Sea Freight from China to Bissau
China → Bissau · via OXB air / Bissau sea · clearance by Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau
For buyers shipping into Bissau, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Bissau is capital and the country's only significant port; cargo enters through OXB air / Bissau sea, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
On the destination side, Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau handles clearance; budget 8–18 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
Import duty and tax position for Bissau
Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Bissau consignees. Current regime: VAT 15%; WAEMU common external tariff 0–35%, plus community levies, with a de-minimis position of No practical de-minimis for commercial cargo.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: Pre-shipment inspection for most commercial goods. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Guinea-Bissau: Port draft and equipment limitations force transshipment. Feeder frequency is low — build slack into any schedule. Pre-shipment inspection applies to most cargo.
How this lane actually runs
Bissau is a shallow-draft port with limited handling capacity, so cargo transships at Dakar, Abidjan or Las Palmas and arrives on small feeders. For anything time-sensitive, clearing at Dakar and trucking down is a routing worth pricing alongside the direct option.
| Sea gateways used | Bissau |
|---|---|
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 30–42 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Bissau | OXB air / Bissau sea |
| Inland leg to Bissau | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 8–18 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Oct–Dec |
What to sort out before the cargo leaves China
- Confirm the consignee in Bissau can act as importer of record — Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Guinea-Bissau duty rate against it yourself.
- Check the de-minimis position (No practical de-minimis for commercial cargo) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Bissau take?
China to the Guinea-Bissau gateway is 30–42 calendar days. On top of that, allow 8–18 days of clearance with Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau and a same-day inland leg to Bissau.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Bissau?
Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau applies: VAT 15%; WAEMU common external tariff 0–35%, plus community levies. The de-minimis position is No practical de-minimis for commercial cargo. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Bissau.
Which port or airport does cargo for Bissau clear through?
Cargo for Bissau is routed via OXB air / Bissau sea. Sea gateways for Guinea-Bissau are Bissau; air gateways are OXB (Bissau Osvaldo Vieira). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Bissau?
Yes. Battery cargo by sea moves under UN3480/UN3481 with an MSDS, and the dangerous-goods documentation is prepared as part of the booking into Bissau. Surcharges apply and space is more limited than for general cargo.
When is the busiest time on the China–Guinea-Bissau lane?
Space and rates tighten around Oct–Dec, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year in January or February and Golden Week in early October. Book one to two weeks earlier in those periods.
What documents does Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau require?
A commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where it lowers duty, and any product certification (Pre-shipment inspection for most commercial goods). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
Other delivery cities in Guinea-Bissau
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Guinea-Bissau change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your own HS code with Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau or your broker before you ship.
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IPPC — ISPM 15 wood packaging standard
- WCO — Harmonized System nomenclature
- IMO — IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
Page data last reviewed: 10 月 2026.
Shipping by industry
This page covers the route and clearance picture for the destination. Packing, classification and the compliance step that actually holds a shipment depend on what you are sending — these guides cover that by commodity.
- Prefabricated Building Building Materials & Construction Products
- Pallet Wood, Bamboo & Paper Products
- 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
Checking the Guinea-Bissau duty position yourself
Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau 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.
Most landed-cost surprises trace back to classification rather than freight. the WCO Harmonized System defines the heading structure every customs administration builds on, and ITC Market Access Map will show you the duty a given heading attracts in this destination.
For ocean cargo, restricted commodities move under the IMO's IMDG Code, and the container has to be declared and stowed accordingly. Batteries, flammables and corrosives all have a compliant ocean path; what causes rolled bookings is finding out about them after the container is packed.
Watch: the process behind this route
This guide covers routing and clearance for Bissau. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.
What Is CBM? Sea Freight Volume Explained (Calculate Shipping Cost Fast!) — DDPCHAIN. Published on YouTube by a third party; we link it because it explains the process well, not because we produced it or endorse the provider.
Customs clearance in Guinea-Bissau
Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border — plus who files the entry.
Guinea-Bissau clearance requirements →