Get a cost for shipping containers to South Africa with our online international container shipping rate calculator.
International container shipping is the best way to transport a large volume of household goods or personal effects from the UK to South Africa. We offer a very comprehensive and cost-effective container shipping service, including door-to-door collection and delivery, professional packing service and customs clearance.
We help many people move their belongings and goods to South Africa so that we can offer very competitive shipping rates for everything from 20ft and 40ft containers for larger moves and economical shared containers or groupage service for smaller moves. We ship to all major ports in South Africa, including Cape Town, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), with onward transportation to all inland destinations, such as Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Don’t worry if you’re not experienced in international removals and shipping containers, as we will appoint you a personal Move Manager to organise your shipment, guide you through all the paperwork and take all the stress out of your move.
How to move from the UK to South Africa using our International Container Shipping Service
Cost of Shipping Container to South Africa from UK
We aim to provide the cheapest container shipping service whilst not compromising on quality of service. As we undertake many moves and shipments to South Africa, we can offer very competitive shipping rates.
There are many factors that make up the cost of shipping containers to South Africa. These include:
- The volume of goods being shipped
- Packing services
- Container shipping freight rates
- Collection and delivery to and from the port
- Customs clearance
- Customs duties and port fees
- Time of year / current exchange rates
How Door-To-Door Container Shipping To South Africa Works
We aim to make the international removals and shipping process as simple and stress-free as possible:
- A surveyor will calculate the volume of goods you send to allocate the most appropriately sized shipping container.
- Your Move Manager will organise the logistics of your move and guide you through completing the required shipping and customs documents.
- On move day, our packing team will arrive to expertly pack all your belongings and furniture and load them onto the shipping container.
- For shared container moves, we will take your belongings to our depot for loading.
- Once your shipment arrives at its destination port in South Africa, our customs agents will handle customs clearance on your behalf.
- Once cleared from customs and any fees or duties paid, we will arrange delivery to your new address in South Africa.
Shipping container options and sizes for South Africa
We offer a full range of shipping container sizes to suit your needs. You don’t need to worry about the container size at this stage. Our professional International Removal Surveyors will analyse your requirements to calculate your volume accurately.
Full Container Loads (FCL)
For larger shipments, you can have a dedicated container for your sole use. Different sizes are available depending on your needs.
Standard 20ft Shipping Container
Probably the most common for household removals to South Africa, our 20ft shipping containers are approximately 1,170 cubic feet volume, which is enough for a typical 3 bedroom house.
Standard 40ft Shipping Container
If you have a larger amount of furniture and household goods, our 40ft shipping container is 2,386 cubic feet, which is enough for a typical 4-5 bedroom house and can also fit a car or vehicle.
40ft HC Shipping Container (High Cube)
The high cube shipping container is similar to the standard 40ft but is slightly higher to allow for more volume (around 2690 cubic feet).
Shared Container Loads (LCL) – Groupage
Using our groupage service for smaller shipments to South Africa is much more economical than using a small-sized shipping container (such as 8ft or 10ft). Here, your belongings are packed and consolidated together with other customers to save money by sharing the costs of a shipping container. This is also known as Less Than Container Load (LCL).
Contact our International Removals Consultants for advice and to get a quote for Moving to South Africa
Our International removals consultant will make your international move to South Africa easier. The international removal consultants will be able to advise you based on your specific needs and requirements. Due to the number of overseas moves we conduct, our team is highly knowledgeable about the removals process and will be extremely helpful.
We recommend you book a home or video survey to get a more accurate quote for your international removals from the UK to South Africa. For a home survey, our surveyors will provide you with a quote based on the volume of goods and the size of the move.
However, if you wish to receive a quick free quote for moving to South Africa, visit our cost calculator to receive a free quote.
Simpsons is a reliable & trustworthy removal company that you can be sure will offer a great service for your move to South Africa. Contact us today.
South Africa International Container Shipping FAQ Guide
How long do container shipping and removals to South Africa from the UK take?
Shipping containers to South Africa from the UK usually takes 3-6 weeks for full load / sole use container containers.
It will take up to 6-10 weeks for part load (groupage) container shipping service service.
These shipping times are for delivery to port only, you will need to allow additional time for customs clearance on arrival in South Africa.
Inland destinations may take longer.
How much does it cost to ship containers to South Africa from the UK?
The cost of container shipping and removals to South Africa varies depending on the quantity you are taking and where in South Africa you are moving to. The good news is that, as so many people ship their belongings from the UK to South Africa, the cost is surprisingly cheap – especially in areas around the big cities such as Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg.
Sea freight is the most economical way to transport your belongings, and costs per cubic foot decrease significantly as volume increases. You’ll certainly find it much cheaper to use a removal or shipping company to move your furniture and other items than to replace them all when you arrive in South Africa. Many have made the mistake of buying all their goods in South Africa and found it much more expensive than using a removal company.
Our door-to-door container shipping service means that we deliver to all destinations in South Africa, including inland cities such as Johannesburg and Pretoria.
