Current Freight Rates
| Weight | Rate (USD / KG) |
|---|---|
| 21 KG | USD 30.23 |
| 22 KG | USD 30.14 |
| 23 KG | USD 30.36 |
| 30 KG | USD 29.86 |
| 50 KG | USD 29.49 |
| 100 KG | USD 28.94 |
| 150 KG | USD 28.31 |
| 200 KG | USD 28.21 |
| 505 KG | USD 27.05 |
| 850 KG | USD 27.10 |
| 1700 KG | USD 26.75 |
| 2500 KG | USD 26.73 |
| 3400 KG | USD 26.48 |
How these prices are calculated — chargeable weight
Freight is not billed on the number on your bathroom scale. It is billed on chargeable weight: the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight, where volumetric weight is L × W × H (cm) ÷ 6000. Denser cargo pays on its weight; light bulky cargo pays on the space it occupies. Whichever is higher is the one you pay — never the lower.
- One cubic metre = 167 kg. That is 1,000,000 cm³ ÷ 6000, the same divisor used for the volumetric check, so both sides of this page agree with each other.
- Per-kilogram channels. The rate is multiplied by chargeable weight, rounded up to the next whole kilogram. A 300 kg consignment that only measures out to a smaller volumetric figure is still charged on its 300 kg actual weight.
- Freight only. These are published freight rates. Duty, tax and customs charges at destination are not a fixed number we can print: they follow your product's HS code, its declared value and the exchange rate applied on the day of entry, so they are confirmed against your actual goods and quoted separately.
- Indicative only — the real price can be higher or lower. Nothing on this page is a quotation or a commitment. What you finally pay depends on what the product is, how it is packed, the chargeable weight, the declared value, the destination duty position and the exchange rate at the time. Send the product details, weight and dimensions and we will price your specific shipment.
Trade Terms Explained — Who Pays for What EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP and seven more — see which costs sit with us and which sit with you
The rate above is quoted on one specific trade term. Change the term and you change how much of the journey to DR Congo is already inside the price. The table below maps the eleven common Incoterms® against the twelve cost stages of a door-to-door shipment, so you can see exactly where our responsibility ends and yours begins.
- Seller — Cost and arrangement sit with the seller / shipper.
- Buyer — Cost and arrangement sit with the buyer / consignee.
- Negotiable — Not fixed by the rule — agree it in the contract.
| Term | 1 Loading on truck | 2 Export customs declaration | 3 Carriage to port of export | 4 Unloading at port of export | 5 Loading on vessel / aircraft | 6 Main carriage | 7 Cargo insurance | 8 Unloading at port of import | 9 Loading on truck at import | 10 Carriage to destination | 11 Import customs clearance | 12 Import duties & taxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXW Ex Works | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck | Buyer Buyer — Export customs declaration | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to port of export | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FCA Free Carrier | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to port of export | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FAS Free Alongside Ship | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FOB Free On Board | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CFR Cost and Freight | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Seller Seller — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CPT Carriage Paid To | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Seller Seller — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU) | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DAP Delivered At Place | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DDP Delivered Duty Paid | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Seller Seller — Import customs clearance | Seller Seller — Import duties & taxes |
EXW Ex Works
Buyer takes over at the seller's door and carries every cost from there. Lowest quoted price, highest buyer workload.
FCA Free Carrier
Seller clears the goods for export and hands them to the carrier the buyer nominated.
FAS Free Alongside Ship
Sea and inland waterway only. Seller delivers alongside the vessel; loading is on the buyer.
FOB Free On Board
Sea and inland waterway only. Risk passes once the goods are on board. The most common buying term.
CFR Cost and Freight
Seller pays the main carriage but carries no insurance obligation; risk still passes on loading.
CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight
As CFR, plus the seller must buy and pay for cargo insurance (minimum cover unless you agree more).
CPT Carriage Paid To
Any mode. Seller pays carriage through to the named destination; insurance is not obligatory.
CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid
As CPT, plus the seller must insure the cargo through to the named destination.
DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU)
Seller delivers unloaded at the named terminal. Renamed DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded) in Incoterms® 2020.
