Current Freight Rates
| Weight | Rate (USD / KG) |
|---|---|
| 21 KG | USD 28.76 |
| 22 KG | USD 28.67 |
| 23 KG | USD 28.89 |
| 30 KG | USD 28.40 |
| 50 KG | USD 28.03 |
| 100 KG | USD 27.47 |
| 150 KG | USD 24.06 |
| 200 KG | USD 23.97 |
| 505 KG | USD 18.86 |
| 850 KG | USD 18.91 |
| 1700 KG | USD 17.39 |
| 2500 KG | USD 17.37 |
| 3400 KG | USD 17.12 |
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 South Africa 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 → South Africa Air Duty-Paid Cleared
Shipping from China to South Africa by air freight, priced per KG. The tiers below are the live rate card for this channel; they move with the market, so the refresh date under the table is the date the numbers were last confirmed rather than the date the page was built.
Cargo on this service moves through JNB (Johannesburg), CPT (Cape Town) and DUR. Clearance happens at the arrival airport, so an inland consignee adds a trucking leg on top of the transit time quoted here. Expect 5–10 days of dwell at destination before release.
This channel is quoted duty paid, which means the figure below already carries import duty and tax for South Africa — you are not asked for a second payment at the border. For reference, the underlying regime is: VAT 15%; duty 0–45% by tariff heading. 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 South Africa. 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 181 per KG
- 101 — USD 158 per KG
- 301 — USD 147 per KG
- 501 — USD 124 per KG
- 1001 — USD 113 per KG
Last refreshed 2026-08-06.
Rates on this lane are per kilogram of chargeable weight, which is the greater of actual gross weight and L×W×H ÷ 6000. One cubic metre of cargo is treated as about 166.7 kg, so anything lighter than that per cubic metre is billed on the space it occupies rather than on the scale reading. Knowing which side of that line your cargo falls on changes the quote more than any negotiation will.
The consignments that move regularly on this service into South Africa are dominated by electric motors (HS 84), where clearance turns on cE marking to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC with a signed declaration of conformity, glass packaging (HS 39 / 40) and fabric (HS 50–63 / 64 / 42). We publish a handling brief for each, because the difference between a clean clearance and a two-week hold is almost always documentation prepared before the cargo leaves the factory rather than anything that happens in transit.
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.
We fly this lane into JNB (Johannesburg), CPT (Cape Town) and DUR. Clearance happens at the arrival airport rather than at the delivery address, which matters if your consignee is inland: the customs step and the trucking step are separate, and only the first sits inside the transit time quoted above.
If you already know roughly what you are moving, skip the rate maths. The 10 KG, 21 KG, 50 KG and 100 KG pages apply this tariff to a fixed consignment and show the result, including the point where stepping up a tier lowers your cost per kilo. The China to South Africa Air Freight Cost page sets this channel against the alternatives, and shipping from China to South Africa is the full destination guide.
Track your shipment
Enter your tracking number below
Powered by 17TRACK — supports 2,000+ carriers worldwide
Additional Information
Booking Conditions and Destination Requirements
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
- Routing on this lane is via JNB (Johannesburg), CPT (Cape Town) and DUR — inland delivery beyond that point is quoted against the delivery address
- Clearance at destination is handled by South African Revenue Service (SARS)
- South Africa de-minimis: ZAR 500 — commercial consignments sit above it and are dutiable in full
- Destination conformity: NRCS letter of authority for regulated goods
On the duty side, the applicable regime is: VAT 15%; duty 0–45% by tariff heading. 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. Duty and tax are settled in ZAR at destination.
Paperwork closes more shipments into South Africa late than freight does. Invoice, packing list and any certificate of origin have to describe the same goods at the same value, and the description has to be specific enough to classify — 'electronic parts' is not a description, it is an invitation to be examined.
Where these numbers come from
Every duty and tax figure quoted on this page is our working estimate for planning, not a ruling. The binding rate for your consignment is whatever South African Revenue Service — Customs applies against your declared HS code on the day of entry, and their published guidance is the source to check before you commit stock.
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.
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 South Africa actually works — documentation norms, inspection behavior, the paperwork that tends to hold shipments — the U.S. ITA guide to South Africa customs regulations is a useful independent read alongside our own lane notes.
China to South Africa — Shipping Reference Data
| Main air gateways | JNB (Johannesburg), CPT (Cape Town), DUR |
|---|---|
| Destination customs authority | South African Revenue Service (SARS) |
| De-minimis / duty-free threshold | ZAR 500 |
| Import tax & duty regime | VAT 15%; duty 0–45% by tariff heading |
| Local currency | ZAR |
| Typical clearance / dwell time | 5–10 days |
| Peak / busy season | Oct–Dec |
| Conformity & certification | NRCS letter of authority for regulated goods |
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 South Africa. Use the matching tool below to plan your cargo before requesting a quote.
