Import to DR Congo: Kinshasa and Lubumbashi Sourcing Guide

If you want to import to DR Congo, start by accepting that the country is vast, and that a shop in Kinshasa, a mining contractor in Lubumbashi and a pharmacy in Goma face different problems. Goods for the capital arrive through the Atlantic, goods for Katanga usually travel in from the south or the east on long road and rail routes, and goods for the eastern provinces come through other neighbours. Distance, handling and paperwork all stand between the factory and your shelf.

That is why so many Congolese buyers pay a lot for imported goods that they did not choose, inspect or test. They depend on a middleman who knows the route. Some of those middlemen are excellent. Others add cost, and a few sell products that do not match what was promised.

If you want to buy on your own account, you need a plan that fits your location, your product and your cash. This guide sets out that plan in the order you will meet each step. Customs, standards and transport rules in the country change, and conditions on some routes vary, so confirm all current requirements with a licensed clearing agent or the relevant authority before you pay.

Start with where your goods must end up

Before you choose a supplier, decide your delivery point, because it shapes everything else: port, route, packaging and cost.

Kinshasa and the west. Sea cargo usually comes through Matadi on the Congo River estuary, then moves inland by road or rail. Some traders also route through neighbouring ports and cross the river, but that adds its own steps.
Lubumbashi, Kolwezi and Katanga. Cargo commonly arrives through southern or eastern African ports and travels overland, with Kasumbalesa on the Zambian border a well-known crossing. Routes from Angola's Lobito corridor are also discussed by traders.
Goma, Bukavu and the east. Goods often come through East African ports and neighbouring countries.

Because journeys are long, packaging matters more than usual. Cartons should be strong, goods should be protected against moisture and rough handling, and you should ask your supplier how they pack for multi-stage transport.

Think also about what you sell. Households and shops buy building materials, plastics, clothing, shoes, groceries, phone accessories, solar lighting, motorcycle parts, school items and cleaning products. Mining, construction and agriculture buyers look for tools, safety equipment, spare parts, lubricants, packaging and electrical items. Food, medicines and cosmetics have extra rules, so treat them as a second step. French is the main business language, so labels and manuals in French are usually an advantage.

Import to DR Congo: choosing a sourcing route

Buyers source from China, India, Turkey, the Gulf, South Africa, Europe and other African countries. Nearby regional sources can mean shorter journeys for some goods, while Asian factories often offer a wider range. The best route depends on volume and risk.

Route	Suits you if	Watch out for
Factory direct	You can fill or share a container	Higher MOQ, long lead time, more checking
Trading company	You need mixed products in smaller lots	Extra margin, less factory control
Regional wholesalers (South Africa, Zambia, Gulf)	You want to see stock and move faster	Price includes their margin
Sourcing agent or forwarder who buys for you	You want less work	Less price transparency
Online sourcing platform	You want to compare many suppliers	Inactive or fake listings if you skip checks

Online platforms are one tool. Comilmart is one option: you can browse suppliers by category, compare MOQ, tiered pricing, lead times and specifications, chat with suppliers, ask about samples and look for the Verified badge, which is awarded after a document review. What you find depends on what suppliers have listed, and a badge should start your checks, not end them.

If you do not find the item, a sourcing request lets you describe the specification, quantity, packaging, language of labels and delivery route, and receive quotations to compare.

Checking suppliers, samples and the agreement

Checking a supplier from a distance

When you cannot visit the factory, your checks must do the work. Treat each step as a gate you pass before the next.

Identity. Ask for registration details, a business licence and a tax number. Confirm the company name on documents matches the quotation and the bank account.
Live proof. Request a video call that shows the factory floor or warehouse.
Consistency. The product in the listing, the sample and the factory images should look like the same item.
Export record. Ask whether they have shipped to Central, Southern or East Africa and how they pack for long overland journeys.
Written quotation. It should specify the product, quantity, price, currency, production time and the Incoterm.
Compare. Gather at least three quotations. An unusually low price usually hides a lower grade or missing item.

Be careful with anyone who offers to ship quickly but cannot show documents, avoids a sample, or asks you to pay a personal account. Keep all messages in writing, because they are your record if there is a dispute.

Samples and the purchase agreement

Order a sample, even when it feels slow. Test it where it will be used: tools under load, clothing after washing, solar items in sun and dust, electrical goods for plug type and markings, packaged goods for seals and printed text. Keep the approved sample so you can compare it with the bulk goods.

Your agreement or proforma invoice should state:

Full description, model, size, colour, material and grade.
Quantity, unit price, currency and total.
Incoterm and the named place.
Packaging method, strength of cartons, moisture protection and labelling language.
Production time and the latest shipping date.
Payment stages and the exact bank account.
Your right to inspect before shipment.
What happens if goods are wrong, damaged or late.

For heavier or high-value items, consider paying an independent inspector at the factory before the final payment. Ask your supplier whether they allow it. A supplier with nothing to hide usually will.

Payment: reducing the risk of a long-distance deal

A large advance to an unknown supplier is the single most common route to loss. The longer and more complicated your supply route, the more important it is to keep your money protected until you can see evidence that the goods are on their way.

