With the increasing prosperity of global trade, the frequent flow of goods between China and Congo has brought significant growth momentum to the economies of both parties. This article will introduce in detail how to ship from China to Congo, including Congo’s main ports and airports, shipping costs, time, DDP shipping, and customs clearance processes.

Introduction to Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is located in central Africa and is the second largest country in Africa. It borders Angola to the south and Uganda and Tanzania to the east. It has rich natural resources and diverse cultural landscapes. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is world-famous for its vast tropical rainforest, rich mineral resources and unique wildlife. China mainly exports machinery and equipment, electronic products, building materials, vehicles and some consumer goods to Congo.

How to Ship from China to Congo

When you want to ship goods from China to Congo, there are basically two options: sea freight and air freight. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the key to choosing is to choose the right shipping method according to your specific situation

Sea freight from China to Congo

Sea freight is suitable for transporting bulk goods, not only because of its low price, but also because it is able to transport bulk and break bulk goods. In addition, by sea freight, we are able to transport almost all types of goods but the shipping time is longer, usually it takes about 35-45 days of shipping time, suitable for goods that are not time-sensitive, you can choose between less than container load (LCL) and full container load (FCL) according to the size of its goods and budget

Less than container load freight (LCL)
Less than container load freight means that your goods will share space with other companies’ goods. It is very suitable for small goods that do not need to fill a full container
Due to the packing and unpacking process, your delivery time may be a little longer.

Full container load freight (FCL)
Full container load freight means renting an entire container for your goods. If your goods are large enough to occupy a container, or even most of a container, then full container load freight may be the most economical option.
It is also faster than LCL shipping, as there is no need to combine or split your items with other items.
Your container will also remain sealed throughout the entire journey, and unless customs officials choose to inspect it, it will remain sealed until it reaches your address or chosen destination.

Air Freight from China to Congo

Air freight is a fast shipping option from China to Congo, typically arriving in 5-7 days. This quick turnaround makes it ideal for time-sensitive or perishable items. However, keep in mind that the faster you go, the more it will cost, especially when shipping heavy or bulky goods.

Cost of shipping from China to Congo

The cost of shipping from China to Congo ultimately depends on several factors. Before preparing a quote, your freight forwarder may ask for the following details:

• Nature of cargo
• Your preferred mode of shipping (FCL, LCL, air freight)
• The weight and dimensions of your shipment
• Origin and destination

Sea freight from China to Congo

The average price to ship a container from China to Congo is $3050 to $5500. The specific freight costs depend on the size of the container (20ft or 40ft) and the intended route, please contact the Basenton quotation team to get detailed rates for shipping your container from China to the main container ports in Congo.

• How much does it cost to ship a 20ft container from China to Congo? The average price to ship a 20ft container from China to Congo is $3050 to $4150.
• How much does it cost to ship a 40ft container from China to Congo? The average price to ship a 40ft container from China to Congo is $4150 to $5350.

Container shipping service from China to Congo	Type of container	Ocean freight rates from China to Congo:
How much does it cost to ship a container from Shanghai China to Congo.	20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL	average price from: $3300 20FT average price from: $4500 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Shenzhen China to Congo.	20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL	average price from: $3250 20FT average price from: $4400 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Ningbo-Zhoushan China to Congo.	20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL	average price from: $3100 20FT average price from: $4600 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Hong Kong China to Congo.	20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL	average price from: $3250 20FT average price from: $4450 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Guangzhou China to Congo.	20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL	average price from: $3150 20FT average price from: $4550 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Qingdao China to Congo	20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL	average price from: $3400 20FT average price from: $4650 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Tianjin China to Congo	20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL	average price from: $3350 20FT average price from: $4850 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Dalian China to Congo	20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL	average price from: $3550 20FT average price from: $4900 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Xiamen China to Congo	20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL	average price from: $3400 20FT average price from: $4800 40FT
How much does it cost to ship a container from Yingkou China to Congo	20 foot container FCL 40 foot container FCL	average price from: $3250 20FT average price from: $4750 40FT

Air Freight from China to Congo Cost

When you ship goods from China to Tanzania by air, the air freight costs depend on several factors: the departure city, the airport you land at in Tanzania, and the weight and volume of the shipment. Typically, you’ll pay between $8 and $10 per kilogram. Keep in mind that these prices can vary depending on the specific air cargo company and route you choose.

