China → Ghana · FCL sea freight
FCL Shipping from China to Ghana
Containers loaded under our supervision, booked from Yiwu.
FCL shipping from China to Ghana with Al Fajar: we book 20ft, 40ft and 40HQ full containers from Yiwu and China's main ports to Tema port in Ghana…. We look after everything on the China side: loading, export paperwork and customs declaration. Your Ghanaian clearing agent takes over at Tema.
02 / The route at a glance
FCL Shipping from China to Ghana: the Route at a Glance
Al Fajar books full containers to Tema, Ghana's main container port near Accra. Cargo from Yiwu usually sails from Ningbo or Shanghai, and many Ghanaian buyers ship from Guangzhou or Shenzhen. Our work stops at the China port, and your clearing agent files the import declaration. We book FCL shipping from China to Ghana to Tema, from Yiwu and China's main ports.
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03 / Origin ports and transit to Tema
Which China Port for FCL Shipping from China to Ghana?
For FCL shipping from China to Ghana, the sailing time depends on where the container leaves. Shenzhen is usually the shortest, and sources put the others at about 39 to 41 days.
| Origin port | Typical days to Tema | Best when | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
Shenzhen |
About 30days, port to port |
Cargo from Guangdong, electronics | FCL from Shenzhen |
Guangzhou (Nansha) |
About 39days, port to port |
Furniture, home goods, Canton Fair buyers | FCL from Guangzhou |
Ningbo |
About 39days, port to port |
Cargo from Yiwu and Zhejiang | FCL from Ningbo |
Shanghai |
About 40days, port to port |
Cargo from Shanghai and Jiangsu | FCL from Shanghai |
Typical port-to-port days from public guides, October 2026; some sources give up to 42 days. Allow about a week in China before sailing. Your quote shows the actual sailing.
04 / What decides the price
What Decides the Price of FCL Shipping from China to Ghana
The price of FCL shipping from China to Ghana is set per container, not by weight. We send a written quote within 24 hours, with ocean freight and China-side costs on separate lines.
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20GP
20ft container · about 33 m³
About
US$3,173–3,878
Market reference per container, China to Ghana.
Best for dense or heavy cargo from one supplier
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40GP
40ft container · about 67 m³
About
US$3,825–4,675
Market reference per container, China to Ghana.
Best for volume cargo, mixed goods
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40HQ
40ft high cube · about 76 m³
Price
Shown in your quote
Usually priced close to a 40GP.
Best for light, bulky cargo such as furniture
Market range to Tema from a public rate guide (Sino Shipping, 2 October 2026, unchanged from September). It is not an Al Fajar quote and can move from month to month.
01Origin port
Origin port
Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Ningbo and Shanghai are priced separately.
02Trucking
Trucking
From your supplier to the port; its own line in the quote.
03Timing
Sailing week and carrier
Carriers reprice weekly, and the busy season costs extra.
04Cargo
Cargo type
Goods that need a licence or a dangerous-goods check can change the plan.
05Load
Weight and container
Pick by volume (33, 67 or 76 m³) and keep within about 26–28 tonnes.
06Validity
Quote validity
Prices hold only for the period stated on your quote.
Written quote
Ocean freight and China-side costs on separate lines.
Send the cargo, supplier city and port. A written quote reaches you within 24 hours.
Get an FCL quoteWritten quote within 24 hours
05 / How it works
How FCL Shipping from China to Ghana Works, Step by Step
Six stages take your container from the first cargo details to the documents reaching your Ghanaian clearing agent.
01 / 06
Your shipment journey
06 stages
Additional support
FCL Container Shipping
This is how FCL shipping from China to Ghana runs on the China side. See our FCL Container Shipping service.
06 / Who does what
Who Does What, and Where We Are Based
The Al Fajar team sits in Yiwu, Zhejiang. From booking to sailing one Yiwu team follows your container, and the loading is checked before it is gated in. FCL shipping from China to Ghana with us is limited to the China side, which keeps responsibility clear. Our Yiwu team runs the China half of FCL shipping from China to Ghana; your Ghana agent handles ICUMS and clearance.
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We handle
- Pick-up and port haulage
- On-site loading check
- Documents for export
- Customs declaration in China
- Container reservation
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You handle
- The import declaration in ICUMS, through your agent
- Duties and taxes
- Port charges and demurrage
- Delivery from Tema
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We do not offer
- Air freight
- Door-to-door delivery
- DDP delivery
07 / Ghana import guide
Importing After FCL Shipping from China to Ghana: ICUMS, Agent and Declaration
Ghana clears imports electronically, and your agent needs the China documents early. Ask your Ghana agent about your ICUMS access and the IDF before FCL shipping from China to Ghana is booked.
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Who clears
Importer and agent
You need a TIN or GhanaCard PIN, and port clearance goes through a licensed customs or clearing agent (overview (opens in a new tab)).
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Declaration
ICUMS declaration
The agent lodges the declaration in ICUMS, Ghana's customs system, with the bill of lading, invoice, packing list and any permits.
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Release
Routing and release
ICUMS routes each consignment: red for physical examination, yellow for a scan, green for release.
