Shipping cost from China to Mozambique
To ship from China to Mozambique in 2026, expect $12–$15.5/kg air express (3–7 days) or $220–$300/CBM sea LCL (33–47 days). Main port: Port of Maputo.
Live calculator below, plus the full per-method table, port + forwarder context, and a link to the duty + VAT applied by Autoridade Tributária de Moçambique (AT) on arrival.
How much does it cost to ship from China to Mozambique?
+ 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 → Mozambique
| Method | Range | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Air express (DHL/FedEx/UPS) | $12–$16 /kg | 3–7 d |
| Air standard / consolidator | $7–$11 /kg | 8–14 d |
| Sea LCL (less than container) | $220–$300 /CBM | 33–47 d |
| Sea FCL — 20ft container | $2,900–$4,400 /container | 33–47 d |
| Sea FCL — 40ft container | $4,900–$7,300 /container | 33–47 d |
* Some rates are regional estimates (limited public coverage). Confirm with your forwarder.
Ports and infrastructure: Mozambique
Main seaport: Port of Maputo, Port of Beira, Port of Nacala (each serves different inland regions).
Air-cargo gateway: Maputo International Airport (MPM).
Typical imported goods: electronics, textiles, building materials, machinery, vehicles.
Customs authority: Autoridade Tributária de Moçambique (AT). See the customs page →
What the China → Mozambique lane looks like
Lane type. This is a multi-port lane: three separate coastal ports each open a different inland corridor, so unlike single-port destinations the entry decision is itself a cost lever.
What that means in practice. Public rate coverage is moderate and the southern port handles most boxed consumer imports, while the central and northern ports lean toward transit and bulk; match the port to your delivery region rather than defaulting to the capital.
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.
- 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 Metical — watch the USD/MZN rate.
Which Chinese ports usually serve Mozambique?
Five Chinese hubs dominate exports to Mozambique: 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 Maputo, and container availability. Ask your forwarder the weekly sailing frequency from each port — that determines whether you wait 3 or 14 days to load.
If your buyer is in a landlocked neighbour, one of the northern or central ports is often the shorter corridor — worth quoting against the default southern routing.
Choosing a forwarder for Mozambique
Pick the port to match your delivery region before you pick the forwarder — three separate ports each open a different corridor — and use a forwarder who actually operates at the one your goods need, not just the busiest southern terminal.
A good China → Mozambique forwarder does three things: (1) has an office or correspondent BOTH in China AND in Mozambique, (2) can consolidate multiple suppliers into a single shipment, (3) knows Autoridade Tributária de Moçambique (AT) and can handle clearance at Port of Maputo 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. On this lane specifically, validate the forwarder with a small test batch (1 CBM or 50 kg) before trusting them with a full shipment.