On average, it costs £9,290 to ship a container to South Africa from the United Kingdom. This figure is based on the cost of a 40ft shipping container which is equal to the contents of a 3-bedroom house. The average air freight cost is £388 per 100 kg. The data is based on our international removals cost research.
There are 2 shipping options for shipping to South Africa - sea and air freight. The option you select will depend on your budget and how soon you will need your items.
Sea Freight
Sea freight to South Africa is the most popular option to consider when shipping furniture overseas. This is due to the lower costs and it being more eco-friendly. Your goods will take longer to arrive when compared to air freight. This may be an issue if you need your goods to arrive quickly.
Pros:
The ability to transport motor vehicles easily
You pay for the shipping container rather than by the weight of your items
More eco-friendly
Lower overall costs
Part-load services further help to lower costs
Cons:
Longer shipping times
Delays are more common
Sea freight shipping isn’t as frequent as air freight
Main South African Ports and Routes
There are 7 major ports in South Africa. When shipping a container to South Africa from the UK, there are several ports you can choose from. The Port of Durban is the main port. Other ports include:
Port Elizabeth
Cape Town
Richards Bay
Saldanha
Ngqura
The main UK ports that ship to South Africa are Felixstowe and Southampton.
Compare International Removal Costs
Save up to 70% on international removal costs
Used by over 1.5 million movers in the UK
Air Freight
If you want your goods to arrive as quickly as possible, air freight is the best option. As it arrives quicker than sea freight it’s more expensive. Your goods will be shipped from the most convenient airport in the UK to an airport in South Africa.
Pros:
Good security for your belongings
Convenient and regular flight times
3 airports to choose from
Quickest shipping option
Cons:
More expensive shipping option
Items charged based on the weight of goods
Limitations on what can be transported (e.g motor vehicles)
Not as eco-friendly
Main South African Airports and Routes
There are 3 main airports in South Africa. The most popular airport is O.R. Tambo International Airport. The two other international airports are:
Cape Town
King Shaka
The main UK airports that ship goods to South Africa are London Heathrow, Manchester, and Birmingham.
Compare International Removal Costs
Save up to 70% on international removal costs
Used by over 1.5 million movers in the UK
FCL VS LCL Shipping
After choosing between sea and air freight for your international shipping, you’ll need to determine whether you want to ship full or part load. This will depend on the number of items you have. Aspects that will affect the type and cost of shipping you select are:
The number of items being shipped
The weight of the items
The size of the items
Insurance
Tracking
Distance travelled
Duty charges and customers
Here are the differences between FCL and LCL:
Full Container Load (FCL)
Full container load is the most popular shipping option if you’re looking to ship a lot of goods.
It’s equal to a full shipping container that can be used for all your belongings. You pay for the entire container. Your goods will arrive quicker than using LCL.
Less Container Load (LCL)
Less container load is better suited for those looking to ship a smaller number of goods. You will share a container with others.
While this keeps shipping costs down, it does mean you will have less space to utilise. Your goods will take longer to arrive due to the container being shared.
Compare International Removal Costs
Save up to 70% on international removal costs
Used by over 1.5 million movers in the UK
Other Costs to Consider
When it comes to international removals to South Africa, you will also need to consider these additional costs:
Packing Services
On average, packing services will cost around £250 based on the contents of a 3-bedroom house. These costs will differ based on the number of items you have and the company used.
Packing services are an additional charge, as the packing specialists will pack all your items for you. This helps to keep your goods secure and protected during transit. They will use high-quality packing materials.
Pick-up and Delivery
Pick-up and delivery services allow your goods to be delivered directly to your door. It removes the need to do this manually. The cost will vary based on the location, the number of goods and the distance to your new home.
Insurance
The average insurance cost is around 4% of the total cost of your goods. The cost of the insurance will vary depending on the number of items you have, the type of shipping and the total distance travelled.
Our international removal partners are all covered by Goods in Transit and Public Liability insurance. You can rest assured that your goods are in safe hands. This protects your goods during transit.
Compare International Removal Costs
Save up to 70% on international removal costs
Used by over 1.5 million movers in the UK
How Long Does Shipping Take?
Air freight takes 1-3 days on average to arrive. This is considerably quick given South Africa’s distance from the UK. The average sea freight shipping time to South Africa is 16-22 days. If you’re choosing to use LCL, your goods will take longer to arrive.
Prohibited Items to South Africa
There are a handful of items you're prohibited to bring into South Africa. These include:
Drugs
Weapons
Poison and toxic substances
Counterfeit goods
Check the International Trade Administration website for more information. You can also speak to your chosen shipping company about prohibited items.
Finding an International Removal Company to South Africa
When moving to South Africa, you’ll want to choose a verified and trusted international removals company. All our partners are fully insured, and experienced in this field. Our service can place you in contact with up to 6 different companies and help you to save up to 70% off your international removal costs.