08 / Ghana landed cost
Plan the Landed Cost of FCL Shipping from China to Ghana
Duty depends on the 10-digit tariff line of your goods, not on the product name. Ghana follows the ECOWAS five-band structure (Ghana import duty overview (opens in a new tab)). Your agent confirms the band. Duty bands and levies decide the landed cost of FCL shipping from China to Ghana, so run the numbers before you order.
Customs duty bands
| Band | Rate | Typical goods |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0% | Essential social goods |
| 1 | 5% | Primary necessities, raw and capital goods |
| 2 | 10% | Intermediate goods and inputs |
| 3 | 20% | Finished consumer goods |
| 4 | 35% | Goods for economic development |
Taxes on taxable imports
- VAT 15%
- NHIL 2.5% and GETFund levy 2.5%
- About 20% in total under the VAT Act 2025, in force from 1 January 2026
- The COVID-19 levy has been abolished
- Even 0% goods must be entered with customs
Other levies may apply to some goods. Rules checked October 2026; confirm figures with your agent before you buy.
09 / China customs, documents and delays
China Customs, Documents and Delays for FCL Shipping from China to Ghana
Export clearance comes before loading: the declaration must be filed and released first. We take care of it, and you can read how in our China Customs Declaration and China Export Documentation services. For FCL shipping from China to Ghana we file early, so the container is released before the cut-off.
Documents we work with
- Packing list and commercial invoice
- Bill of lading
- Contract of sale
- Certificate of origin where a trade deal applies
Where delays come from
- Why
Late or mismatched documents, ICUMS queries, peak season and port congestion.
- Demurrage
The first seven days are normally free; days 8 to 14 cost about US$20–30 a day, and later days more, varying by line (Ghana Shippers' Authority (opens in a new tab), 2023).
- What we do
Book early, send the document set before the ship arrives, and tell you if a sailing rolls.
10 / FAQ
Questions importers ask about FCL shipping from China to Ghana
Straight answers on cost, transit time, ICUMS, duty and VAT, demurrage and documents.
How much does it cost to ship a 20ft or 40ft container from China to Ghana?
A market reference in October 2026 is about US$3,173–3,878 for a 20ft and US$3,825–4,675 for a 40ft to Tema. Rates move with the carrier, origin port and season, and a range is not a quote. For FCL shipping from China to Ghana, a written quote follows within 24 hours.
How long does shipping take from China to Ghana by sea?
Sea transit to Tema is about 30 to 40 days port to port, and some sources give up to 42. Shenzhen is usually the shortest at about 30 days. About a week passes in China for loading, export documents and customs declaration before sailing.
How do I choose a freight forwarder in China for Ghana?
A good China forwarder for Ghana has a verifiable office, shows the loading, quotes origin charges in writing, sends documents before arrival and says plainly what Ghanaian clearance involves. Al Fajar is in Yiwu, works by sea only and handles the China side.
Which China port is best for a container to Ghana?
Shenzhen is usually the fastest to Tema, at about 30 days. Guangzhou, Ningbo and Shanghai take about 39 to 40. Choose by supplier location and sailing date. Send us the supplier city and we quote the ports that fit your cargo.
How is import duty calculated in Ghana?
Duty is charged on the customs value at the rate for your 10-digit tariff line, in bands of 0%, 5%, 10%, 20% and 35%. VAT of 15% plus NHIL and GETFund levies of 2.5% each apply on taxable imports. Your clearing agent works out the final figures.
What documents do I need to import a container from China to Ghana?
You need a bill of lading, commercial invoice and packing list, plus an Import Declaration Form where it applies, and any licences or permits for restricted goods. Your agent lodges the declaration in ICUMS. For FCL shipping from China to Ghana, we prepare the China-side set.
What is ICUMS and do I need a clearing agent?
ICUMS is Ghana's Integrated Customs Management System, where import declarations are lodged and duties are paid. Port clearance goes through a licensed customs or clearing agent, and you need a TIN or GhanaCard PIN. Al Fajar does not clear goods in Ghana.
What are demurrage charges at Tema port?
Demurrage is a daily charge when a container stays at the port past its free days. The first seven days are normally free, and later days cost more, varying by shipping line. Late or mismatched documents are a common cause, so we send the document set early.
What items does Ghana import from China?
Ghana imports many finished goods from China, such as machinery, electronics, building materials, furniture and consumer goods. Each product has its own duty band and may need a permit. Before you buy, ask your agent to check the tariff line and any restrictions.
Do you offer DDP, door-to-door or air freight to Ghana?
Our service stops at the China port: FCL by sea, loading, export documents and the China customs declaration. We do not offer DDP, door-to-door delivery or air freight. Your Ghanaian clearing agent and haulier handle clearance and delivery. Ask an air-freight specialist about air.
Start FCL shipping from China to Ghana with a quote
Get your FCL quote within 24 hours.
Cargo, supplier city, destination port: send these three and we answer with a written FCL quote inside 24 hours.
- Send your detailsCargo, supplier city and Tema port
- Get a written quoteOcean freight and China-side charges listed separately
- We book and loadLoading checked in Yiwu, documents prepared before sailing
Request a quote
Reply within 24 hoursWhat to send us
- Cargo details
- Supplier city in China
- Destination port
Written quote. Charges listed separately.
or talk to us directly