Shipping from China to Senegal and West Africa
Pickup at your supplier anywhere in mainland China, sea or air freight to Dakar, customs clearance and delivery to Senegal, Mali and the region. One coordinator, one itemised quote.
- Main ports
- Shanghai · Ningbo · Shenzhen · Nansha · Qingdao
- Sea, port to port
- 35–50 days (indicative)
- Air, airport to airport
- 4–7 days (indicative)
- Delivery
- Senegal + 14 countries
China is the largest source of the consumer goods, building materials and equipment that West African importers buy. Most suppliers sell ex-works or FOB, and many offer a cheap CIF price to Dakar that is recovered in destination charges.
Buying FOB or EXW and appointing us as your forwarder keeps the routing, the cost and the paperwork under your control. We collect from the factory or the market, consolidate several suppliers if needed, and ship on the service that fits your deadline.
Typical routings to Dakar
- Shanghai / Ningbo → Tanger Med or Algeciras → Dakar
- Shenzhen / Nansha → Lomé or Tanger Med → Dakar
- Qingdao / Xiamen → Mediterranean hub → Dakar
- PVG / CAN / SZX → Gulf or European hub → DSS by air
Sea or air from China?
| Option | Best for | Transit (indicative) | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| FCL full container | From about 13–15 m³, or heavy goods | 35–50 days | Sealed at origin, lowest cost per m³ |
| LCL groupage | From about 1 m³ up to half a container | 45–60 days | Shared container, extra handling at both ends |
| Air freight | Urgent, light or high-value goods | 4–7 days | Charged on the higher of actual or volumetric weight |
What goes wrong on the China lane, and how we prevent it
Under-valued invoices
Customs can reassess the value and add penalties. We check the invoice against the goods before shipment.
Wrong HS codes
A wrong code means the wrong duty rate. We classify your goods before they leave China.
Missing documents
Regulated goods need approvals before arrival. We list what your goods require when you send the pro-forma.
Supplier delays
We confirm the cargo-ready date with the factory and rebook if it slips, so you are not charged for empty space.
CIF traps
A cheap CIF price can hide high release charges in Dakar. We compare the supplier's offer with our FOB quote.
Damaged or short cargo
We record the pickup with photos and packing counts, and recommend cargo insurance on every file.
From the factory to your door
- Quote
Tell us the cargo
Origin, destination, incoterm, weight and volume. You receive an itemised quote, usually within 24 hours.
- Origin
Pickup & booking
We book space and collect from the supplier, or receive your pre-alert and shipping documents.
- Transit
Main carriage
Sea or air to Dakar. You get the B/L or AWB, vessel or flight details and the ETA.
- Clearance
Customs in Dakar
Declaration, inspection and payment of duties, with a breakdown you can check against the tariff.
- Delivery
Door or onward transit
Delivery in Senegal or road transit to your country, closed with photos and proof of delivery.
China lane questions
How much does it cost to ship a container from China to Dakar?
Can you collect from markets such as Yiwu or Guangzhou?
Can goods from China go to Mali through Dakar?
How long does the whole process take?
An itemised quote, usually within 24 hours
Tell us the origin, destination and cargo. A coordinator in Dakar replies with a line-by-line price.