Sea freight imports
FCL and LCL from China, the USA, the UK, Europe, India and the UAE into the Port of Cape Town.
Freight services for Cape Town businesses
Cape Town's port is the natural gateway for the Western Cape, with good connections to Europe, the UK and the Americas. Landing your cargo here instead of Durban can save days and road freight costs if your business is in the Cape.
Air freight
Urgent and high-value cargo through Cape Town International, with clearance and same-day local delivery where possible.
Imports from the USA
Business cargo from American suppliers by air or LCL sea freight — collection, consolidation, clearance and delivery to your Cape Town premises.
Exports from the Cape
Export clearance and booking for manufactured goods, wine, food and agricultural products to the UK, Europe and beyond.
Customs clearing
Licensed SARS clearing for imports and exports, including tariff classification and permits.
Road to Namibia and Gauteng
Onward road freight north to Namibia or to Johannesburg.
Indicative transit times into Cape Town
| Origin | Sea (port to port) | Air (airport to airport) |
|---|---|---|
| UK / Northern Europe | 18–26 days | 1–3 days |
| USA East Coast | 25–35 days | 2–5 days |
| China | 28–35 days | 3–6 days |
| UAE | 18–25 days | 1–3 days |
Indicative only. LCL adds consolidation and deconsolidation time; air depends on routing.
How we handle a Cape Town import
- Quote. Send the supplier location, commodity, weight and dimensions. We quote sea and air so you can compare.
- Book and collect. We arrange pickup at origin and the main freight leg into Cape Town.
- Pre-clear with SARS. Classification, valuation and permits checked and submitted before arrival.
- Release and deliver. Cargo released from the terminal, CFS or airline warehouse and delivered to your premises.
Why land your cargo in Cape Town
Many importers based in the Western Cape still have their cargo landed in Durban out of habit, then pay to truck it roughly 1,600 kilometres back down to Cape Town. For most Cape businesses, that is a cost worth avoiding.
The Port of Cape Town has direct services from Northern Europe, the UK, the Mediterranean, the Americas and Asia, and handles large volumes of both imports and exports — it is one of the main reefer ports in the country for fruit exports. Landing in Cape Town saves the long road leg, reduces handling and usually gets the goods to your premises sooner.
There are exceptions. Some Asian services call at Durban first, and some LCL consolidations only run to Durban, in which case cargo for Cape Town may be transhipped or trucked. We check the available routings for every quote and recommend the cheapest and fastest option for your address, not the port we happen to use most.
For businesses in the Northern Cape, the West Coast or southern Namibia, Cape Town can also be the most practical gateway, with road freight north on the N7.
Air cargo through Cape Town International
Cape Town International Airport (CPT) has direct international passenger and freighter capacity to Europe, the Middle East and Africa, plus connections via Johannesburg. A large share of air cargo moves in the bellies of passenger aircraft, which means good frequency on popular routes.
Air freight suits urgent machine spares, medical and pharmaceutical items, electronics, fashion samples and high-value goods. It is also important for exports of perishables — fresh flowers, berries, seafood and other time-sensitive products — that cannot wait for a sea voyage.
Air cargo is charged on chargeable weight, the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight. We clear air cargo through SARS at the airport and arrange delivery the same day where possible within the Cape Town metro, and next day to most Western Cape towns.
Western Cape exports: fruit, wine and manufactured goods
The Western Cape is one of South Africa's biggest export regions. We support exporters with documentation, export clearance, bookings and delivery to the port or airport.
Fruit and fresh produce such as citrus, table grapes, apples, pears and stone fruit moves in temperature-controlled reefer containers, mainly to Europe, the UK, the Middle East and Asia. These shipments need phytosanitary certification, export inspections and strict temperature management.
Wine and spirits ship in dry containers or groupage, sometimes with thermal liners to protect against heat during the voyage. The buyer's market will have its own labelling, excise and import requirements.
Manufactured goods from the Cape — boats and marine equipment, furniture, clothing, food products, packaging and engineering goods — ship as FCL, LCL or air depending on volume and urgency. Where a trade agreement applies, the correct proof of origin can reduce the duty your overseas buyer pays.
Shipping from the USA to Cape Town for businesses
Cape Town businesses import a wide range of goods from American suppliers — medical and lab equipment, marine and boat-building parts, IT hardware, film and production equipment, specialist foods and retail stock. Many first try an express courier and then find it expensive once orders grow beyond a few boxes.
For small, light parcels, courier is convenient. Once you are shipping cartons or pallets of commercial goods, a freight forwarder usually costs much less. By air, consolidated cargo from US gateways such as New York, Chicago, Atlanta or Los Angeles to Cape Town typically takes two to five days, depending on routing. By sea, LCL from the US East Coast to Cape Town takes several weeks but is far cheaper for heavier shipments.
Duty and VAT are payable on commercial imports regardless of how they are shipped. The difference with a forwarder is transparency: we show you the freight, duty, VAT and clearance fee separately before you ship, and clear the goods under your own SARS importer code, so the import is properly recorded for your VAT returns.
