Shipping cost from China to Kenya
To ship from China to Kenya in 2026, expect $10–$13.5/kg air express (2–5 days) or $190–$260/CBM sea LCL (28–38 days). Main port: Port of Mombasa (gateway for East Africa.
Live calculator below, plus the full per-method table, port + forwarder context, and a link to the duty + VAT applied by Kenya Revenue Authority — Customs & Border Control on arrival.
How much does it cost to ship from China to Kenya?
+ customs duty + VAT applied at arrival (see the customs page for your country).
Estimate based on indicative China → Africa rates (June 2026 reference). Real quotes vary by season, container availability, weight density and forwarder relationship. Confirm with your freight forwarder before booking.
Freight rates by method — China → Kenya
| Method | Range | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Air express (DHL/FedEx/UPS) | $10–$14 /kg | 2–5 d |
| Air standard / consolidator | $6–$9 /kg | 7–11 d |
| Sea LCL (less than container) | $190–$260 /CBM | 28–38 d |
| Sea FCL — 20ft container | $2,500–$3,800 /container | 28–38 d |
| Sea FCL — 40ft container | $4,200–$6,400 /container | 28–38 d |
Ports and infrastructure: Kenya
Main seaport: Port of Mombasa (gateway for East Africa, including landlocked neighbours).
Air-cargo gateway: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi (NBO).
Typical imported goods: electronics and phones, motorcycles (boda boda), construction materials, machinery, textiles.
Customs authority: Kenya Revenue Authority — Customs & Border Control. See the customs page →
What affects your shipping cost
- Cargo density. Air freight charges the higher of actual vs volumetric weight. For bulky/light goods (foam, clothing), volumetric dominates. For dense goods (metal), actual weight does.
- Season. Q4 (October–December, before Christmas and Lunar New Year) is peak season — prices can rise 20–40%. Q1–Q2 is low season.
- Origin port in China. Shenzhen/Yantian and Shanghai are the main hubs. Ningbo, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Xiamen are also heavily used. Choice of Chinese port affects LCL pricing.
- Incoterms. EXW (you pick up at factory) → you pay all transport. FOB (delivered to Chinese port) → you pay from there. CIF (delivered to arrival port, freight + insurance included) → simplest for first-timers.
- Arrival port fees. Handling, storage, clearance — easily US$200–500 on arrival even for a small LCL shipment. Always request a "door-to-door all-in" quote.
- Currency and FX. Freight is billed in USD. Conversion at time of payment to your forwarder in Shilling — watch the USD/KES rate.
Which Chinese ports usually serve Kenya?
Five Chinese hubs dominate exports to Kenya: Shenzhen / Yantian (Pearl River Delta, the largest for electronics), Shanghai / Yangshan (Yangtze, broad high-tonnage), Ningbo-Zhoushan (Zhejiang, near Yiwu), Guangzhou / Nansha (south China), and Qingdao (north China, machinery and steel).
Choice depends on where your supplier is located (each hub drains ~500 km of hinterland), departure schedule to Port of Mombasa (gateway for East Africa, and container availability. Ask your forwarder the weekly sailing frequency from each port — that determines whether you wait 3 or 14 days to load.
For Yiwu (the world's largest wholesale market), Ningbo is the closest port (180 km); for Guangzhou and the Pearl River Delta, Shenzhen or Guangzhou directly; for Shanghai and the Yangtze, Shanghai. Your consolidation forwarder will route the orders to the optimal port for your lane regardless.
Choosing a forwarder for Kenya
A good China → Kenya forwarder does three things: (1) has an office or correspondent BOTH in China AND in Kenya, (2) can consolidate multiple suppliers into a single shipment, (3) knows Kenya Revenue Authority — Customs & Border Control and can handle clearance at Port of Mombasa (gateway for East Africa without an additional middleman.
Always request a "door-to-door" quote that includes: pickup at the Chinese supplier, export fees, sea or air freight, arrival port fees, customs clearance, and delivery to your warehouse. A quote covering only "port-to-port" freight typically hides US$300–800 in arrival fees.
For a first test, order a small batch (1 CBM or 50 kg). It costs ~US$300–500 all-in and validates the forwarder before you trust them with a US$10,000 shipment. Kenya importer forums on WhatsApp and Telegram are valuable sources of peer feedback.