Africa Shipping Company

AFRICA SHIPPING COMPANY

Shipping from Europe to Africa

Practical shipping information for cars, trucks, machinery and containers, with direct access to the shipping company handling your enquiry.

Call +49 40 299 960 905Request a Shipping Quote
Hamburg-basedShipping to major African portsCars, trucks and containers

Calls, quotations and bookings are handled directly by the shipping company.

Our Shipping Services

Choose the service that matches what you need to ship.

Car being loaded onto a roll-on roll-off ship for transport from Europe to Africa

Car Shipping

RoRo and container shipping information for cars, vans, SUVs and other vehicles moving from Europe to African ports.

Learn more about Car Shipping
Truck carrying a heavy excavator beside a roll-on roll-off ship at a European port

Truck and Heavy Machinery Shipping

Shipping information for trucks, trailers, buses, construction machinery and agricultural equipment.

Learn more about Truck and Heavy Machinery Shipping
Shipping container being loaded beside a cargo ship at a modern port

Container Shipping

20-foot, 40-foot and 40-foot high-cube container shipping for vehicles, personal belongings, machinery and commercial cargo.

Learn more about Container Shipping
Container truck positioned at a customer loading location for door-to-port shipping

Door-to-Port Container Shipping

Where access and availability allow, an empty container is delivered to your address for loading, then collected and shipped to the agreed destination port.

Learn more about Door-to-Port Container Shipping

Not Sure Which Shipping Option You Need?

Speak directly with the shipping team and they’ll help you choose the right shipping service for your vehicle, container or cargo.

+49 40 299 960 905

RoRo and Container Shipping

Two shipping methods are commonly used, depending on what needs to move and where it is going.

Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) Shipping

RoRo is commonly used for cars, vans and other movable vehicles. Your vehicle is driven straight onto the ship or, where the shipping line permits it, moved aboard with assistance.

The vehicle needs to meet the shipping line's condition requirements, and RoRo isn't offered on every route or at every port, so it's worth checking whether it's available for yours.

Container Shipping

A sea container can carry vehicles, goods, machinery and commercial cargo. It's often the better option when a vehicle doesn't qualify for RoRo.

It also works well for shipping goods, or when you want to send several items together in one shipment. Container sizes and loading methods vary, so the right setup depends on what you're sending.

Container Shipping Options

Several container types and loading options are available for shipments from Europe to Africa.

20-Foot Container

The smaller standard size, well suited to smaller shipments of household and commercial goods, general cargo, and vehicles where dimensions permit.

40-Foot Container

Much more room for larger shipments of household and commercial goods, general cargo, and vehicles where dimensions permit. A 40-foot High-Cube may also be available for extra height or capacity.

Flat Rack Container

Comes in 20-foot and 40-foot sizes for oversized, heavy or unusually shaped cargo, such as machinery and equipment. Availability depends on the carrier and route.

Reefer Container

Keeps temperature-sensitive cargo at a controlled temperature throughout the journey. Available in 20-foot and 40-foot sizes, depending on the carrier and route.

Not sure which container is right for your shipment?

The best option depends on your cargo, dimensions, weight and loading requirements.

Ask About Your Shipment

How Shipping Works

From your first call to handing over your shipment.

01

Share Your Shipment Details

Tell the shipping team what you're sending, where it is and where it needs to go.

02

Find the Right Shipping Method

They'll help determine whether RoRo or container shipping is suitable for your shipment and route.

03

Get Shipping Options and a Quote

Find out what's available for your route, along with the relevant shipping information and quotation.

04

Prepare and Hand Over

Prepare your vehicle or cargo as instructed, hand it over for shipping and receive the relevant shipping documents.

Talk to the Shipping Team

What Customers Say

Read what customers have shared about their shipping experience.

These reviews reflect customer experiences connected through AfricaShipping.Company. Shipping arrangements, quotations and bookings are handled by the shipping company.

“I had no idea how to ship goods from Hamburg to Africa, so I had a few questions. A friend recommended AfricaShipping.Company to me, and I called them. The representative explained the whole shipping process in detail.

He also gave me other options I had not asked about, and I ended up choosing one of them. Their customer service is the type every company should strive for. I will definitely use them again.”

