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Export to Africa by choosing sea transport
The transport of products by boat to the African continent requires obtaining certain documents such as the ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note) or BSC (Charge Tracking Note). It is also necessary to know about the local rules in force regarding exported products.
Required documents
Sea transport is often used for export to Africa. It requires exporters to provide a series of documents, including the pre-boarding certificates ECTN/BESC/FERRY. Many African countries require it to ensure the traceability of goods and their compliance with local regulations. These documents are essential. Without them, the load can be blocked and impose additional costs. For successful delivery, it is also necessary to be able to present the sea invoice, commercial invoice and packing list. The sea policy certifies the agreement between the shipper and the carrier. The commercial invoice is used to calculate applicable customs duties and taxes. The packing list describes the contents of each package or container.
Rules to know
Whatever the destination, it is important to know about the local regulations. These may vary from country to country. Some countries have product labeling requirements or set import quotas. Items are sometimes banned. Informing in advance avoids unpleasant surprises such as customs fines or, worse, the definitive seizure of the cargo. A load block or increased checks also have repercussions on delivery times. This can cause delivery delays for customers or pose a problem in the case of perishable goods. Thanks to its experts, The shippers doca specialist in exports to Africa, can advise how to prevent such risks.
Export to Africa by choosing air freight
Sending products to an African country by air also requires documents. The specific risks linked to this mode of transport are also synonymous with restrictions and enhanced controls.
Exporting by air requires the same types of documents as exporting by sea. Customs must be able to verify the nature and origin of the product, but also to calculate the duties and taxes that apply. The preparation ensures compliance with the delivery and availability of supporting documents, shortens processing times by African customs and avoids storage costs in ports. This contributes to a problem-free delivery.
Whether by sea or air, the rule is to find out about the local restrictions in the destination country. This particularly concerns exporters of food or pharmaceutical products. You should also know that some goods are prohibited in the planes or are subject to increased controls for security reasons, especially in large air hubs. For example, highly flammable products must be subject to a specific declaration. Anticipation of customs processing times is essential to guarantee the satisfaction of the end customer. This also limits mistakes that cause financial penalties.
Export to Africa: by boat or by plane?
By boat: cheaper
Sea freight is often preferred for its competitive cost, especially for heavy or bulky shipments. However, it is longer, with a routing that can take take several weeks or several months, depending on the ports of departure and arrival. Exporters also choose sea transport for non-perishable products such as textiles, machinery or construction materials. A marine insurance provides cover in case of damage or loss, due to navigational accidents or events.
Air freight is attractive because of the delivery times of a few days and the reduced risk of delay. However, it represents a higher cost, which is reflected in margins. U export companies in Africa choose this type of transport for perishable products such as food or for urgent shipments. To anticipate the dangers of air transport and protect your expensive goods, having insurance is also essential.