3D Carton Packing Calculator
Before tendering this Air DDP Cleared shipment, check how many units really fit per carton — the 3D packing tool computes layers, rotation, and protective gaps for your exact product dimensions.
Open Packing Tool →South Africa Air Freight Checklist
- Confirm whether the South Africa rate includes fuel and security surcharges or lists them separately.
- Label every carton with destination, carton number, and total count (e.g. 3/12).
- 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 South Africa take?
Air freight on this route runs about 5–10 business days door-to-door, plus roughly 5–10 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 South Africa?
Clearance is handled by South African Revenue Service (SARS). The regime is: VAT 15%; duty 0–45% by tariff heading, with a de-minimis position of ZAR 500. Under DDP these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival.
Can you ship special cargo (batteries, branded goods) to South Africa?
Yes — battery cargo by air follows IATA PI966/PI967; we run certified battery channels via JNB (Johannesburg), CPT (Cape Town), DUR. Brand-goods and DG paperwork are handled within the DDP service. Surcharges apply.
What does DDP shipping to South Africa include on this route?
DDP means we quote the freight, the customs entry with South African Revenue Service (SARS) and last-mile delivery in South Africa 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.
When does capacity tighten on the China–South Africa 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.
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 28.76 | USD 24.10 | USD 22.17 | USD 18.81 | USD 17.26 |
| 2026-09-30 | USD 28.77 | USD 24.11 | USD 22.18 | USD 18.82 | USD 17.26 |
| 2026-09-30 | USD 28.75 | USD 24.09 | USD 22.16 | USD 18.80 | USD 17.25 |
| 2026-09-17 | USD 28.73 | USD 24.08 | USD 22.15 | USD 18.79 | USD 17.23 |
| 2026-09-15 | USD 28.68 | USD 24.03 | USD 22.11 | USD 18.75 | USD 17.20 |
| 2026-09-15 | USD 27.65 | USD 23.13 | USD 21.27 | USD 18.04 | USD 16.55 |
| 2026-09-07 | USD 27.10 | USD 22.58 | USD 20.71 | USD 17.48 | USD 15.99 |
| 2026-08-31 | USD 27.10 | USD 22.57 | USD 20.71 | USD 17.48 | USD 15.99 |
| 2026-08-17 | USD 27.08 | USD 22.56 | USD 20.70 | USD 17.46 | USD 15.98 |
| 2026-08-17 | USD 27.12 | USD 22.60 | USD 20.74 | USD 17.51 | USD 16.02 |
| 2026-08-06 | USD 27.12 | USD 22.60 | USD 20.74 | USD 17.50 | USD 16.02 |
| 2026-08-03 | USD 27.13 | USD 22.60 | USD 20.74 | USD 17.51 | USD 16.02 |
| 2026-07-30 | USD 27.12 | USD 22.60 | USD 20.74 | USD 17.50 | USD 16.02 |
| 2026-07-20 | USD 27.15 | USD 22.63 | USD 20.76 | USD 17.53 | USD 16.04 |
| 2026-07-17 | USD 26.90 | USD 22.41 | USD 20.56 | USD 17.36 | USD 15.89 |
| 2026-07-14 | USD 26.89 | USD 22.39 | USD 20.55 | USD 17.35 | USD 15.87 |
| 2026-07-07 | USD 26.86 | USD 22.37 | USD 20.53 | USD 17.32 | USD 15.85 |
| 2026-07-03 | USD 26.88 | USD 22.38 | USD 20.54 | USD 17.34 | USD 15.86 |
| 2026-07-02 | USD 26.86 | USD 22.37 | USD 20.53 | USD 17.32 | USD 15.85 |
| 2026-06-30 | USD 26.87 | USD 22.38 | USD 20.53 | USD 17.33 | USD 15.86 |
| 2026-06-23 | USD 26.86 | USD 22.37 | USD 20.52 | USD 17.32 | USD 15.85 |
| 2026-06-15 | USD 26.89 | USD 22.40 | USD 20.55 | USD 17.35 | USD 15.88 |
| 2026-06-08 | USD 26.89 | USD 22.40 | USD 20.55 | USD 17.35 | USD 15.87 |
| 2026-05-19 | USD 26.85 | USD 22.35 | USD 20.51 | USD 17.31 | USD 15.83 |
| 2026-05-14 | USD 26.85 | USD 22.35 | USD 20.51 | USD 17.31 | USD 15.83 |
| 2026-05-04 | USD 26.71 | USD 22.22 | USD 20.37 | USD 17.17 | USD 15.69 |
| 2025-12-29 | USD 26.71 | — | — | — | — |
Price Trend
Shipping South Africa 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.
- 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
- Kitchenware Furniture & Home Products