China’s trade cooperation with African countries continues to deepen. As one of the fastest-growing economies in East Africa, Rwanda has seen a continuous increase in demand for Chinese goods in recent years. Companies and individuals are increasingly concerned about how to transport goods to Rwanda efficiently and at low cost. This article will provide a detailed introduction to the logistics between China and Rwanda.
Why Choose to Ship from China to Rwanda
As one of the fastest-growing economies in East Africa, Rwanda has seen strong demand in manufacturing, infrastructure and e-commerce in recent years. Shipping goods from China to Rwanda has the following advantages:
Manufacturing relies on Chinese supply
Rwanda’s local production capacity is limited, and a large number of industrial products, machinery and equipment, electronic products, building materials, etc. rely on imports, while China is the world’s largest manufacturing center.
The Belt and Road Initiative promotes convenient transportation
Under the background of the Belt and Road Initiative, China and East African countries (including Rwanda) have strengthened cooperation in logistics, trade facilitation and other aspects, making cross-border freight more efficient.
China-Africa trade policy support
China is one of Rwanda’s largest trading partners and enjoys tariff preferences under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
How to Ship from China to Rwanda
There are usually several ways to transport goods from China to Rwanda. Due to geographical restrictions, the transportation of goods between China and Rwanda mainly relies on sea-land transport and air transport.
Among them, Dar es Salaam Port (Tanzania) and Mombasa Port (Kenya) are the most commonly used transit ports connecting China and Rwanda. From these ports, the goods are transported to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, by land transportation. Choose the appropriate mode of transportation according to the type of goods, budget, timeliness and transportation needs.
Sea Freight
Sea Freight is the most common mode of transportation. The unit transportation cost is lower than that of air transportation. It is especially suitable for large quantities and heavy goods. It can transport large and diverse goods, including oversized items, dangerous goods, containers, etc. There are almost no weight or volume restrictions. Sea transportation has lower carbon emissions and is environmentally sustainable.
Air Freight
Air Freight is the fastest mode of transportation and is suitable for time-sensitive orders such as samples, electronic products, medical equipment, etc. High security, strict security checks, low cargo damage rate, suitable for high-value or fragile goods, high customs clearance efficiency, air cargo is usually given priority, customs clearance speed is fast, reducing the detention time at the destination, the process is simple, the airport operation process is more unified and digitalized, reducing transit complexity and document processing time.
Factors Affecting of Shipping Cost from China to Rwanda
The factors affecting the cost of transporting from China to Rwanda mainly include the following aspects, covering every link in the transportation chain, which is of great reference value for enterprises to control costs and formulate logistics strategies:
- Cargo type: Dangerous goods, fragile goods, cold chain, etc. require special packaging or transportation, which will incur additional costs.
- Transit port selection: Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) or Mombasa (Kenya) ports are usually selected. Port congestion or customs clearance efficiency affects land transportation costs.
- Distance and route: The distance between the departure and destination and the selected route will affect the transportation cost
- International oil price fluctuations: directly affect freight rates and fuel surcharges
- Peak season: Especially from September to December, global shipping capacity is tight, space is difficult to book, and prices are rising.
Shipping Cost from China to Rwanda
In addition to the above factors, the cost of shipping from China to Rwanda is mainly determined by the mode of transportation. The cost of shipping by FCL is mainly determined by the size of the container, and the cost of LCL is mainly calculated by volume (CBM). It usually consists of the following costs:
- Sea freight: basic freight from Chinese ports to Dar es Salaam/Mombasa
- Inland transportation fee: truck transportation fee from African ports to Kigali, Rwanda
- Miscellaneous charges at the port of departure: customs declaration, trailer, port miscellaneous charges (THC, document fees, etc.)
- Costs at the port of destination: unloading, warehousing, transshipment, tariffs, VAT (18%), customs clearance agency fees, etc.
- Insurance (optional): usually 0.3–0.5% of the value of the goods
Air freight costs are mainly based on the billable weight (the higher of the actual weight and the volume weight), volume weight = length × width × height (cm) ÷ 6000, mainly composed of the following costs:
- Air freight: airline transportation costs, including fuel surcharges
- China export costs: customs declaration fees, security inspection fees, airport handling fees
- Rwanda section costs: customs clearance, pickup, VAT (if applicable)
| Shipping Method | Shipping From China to Rwanda(Cost) |
|---|---|
| Sea Freight (20ft Container) | Approx. $2,200 – $3,300 for a 20ft container |
| Sea Freight (40ft Container) | Approx. $3,300 – $5,500 for a 40ft container |
| Sea Freight (LCL) | Approx. $150-$250 per cubic meters |
| Air Freight | Approx. $6 to $10 per kgs |
Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Container from China to Rwanda
The shipping cost of shipping containers from China to Rwanda depends mainly on the size of the container (20-foot and 40-foot containers). The shipping cost will also vary due to the distance between different ports.
