Sea Freight from China to Casablanca
China → Casablanca · via CMN air / Casablanca sea · clearance by Administration des Douanes et Impôts Indirects (ADII)
Casablanca is the economic capital and main port, and it is served through CMN air / Casablanca sea. That combination is what actually sets your delivery date on this lane — the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
The clearing authority is Administration des Douanes et Impôts Indirects (ADII). Historical dwell on this gateway is around 3–8 days, and it lengthens in Sep–Nov.
What you will pay on arrival in Morocco
Administration des Douanes et Impôts Indirects (ADII) assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Casablanca consignees. Current regime: VAT 20%; duty 2.5–40%, with reduced rates on industrial inputs, with a de-minimis position of MAD 1,250 for personal consignments.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: Certificate of conformity for regulated goods; NM standard mark for some categories. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Morocco: Free-zone and ordinary import regimes are treated very differently. Certificate of conformity requirements apply to consumer electronics and appliances. Arabic or French labeling is expected at retail.
How this lane actually runs
Tanger Med is one of the largest ports in Africa and the Mediterranean and takes direct Asian mainline calls, which makes Morocco unusually well connected for the continent. The automotive and aerospace free zones around Tangier and Kenitra operate under separate duty regimes, so an industrial consignee's zone status often matters more to landed cost than the tariff line itself.
| Sea gateways used | Tanger Med, Casablanca, Agadir |
|---|---|
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 22–30 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Casablanca | CMN air / Casablanca sea |
| Inland leg to Casablanca | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 3–8 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Pre-shipment checklist for Casablanca
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Confirm the consignee in Casablanca can act as importer of record — Administration des Douanes et Impôts Indirects (ADII) will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Check the de-minimis position (MAD 1,250 for personal consignments) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
- Put the Casablanca delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Plan around the China-side windows too: Chinese New Year and Golden Week both compress capacity on the Morocco lane.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Casablanca take?
China to the Morocco gateway is 22–30 calendar days. On top of that, allow 3–8 days of clearance with Administration des Douanes et Impôts Indirects (ADII) and a same-day inland leg to Casablanca.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Casablanca?
Administration des Douanes et Impôts Indirects (ADII) applies: VAT 20%; duty 2.5–40%, with reduced rates on industrial inputs. The de-minimis position is MAD 1,250 for personal consignments. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Casablanca.
What documents does Administration des Douanes et Impôts Indirects (ADII) 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 (Certificate of conformity for regulated goods; NM standard mark for some categories). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Casablanca?
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 Tanger Med, Casablanca, Agadir. Surcharges apply and space is more limited than for general cargo.
When is the busiest time on the China–Morocco lane?
Space and rates tighten around Sep–Nov, 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.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Casablanca?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight — length × width × height in centimeters divided by 6000 for air — and bill the greater of the two, rounded up to the next kilogram. Light, bulky cargo is almost always billed on volume.
Other delivery cities in Morocco
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Morocco 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 Administration des Douanes et Impôts Indirects (ADII) or your broker before you ship.
- Administration des Douanes (ADII)
- Tanger Med Port Authority
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IATA — Lithium battery shipping guidance (PI 965–970)
- World Bank — Logistics Performance Index
- ICC — Incoterms 2020 rules (DDP, DAP, FOB definitions)
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.
- 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
Checking the Morocco duty position yourself
Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by Administration des Douanes et Impôts Indirects (ADII) 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.
For a wider view of how importing into Morocco actually works — documentation norms, inspection behavior, the paperwork that tends to hold shipments — the U.S. ITA guide to Morocco customs regulations is a useful independent read alongside our own lane notes.
Watch: the process behind this route
This guide covers routing and clearance for Casablanca. 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 Morocco
Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border — plus who files the entry.
Morocco clearance requirements →