Buying in China, India or elsewhere in Asia, and want your goods delivered to Douala without any bad surprises? Here are the six steps of a container import, and what to check at each one.
At a glance
- Indicative transit time: 5 to 7 weeks at sea from China, depending on the port of loading and the port calls.
- Key documents: commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading.
- A single point of contact, from your supplier’s factory to your warehouse.
01Agree on the Incoterm with your supplier
The Incoterm sets who pays for what, and when the goods become your responsibility. It is the first thing to negotiate: it shapes both the purchase price and the way transport is organized.
| Incoterm | The supplier handles | You handle |
|---|---|---|
| EXW (Ex Works) | Making the goods available at its premises | Everything else: pickup, export, freight, insurance, import |
| FOB (Free On Board) | Carriage to the port of loading and export clearance | Ocean freight, insurance and import |
| CFR / CIF | Freight to Douala (CIF: plus minimum insurance) | Charges on arrival, customs clearance and delivery |
| DAP | Transport to the agreed place | Import clearance, duties and taxes |
Note: under both CFR and CIF, the supplier pays the freight, but the risk passes to you as soon as the goods are loaded on board. Good insurance is therefore essential.
02Book and prepare the shipment
We book space on board with the shipping line, arrange the stuffing of the container at the supplier’s or in a warehouse, and check the export documents before departure.
03Follow the voyage
Once the container is on board, the bill of lading (B/L) is issued: it is the document that will let you collect the goods on arrival. During the voyage, we keep you informed of the port calls and the estimated time of arrival.
04Clear customs in Douala
On arrival, the customs declaration is filed and duties and taxes are paid. Prepare your documents in advance: this is the step where delays cost the most.
05Unload and collect the container
Our teams are at the port to supervise the unloading, check the condition of the goods and arrange the pickup.
06Deliver to your warehouse
The container is delivered to you full, or unstuffed and delivered by truck, in Douala, in the other regions of Cameroon and as far as Chad or the Central African Republic.
Watch out for demurrage. Each container has a number of free days at the port. Beyond that, the shipping line charges fees for every day of delay: a complete file before the vessel arrives is the best way to avoid them.
Bringing in a container from Asia?
Tell us the port of loading, the type and the volume of your goods: free quote within 24 hours.