DAP Delivered At Place
Seller delivers to your address ready for unloading; import clearance and duty stay with the buyer.
DDP Delivered Duty Paid
Seller carries everything through to your door, duty and tax included. Highest quoted price, least buyer workload.
Two things worth flagging. Under CIF and CIP the seller is obliged to buy cargo insurance and pay the premium; under every other term insurance is optional, and we recommend buyers arrange their own cover so a loss or damage in transit is recoverable. And this table is a working summary for planning purposes — the binding definitions are the ones published by the International Chamber of Commerce in the Incoterms® rules, so confirm the exact term wording in your sales contract before you ship.
Service Details
China → DR Congo Air Duty-Paid Cleared
Air freight from China to DR Congo, quoted per KG. This is a commercial freight service for cargo moving in volume, not a parcel channel — the rate card below starts where courier pricing stops making sense.
This channel is quoted duty paid, which means the figure below already carries import duty and tax for DR Congo — you are not asked for a second payment at the border. For reference, the underlying regime is: Import VAT + duty 5–35%; PSI common. Duty-paid pricing is worth comparing carefully against a duty-unpaid quote, because the cheaper headline number is frequently the one that excludes the tax.
Space on this lane tightens through Oct–Dec, which is peak season for DR Congo. Rates published outside that window are not a reliable guide to what you will pay inside it, so if your order lands in peak, book earlier rather than budgeting from an off-peak figure.
Current Rate Card
- 21-100 — USD 191 per KG
- 101 — USD 187 per KG
- 301 — USD 184 per KG
- 501 — USD 181 per KG
- 1001 — USD 178 per KG
Last refreshed 2026-08-06.
The per-kilogram rate above applies to chargeable weight, not to what the scale says. At 166.7 kg per cubic metre, a carton of light goods can be billed at several times its actual weight, so send dimensions with the weight when you ask for a quote into DR Congo — a rate quoted without them is only ever provisional.
In practice the cargo we move on this lane clusters into a few recognisable shapes — electric motors (HS 84), where clearance turns on cE marking to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC with a signed declaration of conformity, tableware (HS 94) and prefabricated building (HS 68 / 69 / 70 / 44). Each behaves differently against the rate: one fills the payload before it fills the space, the next does the reverse, and the packing brief we send back with the quote is written to the one you are actually shipping.
To see this tariff against a real consignment rather than a rate card, the 10 KG, 21 KG, 50 KG and 100 KG pages run it at a fixed weight and show the landed total, including the point where stepping up a bracket lowers your cost per kilo. They are the fastest way to check whether consolidating two orders into one is worth the wait.
Rate cards are hard to read against a real order, so we also publish worked examples at fixed weights: 10 KG, 21 KG, 50 KG and 100 KG, each showing what that shipment actually costs door to door on this lane. If you are still choosing between transport modes the China to DR Congo Air Freight Cost comparison is the better starting point, and shipping from China to DR Congo covers the whole journey rather than just the freight.
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Additional Information
What This Rate Covers — and What It Does Not
Chargeable weight on this service is the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight, with volumetric calculated as length × width × height in centimeters divided by 6000. For anything light and bulky the volumetric figure is the one that bills, which is why carton dimensions are worth optimizing before you book rather than after the cargo is weighed at the airport.
- General commercial cargo. Battery, magnetic, liquid and powder content must be declared at booking, not on arrival
- Chargeable weight is the greater of actual and volumetric weight (divisor 6000)
- Fuel and security surcharges, remote-area delivery and oversize handling are quoted on top where they apply
- Clearance at destination is handled by the national customs service
- DR Congo de-minimis: No practical de-minimis — commercial consignments sit above it and are dutiable in full
- Destination conformity: Pre-shipment conformity certificate
On the duty side, the applicable regime is: Import VAT + duty 5–35%; PSI common. Those are planning references rather than a ruling: the rate that binds is the one assessed against your declared HS code at the moment of entry, and classification is where most landed-cost surprises actually originate.
