Sea Freight from China to Bissau, Guinea-Bissau — Transit, Duty and Clearance
China → Bissau · via OXB air / Bissau sea · clearance by Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau
We move sea freight cargo from South China into Bissau through OXB air / Bissau sea. Bissau is capital and the country's only significant port, which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.
The clearing authority is Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau. Historical dwell on this gateway is around 8–18 days, and it lengthens in Oct–Dec.
Import duty and tax position for Bissau
Imports into Guinea-Bissau are cleared by Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau. The headline position is: VAT 15%; WAEMU common external tariff 0–35%, plus community levies. The de-minimis threshold is 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.
What the routing looks like in practice
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.
| 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 |
Pre-shipment checklist for Bissau
- Confirm the consignee in Bissau can act as importer of record — Alfândegas da Guiné-Bissau will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Oct–Dec, when space on this lane tightens.
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Bissau take?
China to the Guinea-Bissau gateway is 30–42 calendar days. 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.
Which port or airport does cargo for Bissau clear through?
Cargo for Bissau is routed via OXB air / Bissau sea. Sea gateways for Guinea-Bissau are Bissau; air gateways are OXB (Bissau Osvaldo Vieira). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
What certification do I need for Guinea-Bissau?
For regulated goods, plan for: Pre-shipment inspection for most commercial goods. Missing conformity paperwork is the single most common cause of a hold, and in most cases it cannot be remedied once the cargo has arrived.
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.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Bissau?
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 Bissau. Surcharges apply and space is more limited than for general 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.