Shipping from China to Bissau, Guinea-Bissau — Freight Guide [2026]
China → Bissau · via OXB air / Bissau sea · clearance by Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau
For buyers shipping into Bissau, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Bissau is capital and the country's only significant port; cargo enters through OXB air / Bissau sea, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
On the destination side, Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau handles clearance; budget 8–18 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
Routing and transit on this lane
Bissau is a shallow-draft port with limited handling capacity, so cargo transships at Dakar, Abidjan or Las Palmas and arrives on small feeders. For anything time-sensitive, clearing at Dakar and trucking down is a routing worth pricing alongside the direct option.
| Air gateways used | OXB (Bissau Osvaldo Vieira) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 7–10 business days |
| Sea gateways used | Bissau |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 30–42 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Bissau | OXB air / Bissau sea |
| Inland leg to Bissau | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 8–18 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Oct–Dec |
Import duty and tax position for Bissau
Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Bissau consignees. Current regime: VAT 15%; WAEMU common external tariff 0–35%, plus community levies, with a de-minimis position of No practical de-minimis for commercial cargo.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: Pre-shipment inspection for most commercial goods. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Guinea-Bissau: Port draft and equipment limitations force transshipment. Feeder frequency is low — build slack into any schedule. Pre-shipment inspection applies to most cargo.
Air, sea or overland into Bissau?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Air Freight | 7–10 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| 🚢 Sea Freight | 30–42 calendar days | volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed |
Transit shown is China departure to the Guinea-Bissau gateway and excludes the same-day inland leg to Bissau and 8–18 days of clearance.
What to sort out before the cargo leaves China
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Guinea-Bissau duty rate against it yourself.
- Confirm the consignee in Bissau can act as importer of record — Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Plan around the China-side windows too: Chinese New Year and Golden Week both compress capacity on the Guinea-Bissau lane.
- Budget for the inland leg: same-day delivery beyond gateway clearance to reach Bissau.
Mode guides for Bissau
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Bissau take?
China to the Guinea-Bissau gateway is 7–10 business days by air, 30–42 calendar days by sea. On top of that, allow 8–18 days of clearance with Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau and a same-day inland leg to Bissau.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Bissau?
Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau applies: VAT 15%; WAEMU common external tariff 0–35%, plus community levies. 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 Bissau.
What documents does Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau require?
A commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where it lowers duty, and any product certification (Pre-shipment inspection for most commercial goods). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Bissau?
Yes. Battery cargo by air follows IATA PI 965–970 depending on how the cells are packed, and moves on certified channels via OXB (Bissau Osvaldo Vieira). Surcharges apply and the declaration has to be made before booking.
When is the busiest time on the China–Guinea-Bissau lane?
Space and rates tighten around Oct–Dec, 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.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Bissau?
Per kilo, yes — usually by a wide margin. The trade-off is time: 30–42 calendar days by sea versus 7–10 business days by air to the Guinea-Bissau gateway, before clearance and the same-day inland leg. The crossover point is normally somewhere between 100 and 300 kg depending on the density of your cargo.
Other delivery cities in Guinea-Bissau
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Guinea-Bissau 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 Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau or your broker before you ship.
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IPPC — ISPM 15 wood packaging standard
- WCO — Harmonized System nomenclature
- IMO — IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
Page data last reviewed: July 2026.
Get a rate for Bissau
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.