Shipping to South Africa

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Ocean Freight to South Africa

At DFreight, we provide a wide range of business sea freight services for a variety of commodities, including foods, fruits, electronics, cosmetics, and furniture; offering transparent, effective, and reliable door-to-door cargo to South Africa from the UAE and vice versa. You can conduct business without being concerned about the challenges of shipping from the UAE to South Africa using our all-in-one digital freight solutions.

Our digital freight forwarding platform provides real-time monitoring of shipments, ensuring that you have complete visibility and control over your cargo. We offer end-to-end services tailored to your unique requirements, making shipping to and from South Africa a hassle-free experience. We help you ship business cargo to various cities in South Africa, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, etc. in the easiest, fastest, and safest way possible.

You can rely on DFreight to assist you with all of your international cargo shipping to South Africa thanks to our FCL and LCL shipment ocean freight cargo services. With the help of our digital freight platform, you may submit your inquiry right away and receive the best competitive prices for shipping your cargo to South Africa.

Import to South Africa from UAE

FCL

Durban From: Jebel Ali

$515 From

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FCL

Cape Town From: Jebel Ali

$1,219 From

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Export from South Africa to UAE

FCL

Abu Dhabi From: Durban

$613 From

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FCL

Jebel Ali From: Durban

$941 From

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FCL

Ajman From: Durban

$965 From

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FCL

Sharjah From: Durban

$1,001 From

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Major Sea Ports in South Africa

Port of Durban

Durban’s port has the biggest shipping traffic in Africa. It is also South Africa’s largest port facility. This harbor was established in 1824 as part of the British colonial character. The Durban Port Facility accounts for approximately 60% of South Africa’s total shipping income. The complex spans 18.5 square kilometers of Durban Bay, with 8.9 square kilometers of high-tide coastline. Furthermore, this port handles 60% of South Africa’s entire container freight shipping load.

Port of Richards Bay

Richards Bay was established in 1972, with Parliament’s authorisation for commercial harbour activities. The facility has a land area of 2.76 square kilometers and 6 docks for seagoing vessels of all sizes. The port, which is one of the largest in Africa, facilitates coal freight operations. Richards Bay handles 55% of cargo among South Africa’s major ports in terms of gross volume. The facility can comfortably accommodate large vessels with channel draughts ranging from 17.5 to 19.5 meters.

Port Elizabeth

Port Elizabeth was first mentioned along the South African sea coast in 1427. However, its harbour status began with the British settlement in the 1830s. Cargo activities with true commercial importance date back to 1927. Transnet emerges as the dominant container terminal operator in this port complex. The container terminal’s quay length is roughly 1 kilometer, divided into three container berths. Furthermore, Port Elizabeth authority has 6 berths for breakbulk handling and 2 for ore bulk.

Europe

Asia

North America

South America

Africa

Oceania

Top South Africa Exports and Imports

The top exports of South Africa are Platinum, Gold, Iron Ore, Diamonds, and Coal Briquettes, exporting mostly to China, United States, Germany, United Kingdom, and India.

The top imports of South Africa are Refined Petroleum, Crude Petroleum, Motor vehicles; parts and accessories, Cars, and Broadcasting Equipment, importing mostly from China, Germany, India, United States, and Saudi Arabia.

Market Update 2023

According to OEC, in 2021, South Africa was the number 31 economy in the world in terms of GDP, the number 34 in total exports, the number 43 in total imports, the number 85 economy in terms of GDP per capita and the number 59 most complex economy according to the Economic Complexity Index.

South Africa exported US$4.45 Billion during 2021 to the United Arab Emirates and imported US$1.46 Billion during 2021 from the UAE, according to the Trading Economics database.

South Africa–UAE freight market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, with trade expected to increase by 2023. The UAE and South Africa have a strong trade partnership with each other, evident in its strong volumes of air cargo, ocean cargo, warehousing and express services. The market will benefit from the growing number of infrastructure and investments made by both South Africa and the UAE, which will foster and facilitate trade between them. Both countries have formed several bilateral agreements that will see better integration of their supply chains and further fostering of this strong relationship.

Banned Products

Banned products for importing into South Africa include anything containing asbestos, counterfeit goods, alcohol, and any form of pornographic material. South Africa also has restrictions on the import of items that may pose a risk to public health and safety, including certain medicines, medical technology, and hazardous chemicals. South Africa also prohibits the importation of certain animals and plant species that are considered invasive and pose a threat to native species.

Documents & Customs Clearance

One thing to take into account when exporting cargo internationally is customs clearance. You must be aware of the customs clearance regulations of the destination countries when shipping cargo from South Africa.

The following documentation must be given to local customs for international shipments by the supplier, consignee, or intermediary:

– A commercial invoice
– A packing list
– A bill of lading
– A certificate of origin

Rules & Regulations

Importers to South Africa must comply with the rules and regulations regarding the import of goods. These include restrictions on the import of certain items; an import permit from an authorized regulatory authority; and the payment of duties and taxes levied by the SARS (South African Revenue Service). An importer should also ensure that their imported goods meet the applicable South African standards and requirements, and should obtain an SABS (South African Bureau of Standards) certification where required. The import of goods must also be registered with the South African Customs Service before delivery can take place.