For West African tea importers, ocean freight can move the landed cost per tonne by 5–15% within a single quarter. You cannot control the market — but you can control how you buy it.
The Main Routes
- Shanghai / Ningbo → Dakar (Senegal) — the classic Senegal/Mali corridor.
- Ningbo / Shanghai → Cotonou (Benin), Lomé (Togo), Tema (Ghana) — transshipment gateways for Niger, Burkina and landlocked markets.
- Ningbo → Casablanca (Morocco) — the North Africa mainline.
- Typical transshipment via Singapore/Colombo or European hubs; transit commonly 30–45 days depending on rotation.
What Drives the Rate
- Container market cycle — rates swing seasonally and with global capacity; quote validity is typically 7–14 days.
- Peak-season surcharges — before Ramadan and before major festivals, West Africa demand spikes; book early.
- Destination charges — terminal handling and documentation fees differ by port and can exceed the ocean leg difference between carriers.
FOB vs CIF on This Route
- FOB China: you control the carrier and the destination charges — usually cheaper if you have a reliable local forwarder.
- CIF to destination: we arrange ocean leg and insurance — simpler banking and LC handling, and rate risk sits with us until the port. See FOB vs CIF explained.
Four Ways to Cut Landed Cost
- Fill the container: mixed grades to reach full cubic utilization — see loading quantities.
- Book 2–3 weeks before peak surcharge windows.
- Compare 40GP vs two 20GP on long routes.
- Consolidate with your forwarder’s weekly consolidation for smaller lots.
Smileaf Tea quotes FOB Ningbo/Shanghai and CIF to major West African ports, with loading plans per container — send your destination port for a door-port cost plan →