Sea container, air cargo shipping from China to Ethiopia|UCS

Ethiopia, in the Horn of Africa, is a rugged, landlocked country split by the Great Rift Valley. China has been Ethiopia's largest trading partner and biggest source of investment for many consecutive years. In 2021, bilateral trade volume reached 2.66 billion U.S. dollars, of which, China imported commodities of nearly 370 million U.S. dollars from Ethiopia, a year-on-year increase of 8.1 percent.

If you are into import and export business, keep reading this guide into shipping from China to Ethiopia, which include shipping method, transit time, cost, what is required and how to decide the best way to ship from China, etc. Hopefully we could be the one freight forwarder you use for your next China-Ethiopia shipment.

Sea and air freight are the main options to move cargo from China to Ethiopia. There are many international freight forwarding companies that offer container shipping and air cargo transport services, but we can do more. It’s vital to work with a freight forwarder who understands your needs and always carries out the best tailored shipping solution from China to Ethiopia.

Sea Freight from China to Ethiopia

Sea freight is an ideal choice if you are shipping goods from China to Ethiopia on a budget. Compared to other modes of transportations, sea freight is the least expensive one, and understandably the slowest. It’s also superior for shipping cargo over long distance, especially for goods in bulk or equipment of large size. In most cases, goods will be shipped in containers with container ships, and sometimes with bulk cargo ships or RO-RO ships, tankers, etc. Shipping by sea is slow, you’ll have to allow for 30-40 days for a sea shipment from China to arrive in Ethiopia. 

FCL and LCL are the most common sea shipments we’ve been handling from China to Ethiopia.
FCL (Full container load): shipping a container filled with goods exclusively for one client from China to Ethiopia. Generally, we offer FCL shipping service to Ethiopia with 20ft container and 40ft container (20GP, 40GP and 40HQ). FCL is more cost efficient.
LCL (Less than container load): Sharing a container with other clients who have cargo to the same destination, at the same time. If your cargo can’t fill an entire container, our consolidation (LCL shipping) service from China to Ethiopia is always available. Naturally, due to extra work (consolidation, de-consolidation, warehousing, paperwork, etc.), the final cost on each unit is higher than FCL, and shipping takes longer. LCL is a good choice for small business to start with. 

We’ll recommend flat rack or open top container solution if you are shipping OOG cargo from China to Ethiopia. Reefer container for temperature-sensitive products; Breakbulk for large and bulk shipment; RO-RO: for vehicles and wheeled cargo.

Our sea freight forwarding services from China to Ethiopia covers all the major Chinese ports: Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Qingdao, Tianjin, Dalian, etc. 

If you are looking to ship containers or other sea shipments from China to Ethiopia, we got the one-stop freight forwarding solution for you.
Request a quote for your sea shipments from China to Ethiopia.

Seaport for Ethiopia

Djibouti
The port of Djibouti is located at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, at the intersection of major international shipping routes connecting Asia, Africa and Europe. 
The Port is a minimal deviation from the principal East-West trade route and provides a secure regional hub for transshipment and relay of goods. Since 1998, the Port handled 100% of Ethiopia’s maritime traffic, which moves to and from Addis Ababa and other cities by truck and rail. 
Gateway of Africa

Air Freight from China to Ethiopia

If you have to make a last-minute move of shipment from China to Ethiopia, air freight offers a quick shipping service. Air cargo shipping is the perfect solution when all other modes of transportation can’t meet your timing requirement. Maybe your supplier finished production late, maybe you have a pressing deadline, or maybe the cargo itself is perishable, whatever the case is, using air freight guarantees a delivery using the least amount of time possible from China to Ethiopia. If you are shipping high-value products, fast speed is not the only advantage of air freight, it also ensures a higher level of security. 
The easy to ignore advantages are: shorter transit time means faster cash flow and more turnover. 

We have developed strong relationships with major air carriers and established a vast network of air cargo transportation, offering daily and weekly cargo flights from China’s main airports to Ethiopia. When shipping by air with us, we provide the best shipping solution and the fastest route which meets your needs and guarantees a relatively cost-efficient way. 
Flying your cargo with us gives you peace of mind as we take care of your air shipments from pick-up till delivery to the destination, overseeing every link of the logistics chain.

Compared to sea freight, shipping by air from China to Ethiopia is expensive, not everything is worth air shipping. And due to airlines’ limitation and restrictions, some cargo may be rejected.
Consult our team for advice on your next China-Ethiopia air shipment, get a air shipping solution and cost from us.

Major airport of Ethiopia

Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (IATA: ADD) is an international airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is in the Bole district, 6 km southeast of the city center and 65 km north of Bishoftu. 
ADD airport is the main hub of Ethiopian Airlines, the national airline that serves Ethiopia and airports throughout Africa
ADD, the busiest airport in Ethiopia, the major gateway for international air cargo traffic

How long does it take to ship from China to Ethiopia?

Shipping from China to Ethiopia usually takes 25-40 days by sea and 3-7 days by air. The actual transit time may vary when choosing different port/airport, service and route, etc.  

China-Ethiopia sea freight transit time

The transit time of shipping a container from China to Ethiopia ranges from 25 to 40 days.

