With the deepening of China-Africa trade relations, Eritrea, one of the countries in the Horn of Africa, has gradually become a new target for Chinese companies to expand their markets. Its strategic position and natural resources make it a potential market. This article will introduce the logistics of shipping from China to Eritrea in detail.
Shipping Methods from China to Eritrea
The main modes of transportation from China to Eritrea are air and sea. Different modes of transportation are selected according to the different characteristics of the goods. The following are the characteristics of different goods:
Sea Freight
Sea transportation has relatively low freight rates and can transport all kinds of goods. It is suitable for large-scale and heavy cargo transportation. It can transport large equipment, building materials, machinery, etc. Transit is required, routes are limited, and customs clearance and port processing may be time-consuming.
Main ports
- Massawa Port: Located on the Red Sea coast, it is the largest port in Eritrea and receives sea cargo transferred from China through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. The customs clearance process is relatively complete.
- Assab Port: Located in southern Eritrea, close to the Ethiopian border, it receives regional freight.
Air Freight
Air transport has fast timeliness and high airport processing efficiency, suitable for electronic products, medicines, samples, etc. However, the transportation cost is high, the carrying volume and weight are limited, and the route coverage is low. It is generally necessary to transit in Dubai, Istanbul or Addis Ababa.
Major airports
- Asmara International Airport (ASM): The capital airport of Eritrea is the only airport with international transportation capabilities. It can receive international air cargo and has strong customs clearance capabilities, which is suitable for rapid delivery to the city.
Customs Clearance Process in Eritrea
Customs clearance after transporting goods from China to Eritrea is generally completed by the importer or local agent. Eritrea implements stricter cargo inspection and customs clearance documents:
- Commercial Invoice
- Packing List
- Bill of Lading/Air Waybill (B/L or AWB)
- Certificate of Origin (CO, depending on the goods)
- Eritrea Import Permit (required for some goods)
- Submit import documents before arrival;
- Submit customs declaration application by freight forwarder or customs clearance agent;
- Pay import tariffs and VAT (depending on the goods), tariff rate 0-35% (average 15%), VAT 15%, some goods are subject to consumption tax.
- Inspect the goods and release them;
- Hand them over for local transportation to the final destination.
Notes:
- The Eritrean government has strict foreign exchange controls, and some imports need to be paid in advance;
- Many goods (such as medicines, agricultural machinery, etc.) require import licenses;
- Second-hand clothing, unauthorized medicines, banned books, etc. are not allowed to be imported.
Shipping Cost from China to Eritrea
Whether it is full container shipping, bulk LCL, or time-sensitive air transport, understanding the actual transportation cost is key information that every exporter and buyer must master. The freight from China to Eritrea is affected by many factors and is usually composed of the following parts:
- Port of departure and port of destination (Guangzhou, Shanghai and Massawa, Assab)
- Mode of transportation (FCL, LCL, air transport)
- Nature of goods (ordinary goods, sensitive goods, dangerous goods)
- Dimensions/weight (different billing methods)
- Whether double clearance services and inland transportation are required
| Service | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| LCL Shipping | $100 – $200/CBM | Small shipments sharing container space. |
| FCL Shipping (20ft) | $3,000 – $4,000 | Medium-sized shipments requiring dedicated space. |
| FCL Shipping (40ft) | $4,200-$6,800 | Bulk goods needing cost-effective transport. |
| Air Freight | $6.5 – $9/KG | Electronics, luxury goods, and urgent deliveries. |
Understand the cost of transport to surrounding areas:
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Saudi Arabia
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Egypt?
How to Save Shipping Costs？
To reduce transportation costs, here are some practical suggestions:
- Choose the right mode of transportation: choose air transportation for light goods and sea transportation for heavy goods to save money
- Plan the delivery time in advance: avoid the peak season (July-September and the end of the year), choose to transport in the off-season, reasonably avoid the peak period of freight rates, and save costs.
