How long does air freight from China to South Africa take?

Air freight from China to South Africa arrives in 7–10 working days door-to-door, including customs clearance. Goods fly into OR Tambo (Johannesburg), Cape Town International, or King Shaka (Durban). Production lead time is added on top.

Do I need to be the importer of record?

No. Storm media handles everything as the importer of record on your behalf. We manage all customs documentation, SARS requirements, and port handling. You simply receive your goods in South Africa.

What is a CBM and how do I calculate it?

CBM stands for cubic metre — the standard unit for measuring sea freight volume. Calculate it as: Length (m) × Width (m) × Height (m) per carton, multiplied by the number of cartons. Use our free CBM calculator on this page for an instant estimate.

Can you import any product from China?

We import a very wide range of products — from industrial machinery and manufacturing equipment to consumer goods, packaging materials, and branded merchandise. Some products require import permits or specialist compliance (e.g. electronics, pharmaceuticals, food). Contact us and we will advise on feasibility and requirements.

What is included in your import service?

Our service covers: factory coordination and collection, export documentation from China, sea or air freight to South Africa, customs clearance (SARS), port handling, and final delivery to your door or warehouse anywhere in South Africa.

Which South African ports do you use?

For sea freight we use the Port of Durban and the Port of Cape Town. For air freight we receive cargo at OR Tambo International (Johannesburg), Cape Town International Airport, and King Shaka International (Durban).

Import from China to South Africa | Sea & Air Freight Agents

Freight Rates

Sea Freight

Ocean Shipping

^$305

per CBM · minimum 1 CBM

Collection arranged in China*
Full container or LCL groupage available
Port of Durban or Port of Cape Town
Customs clearance & SARS handling
Door delivery anywhere in South Africa
45–55 working days door-to-door

Best for: large or heavy shipments where speed is not critical. Sea freight is the most cost-effective option per unit for most manufactured goods.

Air Freight

Air Cargo

^$13

per kilogram

Collection arranged in China*
Flies into OR Tambo, Cape Town or Durban
Customs clearance & SARS handling
Door delivery anywhere in South Africa
7–10 working days door-to-door
Ideal for urgent or high-value goods

Best for: time-sensitive orders, lighter goods (<200 kg), high-value items, or when sea freight transit time is too long for your needs.

* Rates are door-to-door and DDP (delivery duty paid) — import duty and import customs VAT are already included in the freight price, so there is no separate tariff for you to work out. Rates assume goods are delivered to our consolidation warehouse in China; collection from another area in China may add a cost depending on size, weight and location. import duty and import VAT are already included in the DDP freight rate. The all-in cost is confirmed upfront — no hidden charges.

⚠ Freight rates fluctuate daily based on fuel surcharges, carrier availability, and exchange rates. The rates shown are indicative starting points only. Always contact us for a current, accurate quote before making any purchasing decisions.

How It Works

Send Us Your Product Details

Share the product specs, dimensions, weight per carton, quantity, and supplier details. If you have an Alibaba or 1688 link, send that too.

We Cost Everything

We calculate your full landed cost — product cost, sea or air freight, customs duty, VAT, and our fee. You get a clear quote before committing to anything.

We Handle Production & Collection

Once you approve, we liaise with the factory, coordinate production lead times, and arrange collection from the factory floor in China.

Freight & Customs — Done for You

Your goods are shipped by sea or air freight. We manage all export and import documentation, SARS customs clearance, and port handling at the South African side.

Delivered to Your Door

Once cleared, your shipment is delivered directly to your warehouse, factory, or business premises anywhere in South Africa — Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, or beyond.

Repeat Orders Made Easy

Once we've run your first import, subsequent orders are faster and simpler. We keep your supplier details, specifications, and costing on file for quick turnaround.

Freight Calculator

Select your product category, then enter carton size and quantity. Rates are DDP (delivery duty paid) — duty and import VAT included, warehouse in China to our Johannesburg warehouse. Minimum 1 CBM; charged on the greater of volume or weight (1 CBM = 1000 kg).

