China → Africa Shipping Calculator

1. Select the country. 15 African countries covered. Each country has its own port + lane pricing.

2. Pick the method. Air express (1–7 days, most expensive), air standard (6–14 days), sea LCL (25–60 days, economical), FCL 20ft/40ft (flat per container).

3. Enter weight or CBM. Air = weight in kg. Sea LCL = volume in CBM (cubic metres). The helper converts L × W × H in cm to CBM or volumetric weight.

4. Read the result. Low-high range in USD, conversion to local currency at the live rate, plus the estimated transit time.

All figures are indicative. Confirm with your freight forwarder before booking.

China → Africa international freight rates are among the least transparent pieces of trade. Every forwarder publishes its own grids, margins shift with relationship and volume, and sea rates move with the Baltic index and the season. An African importer requesting 5 quotes often receives 5 very different prices for the same shipment.

This calculator does not replace a forwarder quote — it is a reference to judge whether a quote you receive is reasonable. If your forwarder quotes US$600/CBM LCL to Lagos when our reference is US$200–280, you have the data to negotiate or shop around.

It also helps size your budget before the order: knowing approximate freight for 5 CBM to Mombasa changes your unit-economics math before you even contact the 1688 supplier.

Example 1 — 50 kg of electronics to Lagos. Air express: 50 kg × ~US$13/kg = ~US$650, 1–5 days. Air standard: 50 kg × ~US$8/kg = ~US$400, 7–12 days. Sea LCL isn't viable at 50 kg (fixed costs would dominate). Typical pick: air express if urgent, otherwise standard.

Example 2 — 3 CBM of textiles to Tema. Sea LCL: 3 × ~US$250/CBM = ~US$750 freight + ~US$300 port fees + clearance = ~US$1,100 all-in. Transit 38–52 days. At this volume, air would be prohibitive (~US$3,000–5,000 for 500–800 kg of equivalent textiles).

Example 3 — 12 CBM of cargo to Mombasa. Sea LCL: 12 × ~US$220/CBM = ~US$2,640. FCL 20ft (~28 CBM usable): ~US$3,100 flat. FCL becomes competitive above ~10 CBM, especially if you want to seal your own container.

Example 4 — 25 CBM to Durban. FCL 40ft: ~US$5,000 flat. Above 20 CBM, FCL 40ft is almost always cheaper than equivalent LCL.

Why is there a low–high range? Rates vary by season (Q4 +20–40% vs Q1), container availability, and your forwarder relationship. The range reflects the actual spread observed on the lane as of mid-2026.

Does the result include customs? No. The calculator only estimates international freight. For VAT and duty on arrival, see the country's customs page — typically another 25–45% on the CIF value.

What about origin fees in China? Pickup at the supplier, export clearance and Chinese port fees typically add US$100–300 in LCL. Included in a forwarder's "door-to-door" quote.

Displayed ranges aggregate publicly available forwarder rates (Searates, Freightos Baltic Index), carrier-published tariffs (Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM), and importer-community quotes for African lanes as of mid-2026. They reflect a reference cost before individual discounts and outside peak season.

Countries without abundant public coverage (Angola, DR Congo, Mozambique, Rwanda) get a regional estimate calibrated to adjacent lanes — typically with a 10–20% premium reflecting port infrastructure or inland transit.

Local-currency conversion uses the USD → local rate from our eac_fx_rates table, refreshed daily from interbank sources. The shown rate is the mid-market; your forwarder will typically invoice with a 1–3% margin on top.

For the exact cost: quote at least 2 forwarders with your HS code, weight, CBM and delivery address.

The calculator does not include cargo insurance (typically 0.3–0.5% of declared value, recommended for any sea shipment), nor seasonal surcharges like the General Rate Increase (GRI) that carriers apply in peak Q4. For a cautious budget estimate, add 10–15% to the displayed result and always include insurance.