Every shipment needs a commercial invoice and a packing list that agree with each other, plus destination certification where the commodity requires it. The most common cause of delay we see is not the freight at all — it is a declared value or a goods description that does not match what is in the cartons, which turns a routine clearance into an inspection.
Where these numbers come from
Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by the national customs service against your declared HS code at the time of entry; where the amount is material, verify the current rate through ITC Market Access Map before committing to an order.
Classification drives everything downstream: the same carton can attract very different duty depending on the heading it lands in, and the structure those headings come from is the World Customs Organization Harmonized System. If your product sits near a boundary between two headings, resolve it before shipping rather than at the border.
On the air side, anything with a cell or a battery in it, plus liquids, powders, magnets and aerosols, is governed by the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. Those articles are not refused outright, but they need to be declared at booking so the shipment is built correctly — declaring them late is the single most common cause of an air consignment being offloaded.
For a wider view of how importing into DR Congo actually works — documentation norms, inspection behavior, the paperwork that tends to hold shipments — the U.S. ITA guide to DR Congo customs regulations is a useful independent read alongside our own lane notes.
China to DR Congo — Shipping Reference Data
| Main air gateways | the primary international airport |
|---|---|
| Destination customs authority | the national customs service |
| De-minimis / duty-free threshold | No practical de-minimis |
| Import tax & duty regime | Import VAT + duty 5–35%; PSI common |
| Local currency | USD |
| Typical clearance / dwell time | 7–21 days |
| Peak / busy season | Oct–Dec |
| Conformity & certification | Pre-shipment conformity certificate |
Thresholds and duty bands are buyer-planning references, not formal customs rulings — confirm the exact HS-code rate for your goods before shipping.
Free 3D Loading Tools for This Air Route
This page covers a Air freight service from China to DR Congo. Use the matching tool below to plan your cargo before requesting a quote.
3D Carton Packing Calculator
Air freight to DR Congo is billed on chargeable weight, so tight carton packing directly lowers your cost per shipment. Enter your product size and see the optimal carton layout in 3D before you book.
Open Packing Tool →DR Congo Air Freight Checklist
- Keep single cartons under 30 KG for air handling to DR Congo to avoid overweight surcharges.
- Book 2-3 days before your target ETD; same-day air bookings usually carry premium rates.
- Compare volumetric weight (L×W×H÷6000) with actual weight — the higher one is billed.
- Lithium batteries and liquids need pre-approval on most air routes — declare them upfront.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Air DDP Cleared from China to DR Congo take?
Air freight on this route runs about 5–10 business days door-to-door, plus roughly 7–21 days of clearance/dwell once it reaches the gateway. All times include customs clearance under DDP terms.
What duties and taxes apply when importing into DR Congo?
Clearance is handled by the national customs service. The regime is: Import VAT + duty 5–35%; PSI common, with a de-minimis position of No practical de-minimis. Under DDP these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival.
When does capacity tighten on the China–DR Congo lane?
Space and rates tighten around Oct–Dec, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb) and Golden Week (early Oct). Book 1–2 weeks earlier in these periods.
What does DDP shipping to DR Congo include on this route?
DDP means we quote the freight, the customs entry with the national customs service and last-mile delivery in DR Congo together, so you settle once. The duty and tax portion depends on your product's HS code, declared value and the exchange rate at entry, so it is confirmed against your actual goods — the figures on this page are indicative and can move either way.
What certification is needed to import into DR Congo?
For regulated goods, plan for: Pre-shipment conformity certificate. Missing conformity paperwork is the most common clearance hold with the national customs service, so confirm requirements for your HS code before shipping.
How is the shipping cost on this route calculated?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000, so one cubic metre counts as about 166.7 kg) and charge whichever is greater, rounded up to the next kilogram, then apply the per-KG rate shown in the table above. A 300 kg consignment measuring out to only 200 kg volumetric is still charged on the 300 kg.
