Sea Freight through Mombasa Port

Sea Freight through the Port of Mombasa

Ocean freight carries the overwhelming majority of Kenya's imports by volume. It is the most economical way to move anything heavy, bulky or non-urgent, and the Port of Mombasa connects Kenya to every major trading region.

FCL — full container load

You take an entire container. A 20ft holds around 28 usable cubic metres and up to roughly 28 tonnes; a 40ft high cube holds around 68 cubic metres. FCL gives you a sealed container, less handling, faster clearance and lower risk of damage or loss. Once your cargo passes roughly 15 cubic metres, FCL usually costs less per unit than LCL.

LCL — less than container load

Your cargo shares a container with other shippers and you pay for the volume you use. LCL suits smaller consignments and first-time importers testing a product. It involves more handling and consolidation time at both ends, so build a little extra into your schedule.

Special equipment

• Reefer containers for temperature-controlled cargo
• Open top and flat rack for out-of-gauge and oversized pieces
• Roll-on roll-off for vehicles and wheeled plant
• Break bulk for project cargo that does not containerise

Indicative transit times to Mombasa

• Jebel Ali, UAE — around 12–18 days
• India and Pakistan — around 14–20 days
• South China — around 28–40 days
• Northern Europe — around 30–40 days
• US East Coast — around 35–50 days

These are port-to-port ranges for planning. Direct services are faster than those transshipping through Salalah, Jebel Ali or Colombo. Add time for documentation, clearance and inland delivery.

Inland delivery

From Mombasa we move cargo by road or by the Standard Gauge Railway to the Inland Container Depot in Nairobi, then onward to your premises. Which is better depends on your cargo, your timeline and current congestion — we will give you a straight recommendation rather than a default.

Insurance

Marine insurance is inexpensive relative to the value at risk and we recommend it on every shipment. Carrier liability under standard terms is limited and rarely approaches the true value of your goods.