You may be interested in shipping costs from China to other countries in Africa, you can read:

How Much does it Cost to Ship from China to Tanzania

How Much does it Cost to Ship from China to Kenya

How Much does it Cost to Ship from China to Egypt

How Much does Shipping Cost from China to Nigeria

Shipping time from China to Congo

Shipping time from China to Congo is affected by many factors, including mode of transport, origin and destination, routing, possible transit

Sea freight time from China to Congo

For sea freight, the standard shipping time from China to Congo is usually 30-45 days. This time includes loading time, the voyage itself, and unloading procedures at the destination port. The total time may vary depending on whether you choose LCL or FCL and the specific departure and arrival ports.

From(Port of Departure)	To(Port of Destination)	Transit Times
Shanghai	Matadi	32-41 days
Ningbo	Matadi	31-40 days
Shenzhen	Matadi	32-43 days
Qingdao	AMatadi	33-44 days

Air freight time from China to Congo

Air freight is a faster option for shipping from China to Congo. Generally, you can expect your goods to arrive in 3-7 days. This speed is due to the more direct air freight routes and fewer logistics delays. However, it is worth noting that peak seasons, weather conditions, and operational factors can affect these times.

From(Airport of Departure)	To(Airport of Destination)	Transit Times
Beijing Capital	Kinshasa Ndjili	3-6 days
Shanghai Pudong	Kinshasa Ndjili	4-7 days
Guangzhou Baiyun	Kinshasa Ndjili	5-7 days

DDP Shipping from China to Congo

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) means that the seller completes import customs clearance procedures at the designated destination and delivers the goods that have not been unloaded on the delivery vehicle to the buyer to complete the delivery. For DDP shipping from China to Congo, the seller is responsible for the entire transportation, insurance, import customs clearance and taxes to ensure that the goods are delivered safely to the buyer. Benefits of DDP shipping from China:

• Cost clarity: With DDP shipping, the seller is responsible for all costs, including freight, duties and taxes. This provides buyers with clear and predictable costs.
• Customs and taxes: Buyers do not need to worry about complex customs and tax issues. This reduces the risk of customs-related delays or problems and ensures a smoother customs clearance process.
• Reduced risk: DDP shipping transfers most of the risk from the buyer to the seller. The seller is responsible for any potential problems or damage during transportation, helping buyers avoid unexpected costs or troubles.

How to clear customs for goods imported from China to Congo

You need to ensure that the following documents are accurately filled out and submitted to the Chinese customs authorities correctly for export clearance. The customs authorities will also require these documents during the import clearance procedure:

• Commercial invoice
• Packing list
• Certificate of origin
• Letter of credit or other payment terms (depending on the contract signed by both parties)
• Sea waybill or air waybill
• In addition to the bill of lading, the shipper (exporter) and importer of the goods must also obtain and provide the above documents.

Payment of customs duties and VAT: The import tax rate in Congo is generally between 10%-20%, depending on the type of goods.

Customs inspection: Customs sometimes conducts random inspections of goods to ensure that there is no tax evasion or violation.

Release of goods: After completing all procedures, the goods can be released by customs and finally delivered to the customer.

Shipping from China to Congo requires a lot of information, including the trade relationship between the two countries, freight, timeliness, transportation methods, etc. Choosing the appropriate transportation method based on actual needs, such as sea transportation and air transportation, can effectively reduce costs and risks. The DDP shipping method provides more convenience and security for buyers and is an option worth considering.