- LCL transportation: For small batches of goods, LCL transportation is more economical. It is especially suitable for the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises and e-commerce companies.
- Avoid unnecessary inspections: ensure that documents are consistent and invoice declarations are compliant
- Make multiple inquiries and comparisons: Choose multiple freight forwarders for price comparisons and choose the most cost-effective logistics company.
- Optimize packaging and volume: Under the premise of meeting transportation safety requirements, try to optimize the packaging and volume of goods to reduce overweight and occupied space.
Shipping Time from China to Eritrea
For foreign traders, buyers and logistics managers, understanding the timeliness differences and influencing factors of different modes of transportation is crucial for cargo planning and cost control. The key factors affecting timeliness are:
- Customs clearance speed: China’s export customs clearance efficiency and the customs clearance efficiency of the Eritrean destination port, strict air transport security checks, and document problems may cause delays
- Destination port facilities: Massawa Port’s efficiency will drop significantly during the rainy season/holidays
- Tight space: During the peak season, you may need to wait for space, delay the departure of ships, and the frequency of African routes is unstable
- Transit airline efficiency: Some Middle Eastern airlines have complicated transit procedures
- Destination delivery: If it is a door-to-door service, you need to reserve 1-2 days for local delivery
| Shipping Methods | Port of Departure | Port of Destination | Voyage time (days) |
| Sea Freight | Shanghai | Massawa | 30–40 days |
| Sea Freight | Ningbo | Massawa | 32–42 days |
| Sea Freight | Shenzhen | Massawa | 35–45 days |
| Air Freight | Shanghai | Asmara | 5–9 days |
| Air Freight | Guangzhou | Asmara | 6–10 days |
Learn about shipping time from China to nearby areas:
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Egypt
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Saudi Arabia?
DDP Shipping from China to Eritrea
DDP Shipping provides a seamless logistics solution for Lithuanian companies. The seller is responsible for transporting the goods to the buyer’s designated location and bears all transportation, customs clearance, taxes and other related costs until the buyer signs for the goods. This method does not require the coordination of multiple service providers, ensuring a smooth experience.
DDP fees generally include:
- Handling fees at the port of departure: including loading, customs declaration, etc.
- Sea/air freight: sea freight FCL, LCL or air freight
- Customs clearance fees at the port of destination: our company will be the agent for full customs clearance
- Tariffs + VAT: estimated based on HS code, tax included
- Delivery costs: local delivery to the customer’s designated address
- Document costs: including bill of lading, delivery documents, document preparation, etc.
Main advantages
- End-to-end logistics: including customs clearance, inland transportation and final delivery.
- Time efficiency: reduce delays by integrating the services of a single provider.
- Transparent pricing: Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) service covers all costs, including taxes and tariffs, paid in advance.
- Intermodal solutions: enabling cost-effective and timely transport.
How to Choose Reliable Freight Forwarder?
Freight forwarders are essential to ensure smooth transportation of goods from China to Eritrea. They are responsible for coordinating the entire logistics process, including route optimization, customs clearance and cargo tracking. Choose a suitable freight forwarder based on the following factors alone:
Experience in African routes
Choose a freight forwarder that focuses on the China-Africa market and is familiar with Eritrea’s routes and customs clearance processes.
Whether it can provide door-to-door service (DDU/DDP)
Try to choose a freight forwarder that can provide a full one-stop service to avoid mid-way connection problems
Transparent quotation and fee structure
Be careful to avoid hidden fees, such as destination port surcharges, storage fees, etc.
Provide logistics tracking system and customer service support
Real-time view of transportation progress, and quick feedback and processing of abnormalities.
Transport from China to Eritrea With mature supply chain experience and the right freight forwarding company, efficient and stable cross-border transportation can be achieved. Through this article, we can reasonably plan the transportation method, control the cost and timeliness, so that the goods can arrive at the destination smoothly.