We ship to all the major ports in South Africa, including:
- Port of Cape Town
- Port of Durban
- Port of Richards Bay
- Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)
- Port of Saldanha
- Port of Coega (Port Ngqura)
- Port of East London (East Cape Province)
At Simpsons International Removals, we understand that everyone’s needs are different when it comes to moving to South Africa. Whether you’re moving to a major city or a regional area, we provide a high-quality removal service to any location in South Africa from the UK. Our team of experts will work closely with you to create a customized plan that meets all of your requirements and ensures a stress-free and seamless move.
Customs clearance is an essential aspect of shipping your furniture and belongings to South Africa. It’s crucial to comply with customs regulations to avoid delays during the customs clearance process. At Simpson’s, we understand the importance of customs clearance and assist our customers throughout the process.
When you use our removal services for shipping to South Africa, our team of experts will work with you to ensure that all your items are packed and shipped according to South African customs regulations. Our move manager will guide you through the customs clearance process, providing you with all the necessary information and documentation needed for customs clearance.
Our team will also assist you with preparing and submitting all the necessary customs forms and paperwork. We understand that the customs process can be complex and confusing, so we take the time to explain everything to you and answer any questions you may have.
Container packing service for removals to South Africa
It is essential that your shipping container is packed professionally both to maximise the space and also to ensure your belongings are secure for their journey across the high seas.
Our expert packing teams specialise solely in international removals and are highly experienced in export wrapping and antique packing of delicate items.
We provide a range of packing solutions and services, including furniture, personal effects, pictures, TVs, and any other special items. They will ensure that everything arrives in the same condition it was in the UK.
International Container Shipping Service to South Africa from the UK
- Door to door Service to South Africa from the UK
- Personally assigned International Removals Move Manager
- International Removals to South Africa Adviser
- Export wrapping and packing services for South Africa removals
- Professionally trained International Removals packers
- Inventory for South African customs purposes
- Assistance with all International Removals documentation
- Standard removals service customs clearance included
- Free Home Survey
- Antique and bespoke packing materials as required
- Use of accredited international shipping lines
- Storage facilities in the UK or South Africa if needed
- 20ft or 40ft container shipping service
- Full Container or Part Load Container / Shared Container
- Moving furniture to South Africa
At Simpsons International Removals, we understand everyone’s needs differ when moving furniture from the UK to South Africa. Our team of experts will work closely with you to create a customized plan that meets all your requirements and ensures a stress-free and seamless move.
International Marine Insurance for shipping to South Africa
We would recommend taking out Shipment Protection Cover for peace of mind whilst your belongings are on their journey.
Whilst we have expert packers who specialise in international removals and use accredited shipping lines that take special care of personal shipping containers, we cannot control every eventuality.
Just as you will likely have home contents insurance in the UK and travel insurance for your family, we recommend you discuss with your Move Manager the available options for protecting your belongings whist they are in transit.
Our vehicle container shipping service is ideal if you’re considering bringing your car with you to South Africa. As South Africans drive on the left side of the road, it could be well worth taking your motor vehicles to South Africa – especially if they’re new, luxury or classic models. At Simpsons International Removals, we offer a comprehensive car shipping service to South Africa from the UK.
Shipping your car to South Africa can be cost-effective, especially if you ship it in the same container as your household items. This ensures that everything arrives simultaneously, making the move more convenient and efficient. Our car shipping service is designed to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible, ensuring that your car arrives safely and on time in South Africa.
There are various options, including sole use of 20ft or 40ft shipping containers if you are shipping household belongings with your car. Our shared / less-than-container load (LCL) service is very economical if you ship a car or other vehicle.
Before shipping your car to South Africa, there are some important import requirements that you need to be aware of. Our team of experts can guide you through the process, providing all the information you need to ensure your car meets all the necessary import requirements. We will work with you to create a customized plan that meets all your requirements and ensures a seamless and stress-free move.
We only use accredited shipping lines to ensure the highest standards of service and reliability.
The actual container shipping line we use will depend on the shipping schedule and shipping rates available at the time of your move.
Typically, we use the best container shipping companies, including Maersk, MSC, ONE, COSCO Hapag Lloyd, OOCL, CAM-CGM and Evergreen, to name some of the most common.
In addition, we partner with FIDI Faim accredited partners in South Africa to ensure that customs clearance and delivery are handled to the highest standards that you would expect.
If you’re planning to move to South Africa from the UK, choosing the right removal service is crucial to ensure a stress-free and seamless move. At Simpsons International Removals, we provide a comprehensive removal service to South Africa from the UK, making your move as smooth as possible.
To get started, you can use our online cost calculator for moving overseas. This will give you an estimated quote for removals to South Africa based on the volume of goods you plan to bring with you. However, for a more accurate quotation, we recommend that you book a home survey with our team. During the home survey, our team will assess the volume of goods being sent to South Africa, providing you with a more accurate quotation.
Our team of experts will work with you to create a customized plan that suits your needs and budget. We offer a range of services, including packing, customs clearance and more to ensure a seamless and stress-free move to South Africa.
At Simpsons International Removals, we pride ourselves on providing a high-quality removal service to South Africa from the UK. Our team of experts has years of experience in international removals and will ensure that your belongings are packed and transported safely and securely.