South Africa → China
Shipping from South Africa to China
Move cargo from Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and anywhere else in South Africa to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Yiwu — full container, shared container or air freight — with customs clearance and final delivery handled inside one account.
ShipHub™ IKEOCEAN® is a worldwide shipping account. This lane is one of tens of thousands — the same account books any origin to any destination, in any direction, with no separate account needed per country.
About this lane
- Leaving South Africa
- South African exports are declared to SARS on a customs declaration by a registered exporter with a customs code.
- Arriving in China
- Customs brokers handle the declaration, inspection and release at the arrival port. For this lane, have ready: China customs declaration; Import licence for controlled goods; CCC certification where applicable.
- The usual route
- Sea cargo usually loads at Durban or Cape Town and discharges at Shanghai or Ningbo. Air cargo usually flies Johannesburg OR Tambo to Guangzhou.
- Planning your timing
- Plan around 4–6 weeks on the water or 3–10 days by air, then allow for Chinese clearance. Starting the China import paperwork before the cargo sails is what usually keeps it moving.
Ways to ship South Africa to China
Ocean FCL (20ft / 40ft container)
Typically 4–6 weeks port to port
Best for: Vehicles, machinery, full loads and sourcing trips
Ocean LCL (shared container)
Typically 4–6 weeks port to port
Best for: Pallets, part loads and smaller restocks
Air freight
Typically 3–10 days airport to airport
Best for: Urgent, high-value, perishable or sample cargo
Door to door
Add pickup in South Africa and Chinese last-mile delivery
Best for: Shippers who want one price and no handoffs
Transit times are typical ranges and vary by carrier, season, port congestion and customs.
How it works
- 1
Request a quote
Give the pickup address in South Africa, the delivery address in China, and what you are shipping with the weight or container size.
- 2
Compare and book
You get priced options across sea and air from vetted carriers and forwarders, with the landed picture — freight, Chinese clearance and delivery.
- 3
Documents in one place
Upload your invoice and packing list once. Anything China requires is requested from you inside the same request and stays attached through delivery.
- 4
Clear and deliver
Customs brokers handle the declaration, inspection and release at the arrival port. You follow it from pickup to final delivery, with proof of delivery at the end.
Documents you will need
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Certificate of origin where applicable
- China customs declaration
- Import licence for controlled goods
- CCC certification where applicable
Questions shippers ask
How long does shipping from South Africa to China take?
Sea freight is typically 4–6 weeks port to port and air freight is 3–10 days airport to airport. Customs clearance in China adds a few days when documents are in order.
Which ports and airports do you use on this lane?
Sea freight typically loads at Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and discharges at Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen/Yantian. Air freight moves through Johannesburg OR Tambo, Cape Town to Guangzhou, Shenzhen.
Do you handle Chinese customs clearance?
Customs brokers handle the declaration, inspection and release at the arrival port. The documents stay attached to your shipment, so nothing has to be re-sent by email.
Can I ship to other countries on the same account?
Yes. Your ShipHub™ IKEOCEAN® account is worldwide. The same login books South Africa to China, the reverse direction, and any other country pair — one container can go one way while another goes somewhere else entirely.
What do I file in South Africa before shipping to China?
South African exports are declared to SARS on a customs declaration by a registered exporter with a customs code.