Historical Price Records
All price updates are recorded here. Use the weekly tabs to browse older entries.
| Date | 21-100 | 101 | 301 | 501 | 1001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-30Latest | USD 30.23 | USD 28.34 | USD 27.59 | USD 27.00 | USD 26.62 |
| 2026-09-30 | USD 30.24 | USD 28.36 | USD 27.60 | USD 27.01 | USD 26.63 |
| 2026-09-30 | USD 30.21 | USD 28.33 | USD 27.57 | USD 26.99 | USD 26.60 |
| 2026-09-17 | USD 30.20 | USD 28.32 | USD 27.56 | USD 26.97 | USD 26.59 |
| 2026-09-15 | USD 30.14 | USD 28.26 | USD 27.50 | USD 26.92 | USD 26.54 |
| 2026-09-15 | USD 29.06 | USD 27.20 | USD 26.46 | USD 25.89 | USD 25.53 |
| 2026-09-07 | USD 28.50 | USD 26.64 | USD 25.91 | USD 25.34 | USD 24.97 |
| 2026-08-31 | USD 28.50 | USD 26.64 | USD 25.90 | USD 25.33 | USD 24.97 |
| 2026-08-17 | USD 28.49 | USD 26.63 | USD 25.89 | USD 25.32 | USD 24.96 |
| 2026-08-17 | USD 28.53 | USD 26.67 | USD 25.93 | USD 25.36 | USD 25.00 |
| 2026-08-06 | USD 28.52 | USD 26.67 | USD 25.93 | USD 25.36 | USD 24.99 |
| 2026-08-03 | USD 28.53 | USD 26.67 | USD 25.93 | USD 25.36 | USD 25.00 |
| 2026-07-30 | USD 28.52 | USD 26.67 | USD 25.93 | USD 25.36 | USD 24.99 |
| 2026-07-20 | USD 28.55 | USD 26.69 | USD 25.95 | USD 25.39 | USD 25.02 |
| 2026-07-17 | USD 28.29 | USD 26.44 | USD 25.70 | USD 25.14 | USD 24.78 |
| 2026-07-14 | USD 28.27 | USD 26.42 | USD 25.69 | USD 25.12 | USD 24.76 |
| 2026-07-07 | USD 28.25 | USD 26.40 | USD 25.67 | USD 25.10 | USD 24.74 |
| 2026-07-03 | USD 28.26 | USD 26.41 | USD 25.68 | USD 25.11 | USD 24.75 |
| 2026-07-02 | USD 28.25 | USD 26.40 | USD 25.67 | USD 25.10 | USD 24.74 |
| 2026-06-30 | USD 28.26 | USD 26.40 | USD 25.67 | USD 25.11 | USD 24.74 |
| 2026-06-23 | USD 28.25 | USD 26.40 | USD 25.66 | USD 25.10 | USD 24.74 |
| 2026-06-15 | USD 28.28 | USD 26.43 | USD 25.69 | USD 25.13 | USD 24.77 |
| 2026-06-08 | USD 28.28 | USD 26.42 | USD 25.69 | USD 25.12 | USD 24.76 |
| 2026-05-19 | USD 28.23 | USD 26.38 | USD 25.65 | USD 25.08 | USD 24.72 |
| 2026-05-14 | USD 28.23 | USD 26.38 | USD 25.65 | USD 25.08 | USD 24.72 |
| 2026-05-11 | USD 28.10 | USD 26.24 | USD 25.51 | USD 24.94 | USD 24.58 |
| 2025-12-29 | USD 27.68 | USD 25.83 | USD 25.09 | USD 24.53 | USD 24.17 |
Price Trend
Shipping DR Congo cargo by industry
This rate is for the lane. What decides whether the cargo arrives intact is the commodity — how it prices, how it must be packed and loaded, and which compliance step holds it at the border. These guides cover that per industry.
- Conveyor Belts Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Hotel Furniture Furniture & Home Products
- Textiles Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather
- Restaurant Furniture Retail, Display & Commercial Fixtures
- Metal Fabrication Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Pressure Vessels Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Switchgear New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Doors & Windows Building Materials & Construction Products
- Corrugated Packaging Wood, Bamboo & Paper Products
- Glass Packaging Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Kitchenware Furniture & Home Products
- Home Textiles Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather