Shipping China to Africa: Lagos, Mombasa, Tema, Durban (2026)

Buyers will ask the same question on every quotation: how long will shipping from China to Africa take? There is no single number, because the answer depends on the port, the carrier service, transshipment and clearance. This guide summarises what port authorities, carriers and UNCTAD publish about four major gateways (Lagos, Mombasa, Tema and Durban), gives sourced transit ranges, and explains how to quote lead times honestly. Figures are as of October 2026 and all transit times are indicative. Confirm current schedules with your carrier or forwarder.

Why shipping China to Africa takes different times

Maersk's published guidance says sea freight overall can range from 20 to 45 days, and notes that documentation, customs clearance, loading and unloading add time before and after the vessel leg, and that peak seasons and holidays such as Chinese New Year can slow things. Time on the water is not door-to-door time. Always separate three numbers when you talk to buyers: factory production time, port-to-port sailing time, and clearance and inland delivery time at the destination.

Durban, South Africa

Transnet Port Terminals describes the Durban Container Terminal as Africa's largest and busiest container terminal, a hub for cargo from the Indian Ocean islands, Middle East, Far East and Australia and a gateway to landlocked neighbours such as Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. It cites capacity of 3.6 million TEU per year, rising to 4 million after the berth extension, and says it handles 65% of South Africa's container volumes. One example published by Maersk, its Safari Southbound service page, lists Durban about 30 days after departure from Shanghai on that rotation (via Chinese ports, Tanjung Pelepas and Port Louis). The page shows no date, its own figures are not fully consistent, and the rotation may change, so treat it as indicative only. See the Transnet Durban page. For market entry details, read our South Africa guide.

Mombasa, Kenya

The Kenya Ports Authority says the Port of Mombasa has two container terminals with combined annual capacity of 2.3 million TEU, and that it serves Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, eastern DR Congo, northern Tanzania, South Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia through a multimodal network. It reports direct shipping links to more than 80 ports worldwide. Maersk's Mashariki Express Westbound page, an example service from Shanghai, shows Mombasa about 22 days after departure from Shanghai, again with no date shown. Buyers inland in the East African region will add transport time beyond Mombasa. See the KPA page and our Kenya guide.

Tema, Ghana

The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) owns and operates the ports of Tema and Takoradi. In a GPHA article dated 15 December 2023, Meridian Port Services (MPS), which runs Terminal 3 at Tema, said ships travel from Malaysia to Tema in 21 days and that, from January 2024, Tema would be the first West African port of call on a Maersk and CMA CGM service on the Far East to West Africa route. That is a statement by the terminal operator, not an independent measure, and it is not a China transit time. Treat it as one data point on how liner services are changing. The article is titled "Tema Port to Become First Port of Call in West Africa" on the GPHA website. See also our Ghana guide.

Lagos, Nigeria: shipping China to Nigeria

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) lists container terminals at the Lagos Port Complex in Apapa and at Tin Can Island Port Complex, operated by named private terminal operators. Its page on the Lekki Deep Sea Port describes a port about 65 km east of Lagos, with a concession of 45 years and an approved project cost of US$1.34 billion. We could not find a China-to-Lagos transit time on a carrier or port page we could verify, so we do not quote one. Ask your forwarder for the current schedule for your cargo and the port they will use, because terminal choice affects clearance and trucking. See the NPA page on terminals (its Lekki page is also published on the NPA site), plus our Nigeria guide.

Connectivity, rates and what to tell buyers

UNCTAD's Review of Maritime Transport 2023 (as summarised in its Africa facts and figures release) reported that Africa's average liner shipping connectivity index rose in 2022 but stayed below pre-pandemic levels, and that contract freight rates rose 160% on Asia-to-Africa routes in 2022 versus 2021. A later UNCTAD newsletter (Q1 2024) ranked South Africa 49th, Ghana 52nd and Nigeria 54th globally on the revised index. The takeaway is that rates and schedules are volatile, so give ranges and update them. When you quote, state the trade term (our guide to FOB, CIF and DDP helps), say "typical" or "estimated", and add that schedules depend on carrier, transshipment and clearance. Our sea versus air guide explains when air freight makes sense.

Comilmart does not handle freight, customs clearance, duties or delivery. The foreign seller arranges and pays for shipping to Africa, so agree the route, terms and documents with your forwarder before you promise a delivery date.

How to quote a lead time

Break the promise into parts and give ranges. The numbers below are hypothetical and for illustration only: production 25 to 30 days, inland trucking and port handling in China 3 to 7 days, sailing within the 20 to 45 day overall range Maersk gives for sea freight, and clearance and delivery at the destination as advised by the buyer's clearing agent. Adding the ends of each range gives a window rather than a single date. If a buyer needs a firm arrival date, ask your forwarder for the current schedule and say plainly that carrier schedules can change. This protects you when a vessel is delayed or a port is congested.

Frequently asked questions

How long does shipping from China to Nigeria take? We could not verify a figure for China to Lagos. Overall sea freight ranges from 20 to 45 days per Maersk, but ask your forwarder for current schedules.

Which African port is best for Chinese exporters? It depends on the buyer's location. Durban and Mombasa serve inland markets; Tema and Lagos serve West Africa.

Is the transit time the same as delivery time? No. Clearance, port handling and inland transport come on top.

Should I quote delivery dates to buyers? Quote ranges and state what is included.

Does Comilmart arrange shipping? No.

Getting started

Once your shipping from China to Africa plan is clear, show buyers what you offer. Read /sell-to-africa and apply for a supplier account at /apply-manufacturer. It is free, and the form states that review takes about 24 to 48 hours. Comilmart cannot guarantee buyers or orders.