Product Category

Length (cm)

Width (cm)

Height (cm)

Qty (cartons)

Total Weight (kg) — optional

Total CBM

—

Est. Sea Freight

—

Value of Your Goods (USD) — optional

Optional — add the value of your goods to see an estimated landed cost. Import duty and import VAT are already included in the DDP freight rate above, so they are not added again here.

⚠ This is an estimate, not a quote. Freight rates change daily — with fuel surcharges, carrier space and the exchange rate — so the figure above can move between today and the day you order. We confirm the live rate in writing before you commit to anything.

What the DDP rate covers: ocean or air freight, customs clearance on both sides, import duty and import VAT. DDP means delivery duty paid — you are not invoiced separately for duty or import VAT on arrival.

What it does not cover: the cost of your goods; getting your goods from your supplier to our warehouse in China (quoted separately — it depends on size, weight and where in China you are collecting from); and the final local leg from our Johannesburg warehouse to your street address. A small-order surcharge applies to small loads. Ask us for a full landed cost and we will price the two delivery legs for you.

Enter your shipment details above to get an estimate, then confirm.

Import duty lookup — search the South African tariff schedule by HS code or product description. China has no trade agreement with South Africa, so the general rate is the one that applies to your import.

HS Code or Product Description

Type at least two characters to search 7,000+ tariff headings.

⚠ Source: SARS Schedule 1 Part 1, Customs & Excise Tariff (dated 2025-08-01). Duty is charged on the customs value of the goods. Tariff classification is a legal determination — the final code is decided by SARS or your clearing agent, and rates change. Use this as a guide, and we will confirm the duty on your specific goods before you order. Note that on our DDP rates duty is already included in the freight price.

Sea freight from China to South Africa starts from $305 USD per CBM on a DDP basis (door-to-door, duty paid), with a minimum of 1 CBM. Air freight starts from $13 USD per kilogram, all-in door-to-door. Rates vary by product category and change often, and a small-order surcharge applies to small loads. Prices assume goods are delivered to our warehouse in China; collection from another area is quoted separately. We provide a full landed-cost breakdown before you commit.

Sea freight from China to Durban or Cape Town typically takes 45–55 working days door-to-door, including ocean transit, customs clearance and local delivery. Add production lead time on top (varies by product, usually 15–30 days) from order confirmation.

Air freight is significantly faster — typically 7–10 working days door-to-door, including customs clearance. Goods are flown into OR Tambo (Johannesburg), Cape Town International, or King Shaka (Durban). Production lead time is added on top of this.

No. Storm media acts as the importer of record on your behalf. We manage all SARS customs documentation, import permits (where required), port handling, and compliance. You don't need an import license or any specialist knowledge — we handle it all end-to-end.

CBM (cubic metre) is the standard volume unit used for sea freight pricing. To calculate your CBM: Length (m) × Width (m) × Height (m) per carton, multiplied by number of cartons. For example, 100 cartons each measuring 60cm × 40cm × 40cm = 100 × 0.6 × 0.4 × 0.4 = 9.6 CBM. Use our CBM calculator above for instant results.

We import a very wide range of products — industrial machinery, manufacturing equipment, consumer goods, packaging materials, branded merchandise, and more. Some products require import permits or specialist compliance (e.g. electronics certifications, pharmaceutical permits, food safety clearance). Contact us and we will advise on feasibility, applicable duties, and any special requirements before you commit.

South Africa's customs duty rates vary by product category (HS tariff code). Common manufactured goods attract duties between 0% and 45%, with most products falling in the 5–20% range. VAT at 15% is payable on the total landed value (product + freight + duty). We research the correct tariff code and duty rate for your specific product and include this in your upfront landed-cost quote — no surprises.

Yes. While this page is aimed at clients who have already found their product, we also offer sourcing assistance. Send us your product brief — specifications, quality requirements, target price — and we will identify suitable factories in China, obtain samples, and manage supplier vetting. Contact us to discuss your sourcing needs.

In-depth guides on importing from China to South Africa — written from real shipments we run every week.

Import from China toSouth Africa — Done Right

Import from China to
South Africa — Done Right