through our network in the main markets.