Cost of Shipping From China to Ghana
China has the second largest economy in the world and the largest supplier of imports to Ghana. It is also home to the global e-commerce company Ali Baba, making China an excellent source of import shipments of commercial into Ghana.
In this post, you’ll learn the procedures involved Cargo/freight shipping from China to Ghana. You’ll also get to know the cost of shipping from China to Ghana and different mode of shipment.
The best way to ship goods from China to Ghana is to use the services of courier companies and cargo shipping companies. However, the first thing to consider when shipping from China is the transport route.
The choice of means of shipment from China is usually determined by cost, size of cargo and transit time. They are some cargo services that use strictly air transport which is faster than shipping by sea.
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Shipment Time From China to Ghana
The factors affecting delivering time from China is the point of shipment, the point of delivery and means of transport. Generally, air transport is faster than shipping by sea. The transit time by sea varies between the route of shipment.
Beijing Harbor to the Port of Tema
Transit from Beijing Habor to Tema Port takes about 47 days. The voyage starts at Beijing harbour heading to the South Atlantic Ocean through the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. From there it heads to the North Atlantic Ocean and into the Gulf of Guinea before arriving at the port of Tema.
Shenzhen Port to the Port of Tema
Shipment from Shenzhen port to the Tema port takes about 48 days. The voyage starts at Shenzhen port heading to the Atlantic Ocean via the China Sea and the Indian Ocean. It then proceeds to the Gulf of Guinea before arriving at the port of Tema.
Beijing Harbor to the Port of Takoradi
Shipment from Beijing Harbor to Takoradi port takes about 47 days. The transit starts at the Beijing harbour heading to the South Atlantic Ocean through the Indian Ocean and China Sea. From there, it heads to the Gulf of Guinea through the North Atlantic Ocean before arriving at the Port of Takoradi.
Shenzhen Port to the Port of Takoradi
Voyage time from Shenzhen port to Takoradi harbour takes about 48 days. The shipment starts at the port of Shenzhen heading to the Atlantic Ocean via the China Sea and the Indian Ocean. It then heads to the Gulf of Guinea before arriving at the port of Takoradi.
However, the cheapest method of shipping is to use China or Hong Kong Post Service. Typically, this service takes about 2 to 5 weeks before you receive your package. This option is very convenient for a small shipment and it’s quite cheap. You can as well track and trace your package online. However, this tacking is usually slow.
The major disadvantage of this method is that packages often get lost in transit and most times they are hard to find.
Express Post From China to Ghana
Express post is a faster way and it involves the use of courier companies like DHL, FedEx and UPS. With these services, you can receive your package within 2 to 5 business days, however, the cost is higher than using China Post.
In Africa, DHL and FedEx have an excellent track record in delivery. For instance, DHL provides a door to door service delivery from China to Ghana through DHL Express. The minimum order is usually 1kg and the supply ability of the company is 30,000kg.
The port is located at Shenzhen in Hong Kong and the transit time is usually 3 to 4 days after the package has been loaded in Shenzhen.
Air Freight Shipping from China to Ghana
Air Freight is another shipping method employed by cargo companies but this solely dependent on the weight of the package.
Shipping usually takes between 2 to 10 days. However, you may have to handle the documentation and customs clearance on your own. As a newbie in the shipping business, this route isn’t advisable. However, you can outsource this to a customs broker or trucking company at an additional cost.
Best Airlines for Shipping from China to Ghana
Below are some airlines which you can use to ship your package from China to Ghana
- Aerogem Aviation
- Cargolux Airlines
- China Airlines
- Lufthansa Cargo
- Qatar Airways
Sea Freight Shipping from China to Ghana
Sea Freight is used mostly for a very large package and this process usually has a long delivery time, however, it is cheaper than using air freight or traditional courier companies.
Prior to shipping, you can email your cargo details to the shipping company especially if you’re shipping commercial goods like raw material, machines and equipment.