| POL (Port of Load) | POD (port of discharge) | 20ft Container Cost | 40ft Container Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Mombasa | $2150-$3200 | $3500-$4900 |
| Shenzhen | Mombasa | $2200-$3300 | $3450-$4750 |
| Qingdao | Mombasa | $2250-$3450 | $3650-$4950 |
| Ningbo | Mombasa | $2300-$3500 | $3250-$4850 |
| Shanghai | Dar es Salaam | $2250-$3150 | $3450-$4350 |
| Shenzhen | Dar es Salaam | $2150-$3550 | $3550-$4350 |
| Qingdao | Dar es Salaam | $2250-$3350 | $3450-$4350 |
| Ningbo | Dar es Salaam | $2150-$3350 | $3450-$4350 |
Read below for shipping costs to other countries to help you understand more:
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Tanzania
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Kenya?
Shipping Cost from China to Rwanda
The time required to ship from China to Rwanda depends on the mode of transport and is also affected by the following factors:
- Choice of transit port: Different ports (Dar es Salaam vs Mombasa) have different customs clearance efficiency and customs clearance time, which affects the overall arrival time.
- Rwanda import customs clearance efficiency: cumbersome customs clearance, document errors or commodity inspections will add 2-5 days or more
- International peak season: a surge in transportation demand leads to tight space, ship scheduling, and high delay rate
- Holiday impact: Chinese New Year, Eid al-Fitr, Christmas, etc., involve holidays in many countries, which will affect freight scheduling and customs clearance processes
Sea freight usually transits from Chinese ports (such as Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen) to Dar es Salaam Port (Tanzania) / Mombasa Port (Kenya) and inland transportation to Rwanda (Kigali) takes 35-45 days
Air freight takes 5-10 days from major airports in China to Rwanda airports via Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) or Nairobi (Kenya)
| Port of Origin (China) | Port of Destination (Rwanda) | Air Freight Time | Sea Freight Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Kigali | 4–7 days | 32–44 days |
| Guangzhou | Kigali | 5–7 days | 30–43 days |
| Ningbo | Kigali | 4–6 days | 35–45 days |
The following are the shipping times from China to surrounding countries:
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Kenya?
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Tanzania?
Customs Clearance and Declaration from China to Rwanda
China export customs declaration requirements,
customs clearance documents:
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Export customs declaration
- Contract/order
- Goods must have a legal HS code, and exports must be registered with the customs
Rwanda import customs clearance policy
- Rwanda uses the RRA (Rwanda Revenue Authority) system for customs clearance
- All imports must declare HS codes and provide certificates of origin (such as enjoying China-Africa tariff reductions)
- Some goods such as food, electrical appliances, etc. require additional compliance certificates (such as RBS certification)
- Import tariffs + VAT: generally between 30%-40% (depending on the type of goods)
| Tax Type | Rate |
|---|---|
| Import Duty (Based on HS Code) | 0% – 25% |
| Value Added Tax (VAT) | 18% (on CIF + duty) |
| Infrastructure Development Levy (IDL) | 1.5% (on CIF value) |
| Excise Duty (for specific goods) | Varies by product |
How to Choose A Freight Forwarder
Choosing the right logistics partner is essential to ensure smooth, cost-effective and reliable transportation from China to Rwanda. Ubestshipping provides comprehensive freight services designed to simplify your transportation process. It is recommended to choose a freight forwarder with the following conditions:
Experience in China-Africa transportation
Familiar with African customs clearance policies and the ability to handle customs and port issues.
DDP/DDU services available
Try to choose a one-stop door-to-door service, especially DDP (delivery with tariffs) is suitable for novices.
Local agent resources in East Africa
Available for customs clearance and delivery in Kigali or neighboring ports.
Support real-time logistics tracking
Provide waybill number and tracking system to ensure the visual transportation status of goods.
Reliable transportation time
Efficient route planning to minimize transportation time, and establish a strong partnership with shipping companies to ensure space allocation even in peak season.
International freight from China to Rwanda has a broad market prospect. Through this article, understanding the customs clearance process and rationally choosing a freight forwarding platform are the keys to reducing risks and controlling costs, so that the goods can arrive at the destination smoothly.