Shipping from China to Kenya: Everything You Need to Know
Are you looking for a reliable and affordable way to ship goods from China to Kenya? Whether you are a business owner, an online shopper, or a traveller, you need to know the best options for shipping from China to Kenya. We will cover everything you need to know about shipping from China to Kenya, including the different modes of transport, the costs, the transit times, the customs clearance, and the door-to-door delivery.
Modes of Transport for Shipping from China to Kenya
There are three main modes of transport for shipping from China to Kenya: air freight, sea freight, and express shipping. Each mode has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on your needs and preferences.
Air Freight China to Kenya
Air freight is the fastest and most convenient way to ship goods from China to Kenya. Air freight can ship your items from China to anywhere in the world within five business days. For Kenya, it can be even shorter – like it takes three days to ship your items from China to Kenya[^1^][3]. This is in stark contrast to sea freight, which can take a month or more to ship items from China.
Air freight is also the safest mode of transport, as there is less risk of damage or loss during transit. Air freight is ideal for shipping high-value, perishable, or urgent goods that need to reach their destination as soon as possible.
Air freight is also the most expensive mode of transport, as it charges by weight and volume. Air freight also has strict limitations on the size and weight of the items that can be shipped. Air freight is not suitable for shipping bulky, heavy, or low-value goods that can be shipped more economically by sea.
Sea Freight China to Kenya
Sea freight is the most cost-effective way to ship goods from China to Kenya. Sea freight charges by container size and type, rather than by weight and volume. Sea freight can accommodate large quantities and sizes of goods that cannot be shipped by air. Sea freight is suitable for shipping low-value, non-perishable, or bulky goods that do not have a tight deadline.
Sea freight is also the slowest and least reliable mode of transport, as it depends on factors such as weather conditions, port congestion, and sailing schedules. Sea freight can take up to 30 days or more to ship goods from China to Kenya. Sea freight also requires more paperwork and documentation than air freight. Sea freight is not ideal for shipping urgent, fragile, or high-value goods that need to reach their destination quickly and safely.
Express Shipping China to Kenya
Express shipping is a hybrid mode of transport that combines air freight and courier services. Express shipping offers fast and efficient delivery of small packages and documents from China to Kenya. Express shipping can deliver your items within 2-5 days, depending on the service provider and the destination. Express shipping also provides door-to-door delivery, tracking, and insurance for your items.
Express shipping is perfect for shipping lightweight, time-sensitive, or valuable goods that need special handling and care. Express shipping is also convenient for online shoppers who want to receive their orders as soon as possible.
However, express shipping is also the most expensive mode of transport after air freight, as it charges by weight and volume. Express shipping also has strict limitations on the size and weight of the items that can be shipped. Express shipping is not economical for shipping large quantities or sizes of goods that can be shipped cheaper by sea.
Costs of Shipping from China to Kenya
The costs of shipping from China to Kenya vary depending on several factors such as:
- The mode of transport
- The origin and destination
- The weight and volume of the goods
- The type and value of the goods
- The season and demand
- The customs duties and taxes
To give you an idea of the costs of shipping from China to Kenya, here are some examples of average rates for different modes of transport:
- Air freight: $5-$10 per kg
- Sea freight: $1000-$2000 per 20ft container
- Express shipping: $20-$50 per kg
These rates are only indicative and may change depending on the specific details of your shipment. To get an accurate quote for your shipment, you can use online tools such as Eurosender or Winsky Freight that offer instant price calculation and comparison of different service providers.
Transit Times for Shipping from China to Kenya
The transit times for shipping from China to Kenya depend on several factors such as:
- The mode of transport
- The origin and destination
- The weather conditions
- The port congestion
- The sailing schedules
- The customs clearance
To give you an idea of the transit times for shipping from China to Kenya, here are some examples of average durations for different modes of transport:
- Air freight: 3-5 days
- Sea freight: 20-30 days
- Express shipping: 2-5 days
Customs Clearance for Shipping from China to Kenya
Customs clearance is one of the most important and challenging aspects of shipping from China to Kenya. Customs clearance involves the inspection, valuation, taxation, and regulation of the goods that enter or leave a country. Customs clearance requires a lot of paperwork and documentation, as well as compliance with the rules and regulations of both countries.
