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Best Africa LogisticsShipping from China to Africa

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BEST AFRICA LOGISTICS

China to Côte d'Ivoire
Shipping and logistics

Abidjan is one of West Africa's busiest ports, also serving Mali and Burkina Faso. San-Pédro suits industrial cargo.

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Container port on a lagoon, cranes working a container ship, with a modern city skyline of high-rise towers behind the yard
Collect at destination or choose delivery

China → Côte d'Ivoire

Route overview
Sea FCL, in transit
30 - 38 days
Air, in transit
6 - 9 days

Quote within 30 minutes

  • Import requirement

    Import declaration form (FDI)

  • Import requirement

    Cargo tracking note (BSC)

  • Import requirement

    Online clearance through GUCE

  • Common cargo

    Building materials, tiles and sanitary hardware, Motorcycle and auto parts, Furniture and household goods

Short answer

Updated: August 2026

How long is sea freight from China to Côte d'Ivoire, and what should importers watch for?

From China to the port of Abidjan, FCL transit is usually 30 to 38 days; air freight to Abidjan Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport (ABJ) takes 6 to 9 days. Before import, the Ivorian importer must obtain an import declaration form (FDI) through the foreign trade single window (GUCE). Sea cargo also needs a cargo tracking note (BSC), managed by the Office Ivoirien des Chargeurs (OIC); the FDI number goes on the BSC application, and a mismatch between the two is a common reason for rejection.

Company profile

Best Africa Logistics

Freight forwarder from China to Africa: sea and air freight door to door with customs clearance, product certificates for your country, and five warehouses in China to combine and store goods.

Core strengths
  • 10+ years China to Africa
  • Sea and air
  • Door to door, customs cleared
What we do
  • Sea freight: full or shared container
  • Air freight to your door
  • Customs clearance
  • Final delivery
Addresses
Shenzhen warehouse
Ground Floor, Building 12, No.8 Tangwei Industrial Ave, Fuhai Subdistrict, Bao'an District, Shenzhen 518103, China
Both teams and addresses

Our track record

China-Africa freight experience
10+ years
Customers served in total
2,000+
NigeriaGhanaTogoCôte d'IvoireSenegalMoroccoAlgeriaTunisiaEgyptEthiopiaKenyaTanzaniaSouth AfricaChina

Clearance ports in Côte d'Ivoire

We confirm the port before booking, based on your goods, delivery city and port congestion.

Import ports available in Côte d'Ivoire
PortTypeLocationNotes
Port Autonome d'AbidjanSeaportAbidjanCôte d'Ivoire's main container port, also handling transit cargo for landlocked countries
Port Autonome de San-PédroSeaportSan-Pédro, south-west coastSuits south-western destinations and industrial project cargo
Abidjan inland transit corridorRoad / railAbidjan → Ouagadougou, BamakoCargo for Burkina Faso and Mali clears transit in Abidjan and continues inland
Félix Houphouët-Boigny International (ABJ)AirportAbidjanMain air cargo entry point
Destinations in and around Abidjan usually go through Abidjan port; for the south-west or transit to landlocked countries, we compare ports and transport by delivery city.

Time at sea or in the air, from departure. Customs and port queues are extra; peak season and congestion can add time.

At a container door, an inspector in a high-visibility vest holds a document clipboard and points at the labels on cartons inside, with the container yard and gantry cranes behind
Compliance

Import requirements in Côte d'Ivoire

Rules change. We check each product by name and HS code before shipping.

  1. Item 01

    Import declaration form (FDI)

    The Ivorian importer must obtain an import declaration form (FDI) through GUCE before shipment. The FDI number is the basis for the cargo tracking note and clearance, and product names, quantities and HS codes must match the commercial invoice.

  2. Item 02

    Cargo tracking note (BSC)

    Sea cargo to Côte d'Ivoire needs a cargo tracking note (BSC), managed by the Office Ivoirien des Chargeurs (OIC) and validated before the vessel arrives. The FDI number must be entered on the application; a missing or wrong number gets it rejected.

  3. Item 03

    Online clearance through GUCE

    Import declaration, duty payment and release are handled online through GUCE and the customs system. The usual documents are the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, FDI and BSC, and the details on all of them must match.

Check my products

Why Best Africa Logistics

  • Import rules checked first

    • We check Côte d'Ivoire's import rules for each product before shipping, so nothing is missing on arrival

  • Five warehouses in China

    • Shenzhen · Guangzhou · Yiwu · Qingdao · Lianyungang: warehouses near your suppliers, so pickup in China costs less
    • Every step tracked, with early warning of any problem

  • Clear pricing, no hidden fees

    • The quote is the final bill · No surprise storage or inspection charges
    • Full cargo insurance · 10 years in business · Company bank transfers with invoices

Common cargo

Not the full list. Sensitive goods can ship once we check the documents.

  • Building materials, tiles and sanitary hardware
  • Motorcycle and auto parts
  • Furniture and household goods
  • General merchandise, textiles, shoes and hats
  • Solar equipment, wires and cables
  • Machinery and parts

FAQ: shipping from China to Côte d'Ivoire

Are the FDI and the BSC the same thing?

No. The FDI is the import declaration form the Ivorian importer obtains through GUCE before shipment; the BSC is the cargo tracking note for sea freight, and its application needs the FDI number. Cargo clears normally only when both are in place. Before booking we confirm the FDI number with you and check that the bill of lading, invoice and both documents match.

Can cargo go through Abidjan to Mali or Burkina Faso?

Yes. Abidjan is one of the ports Mali and Burkina Faso often use. After transit formalities in Abidjan, cargo continues inland by road or rail. This leg is not included in the sea transit time and is priced by delivery city.

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Other routes

Country not listed? Ask usFull transit time table

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Best Africa LogisticsShipping from China to Africa

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WhatsApp / Phone (Nigeria)
Business hours
Mon to Sun, 2:00 - 17:00 Lagos time (WAT)
Lagos warehouse 1
No 2 Henry Carr Street, By Guinness Bus Stop, Ikeja, Lagos State 102212, Nigeria
Lagos warehouse 2
No. 5 Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos State 101233, Nigeria
Head office, China
Ground Floor, Building 12, No.8 Tangwei Industrial Ave, Fuhai Subdistrict, Bao'an District, Shenzhen 518103, China
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Goods category (select all that apply)
  • Mon to Sun, 2:00 - 17:00 Lagos time (WAT)
  • Free compliance check
  • Used only for this quotation