The process
How importing into South Africa works with us
Five steps from quote to delivery, and you can see every one on the client portal. No black box between placing the order and the truck arriving.
- Tell us what you are movingSupplier, goods, weight and where it must land. Two minutes on the quote form.
- You get a landed costFreight, duty, VAT and delivery in one written figure, usually inside a working day.
- We book and collectWe deal with the supplier, the line and the origin agent. You do not chase anybody.
- We clear itEntry lodged, duty and VAT paid, stops attended. Documents load to your portal as they issue.
- It arrivesDelivered to your door, POD signed and on your portal the same day.
What we need from you
A short list. Get these right at the start and the rest runs quietly.
Your importer code
SARS registration. Without it nothing can be entered in your name. We help you apply if you do not have one.
Invoice and packing list
From the supplier, matching each other. Most delays start with these two disagreeing.
A description we can classify
What it is made of and what it is used for. Not the marketing name.
Your Incoterm
Who pays for what and where risk changes hands. See the Incoterms chart.
Incoterms you will actually meet
The three letters on your supplier quote decide who pays for what.
EXW
You collect from the supplier’s door. Cheapest on paper, most work for you, and you carry the risk from the moment it is packed.
FOB
Supplier gets it onto the vessel. You pay the sea freight onward. The most common and usually the easiest to control.
CIF
Supplier pays freight and insurance to the destination port. Convenient, but you pay their margin and cannot shop the rate.
DDP
Supplier delivers to your door, duty paid. Simplest for you and the most expensive, because someone else prices your risk.
Know your landed cost before you order
Freight, duty, VAT and delivery in one written figure. Usually within one working day.