Sea freight from China to Mombasa or Dar es Salaam typically takes 25–40 days port to port and costs a fraction of air; air freight lands in Nairobi, Entebbe or Dar in 3–7 days but costs several times more per kilogram. The right choice depends on your product's value density and how quickly you can sell it.
- Sea freight: roughly 25–40 days port-to-port to Mombasa/Dar, best for anything heavy or bulky.
- Air freight: 3–7 days door-to-airport, typically charged per kg on volumetric weight.
- A common rule of thumb: goods worth less than about USD 5 per kg rarely justify air freight.
- LCL (less than container load) lets small importers ship by sea without filling a container.
- Landlocked Uganda adds 5–10 days of inland transit from Mombasa or Dar es Salaam.
The real timelines, door to door
Quoted transit times are port-to-port; your goods also need export clearance in China, consolidation, and customs clearance on arrival. Realistic door-to-door planning numbers for East Africa:
| Route | Sea (typical) | Air (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| China → Nairobi (via Mombasa) | 30–45 days | 4–8 days |
| China → Kampala (via Mombasa, Northern Corridor) | 35–50 days | 4–8 days (Entebbe) |
| China → Dar es Salaam | 28–40 days | 4–8 days |
| China → Kigali/inland (via Dar, Central Corridor) | 35–55 days | 5–9 days |
Add 3–7 days for customs clearance if your paperwork is clean, longer if documents and values are queried.
What each mode really costs
Sea freight is priced per container (FCL) or per cubic metre (LCL); air freight per kilogram of chargeable weight — the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight (length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000).
- LCL sea rates China→Mombasa commonly run in the range of USD 150–350 per cubic metre depending on season and agent.
- A 20-foot container (about 26–28 usable m³) often lands in the USD 2,000–4,500 range port-to-port, swinging with fuel and season.
- Air freight China→Nairobi commonly falls between USD 5 and USD 12 per kg for general cargo, more for express or dangerous goods.
- Consolidators quote 'per kg all-in' rates for small air shipments — convenient, but compare against the raw rate plus clearance.
A simple break-even rule
Divide the value of your goods by their chargeable weight. If your product is worth less than about USD 5 per kg, air freight will usually eat your margin. Between USD 5–15 per kg it depends on urgency and stock-out cost; above USD 15–20 per kg (phones, laptops, high-margin accessories) air is often the rational default.
Also price the cost of waiting: if a 35-day sea transit means missing a season — Black Friday stock, school-opening stationery, December fashion — the 'cheaper' option can be the more expensive one.
Practical tips for small importers
- 1Use LCL or a consolidator until you can fill at least half a container; paying for empty space helps no one.
- 2Confirm whether quotes are port-to-port, airport-to-airport or door-to-door, and what clearance charges are excluded.
- 3Insure anything you cannot afford to lose; marine cargo insurance typically costs well under 1% of declared value.
- 4Pay your supplier only against a proforma invoice that states the agreed Incoterm (FOB and CIF behave very differently in your freight budget).
- 5Track peak seasons: rates spike before Chinese New Year (January–February) and in the pre-Christmas quarter.
Frequently asked questions
Which is safer for fragile goods, sea or air?
Air involves less handling time but stricter weight economics. Well-packed sea cargo in a consolidated container travels safely if export packaging is done properly — specify carton strength and palletising with your supplier.
Can I split one order between sea and air?
Yes, and many importers do: an air 'top-up' of fast-selling lines to bridge the gap while the main sea shipment is in transit.
Does paying the supplier in RMB change my freight?
No — freight is separate. But settling the goods invoice in RMB through a documented channel often gets you a cleaner FOB price, which is the number your whole freight calculation builds on.
SilkBridge helps importers in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania pay Chinese suppliers in RMB — documented, reviewed in Nairobi, and tracked to payout.
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