Africa
Container Shipping from the UK to Benin
Cotonou is Benin's only deep-water port and does double duty as a transit gateway for Niger and northern Nigeria, with cotton the dominant export.
Container shipping from the UK to Benin runs full container load to Cotonou (BJCOO). There is no scheduled less than container load service to Benin at present. Sea transit is 16–21 days port to port and air freight 1–3 days. We collect from any UK address and handle UK export clearance; customs charges in Benin are not included.
Where we ship
Ports in Benin
Full container load and groupage both go to Cotonou. Select a port for its location, code and indicative transit.
- UK door
- UK port
- Cotonou
Packed and sealed at your premises, then straight to the port — usually Southampton.
Less than container load
There is no scheduled groupage service to Benin at present. Smaller consignments are quoted case by case — tell us the volume and we will say honestly which option is cheaper.
The FCL and LCL availability shown here is illustrative while we finish confirming our service map. Ask us and we will confirm what runs on this lane before you commit to anything.
Get a price for Benin
The three modes are quoted separately — they are priced on different things entirely: a container, a cubic metre and a kilo.
Indicative pricing
Starting points for sea freight from the UK, not port-specific figures — the rate for your shipment depends on the arrival port, the sailing and the commodity. Customs charges, duty and taxes in Benin are payable there and are not included.
Rates for Benin are quoted per shipment rather than published — request a quote and we will come back with a firm figure for your route.
What can you ship to Benin?
Transit cargo for Niger and northern Nigeria, cotton and textile machinery, used vehicles and motorcycle parts, rice and cement move through Cotonou.
Cargo needs to be palletised, shrink-wrapped and labelled with the consignee, because groupage is handled several times between your loading bay and the delivery address. Anything containing lithium batteries, aerosols, paints, solvents or compressed gas needs declaring at booking — it usually still travels, it just changes the packing and the paperwork rather than simply the price.
What tax and duty applies on import into Benin?
Benin charges TVA at a standard rate of 18%, charged on the customs value plus duty. Customs duty is separate and runs at 0%, 5%, 10%, 20% or 35% under the ECOWAS common external tariff, set by the commodity code of the specific goods.
Cotonou clears domestic imports and a heavy transit flow through the same gate, so processing times track the transit workload rather than the arrival schedule. Vehicle imports in particular occupy yard space and lengthen container dwell when they peak.
What are the import restrictions in Benin?
Four things are worth checking before you book rather than after the vessel sails.
What documents do I need to import into Benin?
These cover the far end of the journey and belong to your consignee. We prepare and file the transport and commercial paperwork, but their own registrations are issued to them by their own authorities and cannot be obtained on their behalf.
What documents do you need in the UK to export?
A second, separate set of paperwork — and this one is yours rather than your consignee's. It is the part first-time exporters are most often caught by, because the destination requirements get all the attention and the British side looks like a formality until it stops a booking.
Duty depends on the commodity code of the specific goods, and rates change. This is general guidance, not tax or legal advice. Customs charges, duty and taxes in the destination country are payable there and are not included in our freight quote. Rates last reviewed .
UK to Benin shipping: FAQs
How long does shipping from the UK to Benin take?
Sea freight runs about 16–21 days port to port, and air freight 1–3 days airport to airport. Cotonou is the quickest sea gateway on this lane at around 16 days. These are indicative figures measured port to port; the transit for your exact collection address and delivery address, including the inland legs at both ends, is confirmed at quote stage.
Which ports do you ship to in Benin?
We move cargo through one port in Benin: Cotonou (BJCOO). Full container load goes to Cotonou. We have no scheduled groupage service to Benin at present, so part loads are quoted case by case. Each port page lists its location, code and indicative transit.
Do you handle customs clearance for Benin?
We handle the UK side: we file your export declaration with HMRC against your GB EORI number and raise the transport and commercial documents that travel with the shipment. Customs charges in Benin — duty, import tax and any local clearance fees — are payable there by the consignee and are not included in our rates, unless you have agreed a DDP Incoterm that puts them on you. Budget for them separately; they are the most common reason a landed cost comes in above the freight quote.
What should I know before shipping on the Benin lane?
Vehicle imports take up a lot of yard at Cotonou and lengthen container dwell when they peak. If timing is tight, ask for the current dwell position before you commit to a delivery date. Cargo commonly moving on this lane includes transit cargo for niger and northern nigeria, cotton ginning and textile machinery, used vehicles and motorcycle parts.
Compare lanes
Other countries we ship to and from
Rates and transit times for countries near Benin — each one works as an origin or a destination.
South Africa
Import & export · Durban
LCL from
£88.00
per cubic metre
20+ days
Nigeria
Import & export · Lagos (Apapa)
LCL from
£92.00
per cubic metre
18+ days
Kenya
Import & export · Mombasa
LCL from
£93.00
per cubic metre
24+ days
Plan the rest of the move
Shipping to Benin? Get a quote.
Any country to any country, import or export — send us the origin, destination and cargo details and we'll come back with a competitive rate within one business day.