Africa
Container Shipping from the UK to Libya
Mediterranean sailings to Tripoli, Misrata and Benghazi, arranged case by case — service continuity is the planning constraint on this lane rather than capacity.
Container shipping from the UK to Libya runs full container load to Tripoli (LYTIP), Benghazi (LYBEN) and Misrata (LYMRA). There is no scheduled less than container load service to Libya at present. Sea transit is 11–17 days port to port and air freight 2–4 days. We collect from any UK address and handle UK export clearance; customs charges in Libya are not included.
Where we ship
Ports in Libya
Full container load and groupage both go to Tripoli, Benghazi and Misrata. Select a port for its location, code and indicative transit.
- UK door
- UK port
- Tripoli, Benghazi or Misrata
Packed and sealed at your premises, then straight to the port — usually Southampton.
Less than container load
There is no scheduled groupage service to Libya 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 Libya
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 Libya are payable there and are not included.
Rates for Libya 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 Libya?
Construction materials and plant, industrial and oilfield machinery, food commodities, vehicles and spare parts and medical equipment move through Tripoli, Misrata and Benghazi.
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 Libya?
Libya does not levy a general consumption tax on imports, though customs duty and service charges apply, applies at the point of clearance rather than as a broad consumption tax. Customs duty is separate and runs at 0–50% depending on category, with service and port charges on top, set by the commodity code of the specific goods.
Libya's clearance requirements have changed with administrative conditions, and requirements enforced at one port have not always matched another. Confirm the current position with the consignee's clearing agent for the specific port of entry rather than relying on precedent.
What are the import restrictions in Libya?
Four things are worth checking before you book rather than after the vessel sails.
What documents do I need to import into Libya?
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 Libya shipping: FAQs
How long does shipping from the UK to Libya take?
Sea freight runs about 11–17 days port to port, and air freight 2–4 days airport to airport. Tripoli is the quickest sea gateway on this lane at around 11 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 Libya?
We move cargo through 3 ports in Libya: Tripoli (LYTIP), Benghazi (LYBEN), Misrata (LYMRA). Full container load goes to Tripoli, Benghazi and Misrata. We have no scheduled groupage service to Libya 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 Libya?
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 Libya — 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 Libya lane?
Schedules on this lane are confirmed shipment by shipment rather than taken from a published rotation. Build more float into planning than the sea distance would suggest, and check the routing again before cargo is collected. Cargo commonly moving on this lane includes construction materials and equipment, industrial and oilfield machinery, food commodities.
Compare lanes
Other countries we ship to and from
Rates and transit times for countries near Libya — 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 Libya? 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.