Questions we are asked
What buyers across Central Africa and Angola ask us about routes, ports and clearing.
Your route
Do you ship construction equipment to Cameroon?+
Yes, to Douala and to Kribi. Douala has more agents and more sailings, while Kribi is deep water and easier for heavy or oversized pieces.
Can you send machines to Gabon?+
Yes, to Owendo near Libreville. It is a straightforward port and the volumes through it are small enough that cargo does not sit.
Do you ship heavy equipment to the Democratic Republic of Congo?+
Yes. Matadi and the newer deep water terminal at Banana serve the west, and for the mining region in the south east the machine often enters through Lobito, Dar es Salaam or Beira instead.
Can you ship machines to Angola?+
Yes, to Luanda and to Lobito. Angola is one of the larger construction markets on this coast and the ports handle heavy cargo regularly.
Do you ship to Congo Brazzaville?+
Yes, to Pointe-Noire. It is one of the better equipped ports in the region and it also serves cargo moving inland towards Brazzaville.
How do machines reach Chad and the Central African Republic?+
By sea to Douala and then overland. That road leg is long and it is a real cost, so budget it from the start rather than discovering it after the machine lands.
Ports and routes
Which port should I use for the Congo copper belt?+
It depends on where your site sits. Lobito is the shortest Atlantic route now that the rail corridor has been rebuilt. Dar es Salaam and Beira come from the other side. Tell us the town and we will work it out.
Is Douala or Kribi better for my cargo?+
Douala for a containerised machine, because the agent network is deeper. Kribi for anything heavy or oversized, because it is deep water and handles flat rack cargo more easily.
How long does shipping to Central Africa take?+
Longer than to West Africa, because fewer services call directly and some cargo transships. Give us your port and we will quote against the actual sailing rather than a general figure.
Is it cheaper to buy from China or from South Africa?+
Usually China, and by enough to cover the freight. South African stock is closer but priced against a market with limited supply, so compare our price plus freight against a local quotation.
Cost and machines
How much does it cost to ship an excavator to Douala?+
It depends on the machine and whether it travels in a container or on a flat rack. A twenty tonne excavator containerises once the boom and arm come off, which keeps the cost down.
Which machines sell best in Central Africa?+
Twenty tonne excavators, wheel loaders for aggregates and cement, and tipper trucks. Road and drainage work drives most of the demand outside mining.
What equipment does a mining site in Congo need?+
A forty tonne class excavator, a production loader and tippers sized to match. We hold all three in Qingdao, and we source dozers and crushers to order.
Can I buy several machines for a mining contract?+
Yes, and it is normal work for us. Buying together improves the price per machine and means one shipment and one clearance rather than several.
Do you quote in dollars for Central Africa?+
Yes. All our China stock is priced in United States dollars on an FOB Qingdao basis, which suits a region where most heavy trade is dollar denominated.
Clearing and checking
Who clears the machine at Matadi or Lobito?+
A licensed clearing agent you appoint locally. Have him in place before the vessel arrives, because free storage periods are short and daily charges are not.
Can I inspect a machine before it ships to Angola?+
Yes. Come to Qingdao, appoint an inspector, or ask us for photographs and video of anything you want to see. At these distances it is worth doing.