POL(port of loading)	POD(port of discharge)	Transit time
Shanghai	Djibouti	26 days
Shenzhen	Djibouti	21 days
Qingdao	Djibouti	32 days

Container shipping transit time by sea from Shanghai, Shenzhen, Qingdao to Djibouti
FYI: The transit time by sea, port to port, depends on the specific origin and destination ports chosen, service route, sailing schedule and choice on carrier.
Shanghai in East China, Shenzhen South China, and Qingdao North China, data from these 3 ports is enough to demonstrate the sea shipping time from China to Ethiopia.
Above transit time is for full container load shipping, port to port only, for LCL shipping time estimate, pls add 7-10 days.

China-Ethiopia air shipping transit time

An air shipment usually takes 3-7 days from China to arrive in Ethiopia. 
The number of days may vary depending on the service and route. And in peak season, shipping time will be prolonged. 

If you have an urgent order, and need the fastest delivery from China to Ethiopia, we offer the fastest service and route with the least amount of lead time. 
Get an air shipping solution and quote from us for your China-Ethiopia shipment.

How much does shipping from China to Ethiopia cost?

Shipping from China to Ethiopia used to cost approx. $1000-2000/40ft container, and freight cost went up way higher after the pandemic. Similar case with air shipping. 

It’s impossible to provide a general estimate of shipping cost from China to Ethiopia. First of all, each shipment is different, and clients may have various requirements under some specific circumstances. Secondly, the shipping market is fast changing, sea and air freight rates fluctuate frequently, the year-on-year difference could be drastic, and price for last week may not be valid for this week. Besides, timing requirement also influences the shipping cost, the quicker you wish to receive the shipment, the more money you’ll have to spend on shipping.

Knowing how much shipping costs from China to Ethiopia is essential if you into import & export business. Shipping cost is an indispensable, and sometimes could be a significant portion of the final landed cost of imported goods, especially for the low-value goods. 

Contact us now to obtain a tailored shipping solution and the latest shipping cost from China to Ethiopia.

Freight forwarder shipping from China to Ethiopia

Dealing with shipment from China to Ethiopia yourself is time-consuming and requires certain expertise, why not count on a professional freight forwarder?

Everybody’s got his specialty and expertise. Using an experienced freight forwarder to handle your shipments from China to Ethiopia allows you focus more on your main business, to bring the best out of you. With the help of a professional freight forwarding team, your shipment will be well planned and carried out smoothly, avoiding delay and potential extra charges, and freight management made easier than ever.

As one of the top China based freight forwarders serving Ethiopia, we have the knowledge, expertise and experience to provide the most accurate answers and optimal shipping solutions tailored to your needs. Leave it to the expert, and you are freed from all the troubles and complexity of shipping and logistics. 
The experienced freight forwarder always gives you the best shipping solution and cost from China to Ethiopia tailored to your needs.

Best way to ship from China to Ethiopia

China is home to many worldwide suppliers, yet shipping from China to Ethiopia isn’t always straightforward.
Everybody wants a fast and safe delivery of shipment at the minimum cost possible. Different shipments, circumstances with various requirements, plus the ever changing shipping market, there’s no simple solution. An experienced freight forwarder shall analyze all the factors and provide the best shipping solution under give circumstance, and meet your needs. 
1.    The type of goods and its value
2.    How quickly you need your goods
3.    The load of your goods (size, weight, quantity) or simply share the packing list
4.    Supplier address (origin seaport/airport), delivery address(destination seaport/airport)
5.    Your budget
6.    Goods ready time
Get in touch with us and start a hassle-free shipping experience from China to Ethiopia. 
Get a shipping plan and request a quote from us.

How to ship from China to Ethiopia

Step 1: Contact a freight forwarder; a China based one is preferred.
Find a freight forwarder either from China or in Ethiopia. While an Ethiopian forwarder is most likely to rely on a Chinese local shipping agent. So China based forwarder is better, as the majority of complexities and uncertainties of international cargo shipping lie in origin, not in destination.
More on “Why you should work with a local China freight forwarder”
Step 2: Get a shipping quote from China
Step 3: Connect freight forwarder with supplier, the forwarder will work on the shipment and keep you updated
Step 4: Get China cargo insurance (optional)
Step 5: Arrange customs clearance
Get prepared for shipment arrival and customs clearance.

Why us when importing and shipping from China to Ethiopia

We are China based freight forwarder specialized and experienced in international logistics for China-Ethiopia import & export business. Through years of effort on China-Africa trade lane, we have developed service agreements with the best sea and air shipping carriers. This allows us to offer various shipping solutions, routes and schedules from China to Ethiopia at fair rates with space guarantee especially in peak seasons. 
1.    Quick Response, high efficiency
2.    Communication
3.    Professionalism, agility, accuracy
4.    Our logistics expertise, local and global connections
5.    Cost-saving
6.    Dedicated, focused
7.    Higher attention & tailored shipping solution
More on Why us when importing and shipping from China to Ethiopia

As one of the top China based freight forwarder serving Ethiopia, we are dedicated in helping you to increase the simplicity, efficiency and reliability of your supply chain, and ensuring the best-in-class cargo shipping experience.

Contact us if you are interested in shipping from China to Ethiopia, whether you are shipping standard sea container, air cargo, refrigerated or oversized cargo, get a tailored shipping solution and quote from China to Ethiopia.