Shipping from China to Democratic Republic of the Congo

Sea Freight Service

Since DRC is landlocked, sea freight relies on transit through neighboring countries’ ports, followed by inland transport.
Main Seaports in China: Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Qingdao, Tianjin, Xiamen.
Gateway Ports for DRC:
Port of Matadi (via Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo)
Port of Boma (via Pointe-Noire or Matadi)
Port of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (serving eastern DRC)
Port of Mombasa, Kenya (serving eastern and northeastern DRC)
Port of Durban, South Africa (used for southern routes)
Transit Time:
China – Matadi (via Pointe-Noire): 40–50 days
China – Dar es Salaam/Mombasa + inland transport: 45–55 days
Options:
FCL (Full Container Load) – suitable for large volumes.
LCL (Less than Container Load) – cost-effective for small shipments.
Breakbulk & Ro-Ro – for oversized machinery, vehicles, and mining equipment.

Air Freight Service

Air freight is the fastest option for transporting urgent, high-value, or sensitive goods.
Main Airports in China: Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Beijing Capital (PEK), Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN), Shenzhen Bao'an (SZX), Hong Kong International (HKG).
Main Airports in DRC:
N'djili International Airport (FIH) – Kinshasa
Lubumbashi International Airport (FBM) – Katanga region
Goma International Airport (GOM) – Eastern DRC
Transit Time:
Direct and indirect flights: 5–10 days depending on airline and stopovers.
Suitable For: Electronics, pharmaceuticals, automotive spare parts, industrial equipment, textiles, and perishables.

Rail and Multimodal Transport Service

There is no direct China–DRC railway connection, but multimodal routes integrate rail and sea transport:
China–Europe Rail Freight + Sea to Africa: Goods shipped by rail to European ports (e.g., Antwerp, Hamburg) and then by sea to Pointe-Noire or Dar es Salaam.
Southern African Rail Links: Goods arrive in Durban (South Africa), then transported by rail through Zambia to Lubumbashi in the Katanga mining region.
Transit Time: 45–60 days depending on routing.