Mrs F. Newton

Read More Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions people ask most often when shipping vehicles, containers and goods from Europe to Africa.

Common shipments from Europe to Africa include cars, vans and SUVs, trucks, buses and trailers, construction and agricultural machinery, household goods, personal belongings and commercial cargo. Vehicles can travel by RoRo or in a container, while goods and machinery usually go by container or on specialist equipment such as a flat rack. Some cargo, such as hazardous goods, needs approval first, and what’s accepted depends on the carrier and route. Call the shipping team to confirm whether your shipment qualifies.

First, you share the vehicle details, where it is in Germany or elsewhere in Europe, and your preferred destination port with the shipping company. They check whether RoRo or container shipping suits the car and the route, then give you the available options and a quotation. Once it’s booked, you prepare the car as instructed, deliver it to the agreed departure point and receive the shipping documents. You’ll find more detail on the Car Shipping page.

RoRo, short for roll-on/roll-off, means the vehicle is driven onto the ship or, where the shipping line allows it, moved aboard with assistance. It’s commonly used for cars, vans, trucks and other vehicles that are in running order and meet the shipping line’s condition requirements. RoRo isn’t offered on every route or at every port, so it’s worth checking whether it’s available for your destination. Shipping lines also set their own rules about what, if anything, can stay inside the vehicle.

RoRo often suits running vehicles that meet the shipping line’s requirements, as long as it’s offered on your route. Container shipping is usually the better fit for non-running vehicles, cars that need enclosed protection, or when you want to send approved goods together in one shipment. The right choice also depends on the destination port, the vehicle’s dimensions and what’s available at the time. For cars, our Car Shipping guide compares both methods side by side.

The most common sizes are 20-foot and 40-foot containers, and 40-foot high-cube containers offer extra height. A 20-foot container can often take a single standard car or a smaller load of goods, while a 40-foot container gives more room for larger shipments. Flat rack containers for oversized cargo and reefer containers for temperature-controlled goods may also be available, depending on the carrier and route. The right size comes down to your cargo’s dimensions, weight and loading needs.

Shipments from Europe commonly go to West, Central and East African ports such as Lagos, Tema, Abidjan, Dakar, Cotonou, Lomé, Douala, Luanda, Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, as well as North African ports like Casablanca. Not every port is served on every route or sailing, and RoRo and some container types are only available at certain ports. Routes and schedules also change over time, so call the shipping team to check current availability for your destination port before making plans.

For a vehicle, have the make, model, year, whether it runs and its current location ready, plus its dimensions if it’s unusually large or modified. For goods or machinery, a description of the cargo with approximate dimensions and weight is helpful. In both cases, include your preferred destination port, your preferred shipping method if you have one, and roughly when you’d like to ship. The shipping company uses these details to check the available options and prepare a quotation. When you’re ready, request a quote or call the shipping team.

Sometimes, but it depends on the shipping method, the carrier and the route. With RoRo, shipping lines often restrict or prohibit goods inside the vehicle, so don’t assume anything can travel in the car. Container shipping is usually more flexible, and some carriers allow approved belongings or goods in the same container as the vehicle. Always confirm what’s allowed with the shipping company before loading, and keep in mind that customs rules in the destination country may also apply.

There’s no single transit time, because it depends on the departure port, the destination port, the vessel schedule and whether the shipment is transshipped along the way. Time at the port before departure and customs clearance on arrival can also add to the overall timeframe. For current sailing information and a realistic estimate for your route, call the shipping team.

No. AfricaShipping.Company provides practical shipping information and gives you direct access to the shipping company handling your enquiry. Calls, quotations, bookings and operational arrangements are handled directly by that shipping company, which also confirms the available routes, services and schedules. AfricaShipping.Company does not operate vessels or take bookings itself.

Latest Shipping Guides

Practical guides to shipping vehicles, containers and cargo from Europe to Africa.

View All Articles
People discussing shipping and sharing experiences in the Africa Shipping Community

Africa Shipping Community

Connect with people shipping vehicles, containers and goods between Europe and Africa. Ask questions, share experiences and learn from others in the community.