Ocean and Air Shipping from South Africa to the Netherlands

FCL, LCL and Air shipping comprehensive guide and instant online quote

Effortless Shipping

Real-Time Tracking

24X7 Customer Support

Updated on 28 Nov 2021

11 min read

Meat, fish, fruit, and juices are among the products businesses most frequently export from South Africa to the Netherlands. In 2016, bilateral trade between the nations totaled over $3.1 billion.

If your business is one of the many importing from South Africa to the Netherlands, you’ve landed on the right page. It’s full of information to help you ship more successfully.

You’ll find details about ocean and air shipping from South Africa to the Netherlands here, plus facts about seaports and airports, and guidance on customs clearance and shipment timings.

Know Your Options for Freight From South Africa to the Netherlands

Flags of South Africa and Netherlands to show Shipa Freight capacity to ship from South Africa to Netherlands

Shipping freight from South Africa to the Netherlands can be done by air or ocean. To help you choose which is best for your business, this page outlines the pros and cons of each mode of shipping.

Ocean Freight From South Africa to the Netherlands

Less than Container Load (LCL): With LCL shipping, your freight will share a container with other goods, and you will only pay for the space you use. Many companies find LCL offers the most cost-effective option for smaller shipments, and consignments that aren’t urgently required in the Netherlands.

Full Container Load (FCL): Despite its name, full container load shipping does not require you to fill your container. You can choose to wholly or partially fill the container you rent. Obviously, it makes commercial sense to load as much as you can.

Air Freight from South Africa to the Netherlands

For the fastest delivery of freight from South Africa to the Netherlands, nothing beats air freight. But it is also the most expensive form of international transportation.

The Cost of Shipping Cargo From South Africa to the Netherlands

Calculator to represent the cost of Shipa Freight's quotes

Freight forwarders’ quotes for international shipments are calculated by analyzing a combination of the following:

The distance between the port of origin and port of arrival
The kind of goods that are being transported
What type of service, i.e. port- to-port, port-to-door, door-to-port or door-to-door, is required
The weight, volume, and dimensions of the consignment

Your cargo’s weight can affect your choice of air or ocean shipping:

Many businesses find that goods weighing more than 100 kg are usually shipped more cost-effectively as ocean freight. That’s because air freight is often more expensive for heavier goods.
When looking to ship goods in the 35 kg to 100 kg weight bracket, it’s often the case that quotes for air and ocean shipping will be similar. Our advice in that situation is to go for the quickest!
Consignments weighing 35 kg or under aren’t something freight forwarders will quote for. Instead, you should approach international couriers to get a price for your shipment.

How Long Does it Take to Ship From South Africa to the Netherlands?

It’s over 9,000 kilometers from South Africa to the Netherlands. Air shipping is the quickest way to import from South Africa to the Netherlands. It typically takes five to eight days for a consignment to reach its destination.

Shipping a container from South Africa to the Netherlands by ocean takes longer. On average, 15 to 25 days is required for an FCL export from South Africa to the Netherlands. LCL shipments take between 20 and 30 days.

How Long Does It Take to Ship by Sea From South Africa to the Netherlands?

Many ocean freight shipments from South Africa enter the Netherlands via the port of Rotterdam. Typical transit time for FCL freight from Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Port Elizabeth to Rotterdam is 15 to 25 days, while LCL shipments can take between 20 and 30 days.

How Long Does It Take to Ship by Air From South Africa to the Netherlands?

You should allow at least five days for your air freight to reach the Netherlands from South Africa, and be made available for collection or onward transportation from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. Shipments from Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, or Cape Town to Amsterdam typically complete in five to eight days.

Customs Clearance in South Africa and the Netherlands

All commodities you want to export from South Africa to the Netherlands will have to satisfy customs rules and regulations. Customs officials in both nations are likely to insist on the following documentation:

Commercial Invoice
Packing List
Certificate of Origin
Letter of Credit or other payment terms (which one depends on the contract between the parties involved)
Bill of Lading for ocean freight or Airway Bill for air freight (Shipa Freight can supply this)

The documents list page we’ve created features examples of all the paperwork listed above, so you can take a closer look at each. The list isn’t exhaustive, and you may need additional licenses, certificates, or permits to accompany your consignment.

Without a doubt, customs clearance is one of the most complex aspects of international shipping. Often, businesses will enlist the help of a freight forwarder. It’s something your business should seriously consider if you want to avoid unnecessary delays affecting the process of importing from South Africa to the Netherlands.

Ocean or Air Shipping From South Africa to the Netherlands?

Ocean Freight

If there’s no rush for your goods to reach port in the Netherlands or your consignment is large, you’re likely to find ocean shipping is right for you. The sea freight shipping process requires a freight forwarder to book the services of an ocean carrier. They will transport your goods in a shipping container from South Africa to the Netherlands aboard a cargo vessel.

Your goods are likely to ship in a 20ft or 40ft standard container, although your forwarder will advise if they require one of the other types of containers available.

Either way, there are two modes of ocean shipping that you must choose between—FCL or LCL. We’ll go into more detail about each later on this page. But to summarize the key difference between the two here, with FCL shipping your goods will be shipped in a container used exclusively for your goods. LCL shipping entails your goods sharing a container with products belonging to other shippers.

Learn more about Ocean Freight on our dedicated page by clicking here.

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

LCL is often the best way to send your goods in a shipping container from South Africa to the Netherlands if:

The consignment is no bigger than six pallets
There’s no urgency for your goods to be in the Netherlands
The goods are safe to be shipped in a shared container
Air freight is out of the question

LCL might be best avoided for transporting ocean freight from South Africa to the Netherlands if:

Your consignment is expected in the Netherlands on a specific date
Your goods are high-value/delicate and might be damaged during shipping in a shared container
Your goods are perishable—perhaps flowers or food—and need to reach your consignee quickly
You want your freight to be handled as little as possible

Learn more about Less than Container Load on our dedicated page on LCL shipping.

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

FCL is a good shipping option if:

You need a predictable arrival time in the Netherlands
You’re happy to pay for an entire container, even if you don’t have enough freight to fill it
You’re shipping goods that aren’t suited to sharing a container
You want to seal your container in South Africa and have it remain sealed throughout shipping

Learn more about Full Container Load on our dedicated page on FCL shipping.

Air Freight

Air shipping is the fastest way to ship freight from South Africa to the Netherlands. But there are other benefits too:

It’s ideal for consignments occupying no more than three pallets
It’s great for fragile or perishable goods that need transit time to be as short as possible
It’s best for high-value goods that need airport-levels of security
It’s cheaper to insure air cargo than ocean freight
It’s handy when supplier and/or consignee is located closer to an airport than a seaport

Learn more about Air Freight on our dedicated page by clicking here.

Ocean Cargo Port Guide