Sea Freight from China to Alexandria, Egypt — Transit, Duty and Clearance
China → Alexandria · via CAI air / Alexandria sea · clearance by Egyptian Customs Authority
For buyers shipping into Alexandria, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Alexandria is the main port city and industrial centre; cargo enters through CAI air / Alexandria sea, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
Clearance itself is handled by Egyptian Customs Authority, and typical dwell at the gateway runs 7–15 days.
Import duty and tax position for Alexandria
Egyptian Customs Authority assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Alexandria consignees. Current regime: VAT 14%; duty 0–60% depending on commodity, plus development fees on some categories, with a de-minimis position of No practical de-minimis for commercial cargo.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: ACID number issued through the Nafeza single window before shipment — mandatory; GOEIC registration of the foreign factory for many consumer goods. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Egypt: ACID/Nafeza registration must be completed pre-shipment — this is the single most common cause of rejected cargo. GOEIC registration of the exporting factory is required for a long list of consumer goods. Letters of credit are required for many commercial imports.
How this lane actually runs
Egypt's Advance Cargo Information system is the decisive requirement on this lane: the importer must obtain an ACID number through Nafeza and the exporter must reference it on the shipping documents before the goods leave China. Cargo arriving without a valid ACID is refused entry. On top of that, GOEIC factory registration is required for many consumer categories and takes months to obtain.
| Sea gateways used | Alexandria, Damietta, Port Said |
|---|---|
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 20–28 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Alexandria | CAI air / Alexandria sea |
| Inland leg to Alexandria | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 7–15 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Before you book: Alexandria checklist
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: ACID number issued through the Nafeza single window before shipment — mandatory; GOEIC registration of the foreign factory for many consumer goods.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Budget for the inland leg: same-day delivery beyond gateway clearance to reach Alexandria.
- Put the Alexandria delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Plan around the China-side windows too: Chinese New Year and Golden Week both compress capacity on the Egypt lane.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Alexandria take?
China to the Egypt gateway is 20–28 calendar days. On top of that, allow 7–15 days of clearance with Egyptian Customs Authority and a same-day inland leg to Alexandria.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Alexandria?
Egyptian Customs Authority applies: VAT 14%; duty 0–60% depending on commodity, plus development fees on some categories. The de-minimis position is No practical de-minimis for commercial cargo. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Alexandria.
Which port or airport does cargo for Alexandria clear through?
Cargo for Alexandria is routed via CAI air / Alexandria sea. Sea gateways for Egypt are Alexandria, Damietta, Port Said; air gateways are CAI (Cairo), HRG (Hurghada), ALY (Alexandria). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
When is the busiest time on the China–Egypt lane?
Space and rates tighten around Sep–Nov, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year in January or February and Golden Week in early October. Book one to two weeks earlier in those periods.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Alexandria?
Yes. Battery cargo by sea moves under UN3480/UN3481 with an MSDS, and the dangerous-goods documentation is prepared as part of the booking into Alexandria, Damietta, Port Said. Surcharges apply and space is more limited than for general cargo.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Alexandria?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight — length × width × height in centimetres divided by 6000 for air — and bill the greater of the two, rounded up to the next kilogram. Light, bulky cargo is almost always billed on volume.
Other delivery cities in Egypt
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Egypt change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your own HS code with Egyptian Customs Authority or your broker before you ship.
- Egyptian Customs Authority
- Nafeza single window (ACID registration)
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IATA — Lithium battery shipping guidance (PI 965–970)
- World Bank — Logistics Performance Index
- ICC — Incoterms 2020 rules (DDP, DAP, FOB definitions)
Page data last reviewed: July 2026.
Get a rate for Alexandria
This lane is quoted per shipment rather than from a published rate card, because the landed cost depends on the commodity, its density, the conformity requirements above and the delivery point. Send the cargo details and we will come back with a full DDP figure.