It can even take up to 2 months before you get your package in some cases. So, if you’re a businessman or importer, your best bet will be to plan ahead of time, so that your shipment can come in when you need it.
Important Documents when Importing From China to Ghana
There are some important documents that customs will require from you or your forwarder. As such, you must prepare these document before time to aid smooth clearance.
Attested invoice: Your supplier will hand this document to your forwarder. The information contains descriptions of your cargo and the quantity.
Import declaration form: This is the document that your forwarder will hand over to the customs. It contains information about the goods that you’re importing to Ghana. This information is used to evaluate the duty to pay on your cargo.
Customs classification and valuation report (CCVR): This document will be handed over to your forwarder by Ghana’s revenue authority. Its purpose is to classify and evaluate the goods that you import.
Various permits and licenses: These documents can be obtained from relevant bodies depending on the type of goods that you import.
For more information on duty clearance in Ghana, visit the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority.
How to Receive Shipment From China in Ghana
There are many ways of receiving your shipment in Ghana. You can either receive it by yourself at the port after taking care of the necessary documentation and customs clearance.
Or you could pay the freight charges and use a cargo company to help you with the other processes involved. Once you have paid the necessary fees, keep in touch with your representative and wait for your delivery.
In another method, you can instruct your Chinese supplier to ship the cargo to your location. In this case, you will tell the supplier to ship your cargo as CIF “Port of destination” or DAP “Your facility address”.
Although this is more expensive, it will save you the stress of customs clearance and the headache associated with the documentation process. In this case, you can either work with a freight forwarder for convenience or work with a freight forwarder based in China, for speed.
Another option, you can work with a forwarder on each side for speed and savings. The supplier in China can send the packages to the company’s facility in China and then the shipment is delivered to your address in Ghana.
Cost of shipping from China to Ghana
The cost of shipping goods from China to Ghana depends on several factors. Some of these factors are predictable while others are unpredictable.
Some of the factors affecting shipping cost to Ghana include:
Port of Destination
The destination between your port of origin and port of destination affects shipping cost. The farther the ports from each other, the more the cost of shipping.
Fuel Price Fluctuation
The price of fuel is highly unpredictable as it keeps changing during the shipping process.
Terminal Fees
The terminal fees will also affect your shipping cost. These are fees that you’ll pay to the port through your forwarder for docking of the ship carrying your cargo. These charges vary from one port to another.
Season of Shipment
The season of shipment also affects the cost of shipping. Shipping during off-peak season implies that not many importers are shipping their cargoes.
The effect is that the shipping companies will lower their charges meaning that you will ship at a lower price. This is different when you are shipping during the peak season.
You will pay a higher charge since many importers want to ship their cargoes. In China, the off-peak season is around March to September.
Trading Currency
The trading currency also affects your shipping cost. A weak currency will mean that you will pay more as it changes in the global market. A strong currency is rigid as such it can maintain value for a while meaning that you are likely to pay the agreed amount.
When it comes to shipping from China to Ghana, always use a strong currency.
Breakdown of Shipping Cost from China to Ghana
Below is a breakdown of the cost of shipping from China to Ghana
- 1 – 2kg | Minimum invoice | $15
- 3 – 5kg | Freight & Clearing | $7.0
- 6 – 45kg | Freight & Clearing | $6.8
- 46 – 100kg | Freight & Clearing $6.4
- 101 – 300kg | Freight & Clearing | $6.3
- 301 – 500kg | Freight & Clearing | $5.7
- 501 – 1000kg | Freight & Clearing | $5.5
- 1000 – 3000kg | Freight & Clearing | $5.2/kg
Overall, the steps involved in shipping from China to Nigeria have been highlighted above.
Conclusion
Before shipping goods from China to Ghana, one needs to know the cost of shipping, customs fee and documentation. You also need to understand that the distance between the port of origin and port of destination also affects shipping cost. We believe that with this post, you’ve learnt much about shipping cost from China to Ghana.
