Sea & Air Routes
We ship from major Chinese ports (Shenzhen, Shanghai, Ningbo, Guangzhou) to the largest commercial gateways across Africa. Choose sea freight for cost-efficiency or air freight for urgent samples and high-value SKUs.
| Origin (China) | Destination Port | Country | Mode | Transit Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shenzhen / Shanghai | 🇳🇬 Apapa / Tin Can | Nigeria | Sea (FCL/LCL) | 30–35 days |
| Shenzhen / Ningbo | 🇰🇪 Mombasa | Kenya | Sea (FCL/LCL) | 25–30 days |
| Shanghai / Shenzhen | 🇹🇿 Dar es Salaam | Tanzania | Sea (FCL/LCL) | 28–32 days |
| Shenzhen | 🇬🇭 Tema | Ghana | Sea (FCL/LCL) | 32–38 days |
| Shanghai | 🇿🇦 Durban | South Africa | Sea (FCL/LCL) | 28–34 days |
| Guangzhou | 🇨🇮 Abidjan | Côte d'Ivoire | Sea (FCL/LCL) | 34–40 days |
| Any (CN) | 🛬 Any major airport | Africa-wide | Air freight | 5–9 days |
| Any (CN) | 📦 Express courier | Africa-wide | DHL / FedEx | 3–5 days |
Container Loading & Mixed-SKU FCL
For larger buyers, we coordinate full-container deliveries with mixed SKUs across multiple categories — letting you maximize landed-cost economics without being locked into a single product line.
| Container | Capacity (CBM) | Typical Use | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20'GP | ~28 CBM | Small distributors, niche SKU mix | $8K–25K orders |
| 40'GP | ~58 CBM | Multi-category mix, mid-size dealers | $15K–45K orders |
| 40'HQ | ~68 CBM | Bulky parts (tires, batteries, panels) | $20K–80K orders |
Photo & video documentation of container loading is sent to you before sealing. We optimize stowage to maximize protection and minimize damage in transit.
SONCAP · COC · CTN — We've Got You Covered
Customs certification is where most China-Africa shipments get stuck. Ratel handles this end-to-end so you never see your container detained at port.
| Country | Certificate | Inspection Body | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | SONCAP / PC | SGS · Cotecna · Intertek | 0.45–0.65% of FOB |
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | COC (PVoC) | SGS · Intertek · KEBS-listed | 0.475% of FOB |
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania | COC | SGS · Intertek | 0.6% of FOB |
| 🇺🇬 Uganda | COC (PVoC) | SGS · Intertek | 0.55% of FOB |
| 🇨🇲 Cameroon | CTN + Inspection | SGS · COTECNA | EUR 100–250 + 0.5% |
| 🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire | CSC + Inspection | BIVAC · Webb | 0.75% of FOB |
What you provide: Buyer details and end-use destination. That's it.
Customs Clearance
Our local customs broker partners handle:
- Bill of Lading endorsement
- Form M / PAAR (Nigeria) / IDF (Kenya) preparation
- Duty & VAT calculation and payment coordination
- Port handling charges (THC, demurrage prevention)
- Container release and trucking arrangement
Last-Mile Delivery
Once cleared at port, we move your goods to your warehouse — no need to rent your own truck or hire your own clearing agent.
- Door-to-door (DDP): Goods delivered to your specified address, all duties pre-paid.
- Door-to-port (CIF): You handle import duties; we deliver to nominated port.
- Multi-drop: Split a container across multiple buyers in the same city — share container cost.
Tracking & Updates
WhatsApp updates at every stage:
- Production complete + QC photos
- Container loaded + loading video
- Vessel departed + ETA
- Vessel arrived + customs status
- Container released + delivery confirmation
Cargo Insurance
All shipments are insured at 110% of CIF value via PICC / Ping An. Standard coverage includes:
- Total & partial loss in transit
- Damage from rough handling, water ingress, fire
- Theft & non-delivery
- General average contributions
Cost: ~0.2% of CIF — negligible vs the peace of mind it provides on a $30K container.