If you buy from several US suppliers, we can consolidate their orders and ship them together, which reduces the per-unit cost and means one clearance instead of several. Zeen Freight only handles business cargo, so this service is for companies importing stock, equipment and parts.
Customs clearing in Cape Town
As a SARS-licensed customs agent, we clear imports and exports through the Port of Cape Town, the Cape Town CFS facilities and Cape Town International Airport.
For imports, we start before the cargo arrives: checking your SARS importer registration, classifying each product under the South African tariff, confirming permits such as NRCS letters of authority, ITAC import permits or health and agricultural permits, and preparing the customs declaration. Most declarations are released without inspection; when SARS asks for supporting documents or a physical inspection, we handle it and keep you updated.
For exports, we file the export declaration, make sure certificates such as phytosanitary, health or origin documents are in place, and coordinate with the shipping line or airline so the cargo meets its cut-off.
Duty and VAT are calculated on the customs value. Import VAT is 15% of the customs value plus 10% plus duty for goods from outside SACU, and is generally claimable by registered VAT vendors. Duty is set by the tariff heading, and preferential rates may apply to goods from the EU, the UK and SADC with valid proof of origin.
Road freight from Cape Town to Gauteng and Namibia
Once cargo is cleared in Cape Town, it often needs to move further. We arrange road freight for full loads, part loads and groupage.
The Cape Town to Johannesburg corridor on the N1 is one of the busiest freight routes in the country, with daily departures and typical transit of one to three days. North on the N7, road freight reaches the West Coast, Namaqualand and the Namibian border at Vioolsdrif, continuing to Keetmanshoop and Windhoek under customs transit when goods are destined for Namibia.
Within the Western Cape, we deliver to the Cape Town metro, the Winelands, the West Coast, the Overberg and the Garden Route. Whether your cargo arrived by sea or air, one team handles the clearance and the final delivery.
Industries we support in the Western Cape
Agriculture and agri-processing
Packhouse equipment, irrigation and processing machinery imports, and fresh and processed food exports.
Wine and beverages
Export documentation and shipping for wine, spirits and beverages, plus imported packaging and equipment.
Marine and boat building
Imported engines, fittings and materials for boat builders and marine engineers, and exports of finished vessels and parts.
Film and production
Temporary and permanent imports of camera, lighting and production equipment.
Healthcare and life sciences
Medical devices, lab equipment and consumables with the permits they need.
Retail, fashion and e-commerce
Stock from China, the USA, the UK and Europe for Cape Town brands and online sellers.
What to expect at the Port of Cape Town
Like all South African ports, Cape Town is busy and its performance can be affected by weather — strong south-easterly winds in summer can stop crane operations — and by equipment availability. These factors can delay vessel berthing and container discharge.
We plan around this by pre-clearing cargo with SARS before arrival, tracking the vessel and container status daily, and booking delivery as soon as the container or LCL cargo is available. If a delay is likely to affect your stock or a customer delivery, we tell you early so you can plan, and where it makes sense we suggest splitting urgent items by air.
Courier or freight forwarder?
For a small box of documents or samples, an express courier is fine. Once your shipment is commercial stock, equipment or more than a few cartons, a freight forwarder usually costs less and gives you control over customs clearance.
Couriers clear goods under their own processes and add fees on arrival. A forwarder quotes freight, duty, VAT and clearance separately and upfront, uses your own SARS importer code and can consolidate several suppliers into one shipment. Zeen Freight works with businesses only — we do not handle personal parcels.
Sea + airinto Cape Town
SARSlicensed clearing agent
FCL · LCLboth handled
B2Bcommercial cargo only
Cape Town freight FAQs
Should I ship to Cape Town or Durban?
If your business is in the Western Cape, landing in Cape Town normally saves road freight and time. Some routes have more frequent sailings to Durban, so we compare both.
How long does air freight from the USA to Cape Town take?
Usually 2 to 5 days airport to airport, plus customs clearance and delivery.
Do you clear customs in Cape Town?
Yes. Zeen Freight is a SARS-licensed customs agent and clears imports and exports through Cape Town port and airport.
Can you send a courier parcel for me personally?
No. We handle commercial business shipments only.
Is a courier or a freight forwarder cheaper from the USA to Cape Town?
For a few small parcels, a courier can be simpler. For cartons or pallets of commercial goods, a freight forwarder is usually cheaper and shows duty, VAT and clearance costs upfront.
Do you deliver from Cape Town to Namibia?
Yes. We move cleared or in-transit cargo from Cape Town to Namibia by road via the Vioolsdrif border.
Does wind delay the Port of Cape Town?
Strong winds, especially the summer south-easter, can pause crane operations and delay berthing. We track vessels closely and keep you updated.
Can you clear air cargo at Cape Town International?
Yes. We clear air imports and exports at Cape Town International and deliver within the metro, often on the same day as release.
Do you handle reefer exports from Cape Town?
Yes. We arrange temperature-controlled containers, export clearance and the certificates required for fruit and other perishables.
What documents do I need to import through Cape Town?
A commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill, your SARS importer code and any permits your goods require.