To clear your goods through customs in Kenya, you will need to have the following documents:
- Certificate of origin: This document proves the origin of your goods and determines the applicable duty rate. You can obtain this document from the China Chamber of Commerce or from your supplier.
- Bill of lading/airway bill: This document is issued by the carrier and serves as a contract of carriage and a receipt of goods. It contains information such as the shipper, consignee, description of goods, weight, volume, and destination.
- Commercial invoice: This document is issued by the supplier and serves as a proof of sale and a declaration of value. It contains information such as the seller, buyer, description of goods, quantity, unit price, total price, terms of payment, and terms of delivery.
- Inspection certificate: This document is issued by a third-party inspection company such as SGS or Intertek and verifies the quality, quantity, and conformity of your goods. It is required for certain products such as food, drugs, cosmetics, textiles, electronics, etc.
- ISM (imports standard mark) certificate: This document is issued by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and certifies that your goods meet the Kenyan standards and regulations. It is required for all imports except for raw materials and capital goods.
- Packing list: This document is issued by the supplier and provides details of the packing and contents of your goods. It contains information such as the number of packages, marks and numbers, dimensions, weight, and description of goods.
- Import license: This document is issued by the relevant Kenyan authority and grants permission to import certain products such as agricultural products, animal products, firearms, explosives, etc.
To obtain these documents, you will need to work with your supplier in China, your freight forwarder in China or Kenya, and your customs broker in Kenya. You will also need to pay customs duties and taxes based on the value and type of your goods. The method of valuation in Kenya is CIF (cost + insurance + freight). The average duty rate in Kenya is 25%, while the sales tax (VAT) is 16%. There may also be other fees such as excise duty, import declaration fee (IDF), railway development levy (RDL), etc.
To avoid delays or penalties during customs clearance in Kenya, you should make sure that you have all the required documents ready before shipping your goods from China. You should also make sure that you declare your goods accurately and honestly. You should also check if your goods are subject to any prohibitions or restrictions in Kenya.
Door-to-door Delivery for Shipping from China to Kenya
Door-to-door delivery is a service that offers complete transportation of your goods from your supplier’s location in China to your final destination in Kenya. Door-to-door delivery includes all the steps involved in shipping from China to Kenya such as:
- Pick up from China manufacturers: Your freight forwarder will arrange to collect your goods from your supplier’s location in China and transport them to the nearest port or airport.
- Shipping from China to Kenya: Your freight forwarder will book space with a carrier and ship your goods from China to Kenya by air freight, sea freight, or express shipping according to your preference.
- Customs clearance in Kenya: Your freight forwarder will handle all the paperwork and documentation required for clearing your goods through customs in Kenya. They will also pay any customs duties and taxes on your behalf.
- Delivery to your location in Kenya: Your freight forwarder will arrange to deliver your goods from the port or airport in Kenya to your final destination by truck or courier.
Door-to-door delivery is a convenient and hassle-free service that saves you time and money. You don’t have to worry about finding different service providers for each step of the shipping process. You also don’t have to deal with customs clearance or transportation issues in Kenya. You can simply track your shipment online and wait for it to arrive at your doorstep.
However, door-to-door delivery is also a premium service that comes at a higher cost than other services. You will have to pay for all the fees and charges involved in the shipping process, including customs duties and taxes. You will also have to trust your freight forwarder to handle your goods with care and professionalism.
Shipping from China to Kenya can be a profitable and rewarding business venture if you know how to do it right. In this blog post, we have covered everything you need to know about shipping from China to Kenya, including the best products to import, the best suppliers to source from, the best modes of transport to choose, the costs and transit times involved, the customs clearance requirements, and the door-to-door delivery options.
We hope that this blog post has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or comments about shipping from China to Kenya, please feel free to contact us anytime. We are always happy to help you with your shipping needs.