Options include bank transfer, letters of credit, protected payment through a platform and staged payments linked to milestones. Each has costs and limits. For a first order, many buyers choose a deposit to start production and a balance linked to inspection results or shipping documents. Where a platform offers protected payment, the idea is that money moves only when agreed conditions are met. Read the general description of Trade Assurance, and keep your agreement and payments consistent with it.

In DR Congo, both local currency and US dollars are commonly used in trade, and international payments pass through banks or licensed channels. Rules on foreign payments and documentation can change, so ask your bank and your clearing agent what they require before you transfer money. Do not use informal channels for large supplier payments that you cannot document.

Moving the goods: sea, road, rail and the corridors

For most commercial cargo, sea freight is the main mode. Air freight is more suitable for samples, urgent items and light, high-value goods. After the port, the inland journey may take much longer than the ocean leg, so plan for it.

Incoterm	Plain meaning
FOB	The supplier loads the goods onto the ship at origin. You arrange sea freight and what follows.
CFR / CIF	The supplier pays sea freight to a named destination port (and insurance under CIF). You handle clearing and onward transport.
DAP / DDP	The seller takes on more of the journey. Check exactly where responsibility ends.
EXW	You collect at the supplier's door and arrange nearly everything. Hard for first-time importers.

For a first shipment, FOB or CIF to a named port is easier to understand. Ask your forwarder for a route that fits your destination, and ask what they know about current conditions, transit procedures, border crossings and storage.

For inland movement, work with a transporter who can show insurance and references. Ask who is liable for loss or damage, how the cargo is tracked, and what happens if a vehicle is delayed at a border. Be realistic about weather, road conditions and security in some regions, and do not promise your own customers fixed arrival dates until the goods are actually moving.

Clearing the goods: agents, documents and a checklist

Clearing is normally done through a licensed clearing agent who prepares the declaration and handles customs and port processes. Choose your agent before the goods ship. In DR Congo, import procedures have involved bodies such as customs (the DGDA), the national freight management body (OGEFREM) and the quality control office (OCC), and requirements for specific goods can differ. Treat that as a general picture only, and ask your agent which steps apply to your product on the day you ship.

A typical set of documents includes the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill, and any certificate that applies. Duties, taxes and charges depend on classification and current rules, so ask for a written estimate and a list of what it covers.

Checklist before shipment:

Confirm your business registration and any import licence or number you need.
Send your agent a precise product description and ask how it would be classified.
Ask whether any pre-shipment inspection, cargo tracking or conformity step applies.
Check that names and addresses match across invoice, packing list and transport document.
Avoid vague descriptions such as "general merchandise".
Confirm labelling and language requirements.
Ask about storage, free days and container return terms.
Insure the cargo for the whole journey.
Keep digital copies of every document.

A worked example and your first week: Import to DR Congo

Imagine a buyer in Lubumbashi who supplies small contractors and wants work gloves, boots, hard hats and basic hand tools. He writes a specification with sizes, materials and packaging, and posts it as a request. Several suppliers reply. He rejects one that will not send a sample, tests the others for fit, stitching and finish, and finds one pair of boots that splits at the sole. With the best supplier he agrees a mixed order, adds the approved sample as reference, arranges a staged payment and asks his clearing agent whether any safety-equipment rules apply. He chooses an Incoterm that ends at a port he can manage, books a transporter with insurance, and plans stock for his customers after the goods are confirmed on the move, not before.

Common mistakes include paying a personal account, skipping samples, choosing an agent too late, underestimating inland transport and promising delivery dates too early.

This week:

Choose a product and write a one-page specification.
Decide your delivery point and likely route.
Shortlist five suppliers and ask each the same questions.
Request samples from two or three.
Speak to a licensed clearing agent and a transporter.
Set a first-order budget you can afford if something goes wrong.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start to import to DR Congo as a small business?

Choose one product, decide where it will be delivered, and speak to a licensed clearing agent. Then shortlist suppliers, test samples and place a small trial order before committing to a container.

Which route is best for Lubumbashi?

It depends on the cargo, the season and current conditions. Ask a forwarder to compare options for your specific shipment and confirm the current situation at each crossing.

Do I need a clearing agent?

Most importers use one. Procedures involve several bodies and documents, and an experienced agent can tell you what applies to your goods before shipment.

How do I avoid fake suppliers?

Check company documents, match the account name to the company, test samples, keep written records and prefer staged or protected payments over a full advance.

Can I order less than a full container?

Often yes. Some suppliers accept smaller MOQs, and shared sea freight (LCL) or air freight can suit smaller loads. Compare the full landed cost, including inland transport.

Next step

To import to DR Congo with fewer surprises, start with what you can control now. Create a free buyer account, browse suppliers by category, or post a sourcing request and compare the quotations that come back. Read the buyer protection page so you know what records to keep.

Rules, fees and procedures change, so confirm current requirements with a licensed clearing agent and the relevant Congolese authorities before you ship.