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✈️ Air Freight

China to Nairobi Air Freight (Duty Paid)

Door-to-door transit 5-10 business days. Duty and final delivery are inside the published rate.

Shipping from China to Kenya
Air freight — China to Kenya

Air Freight from China to Nairobi starts at USD 25.0 per kilogram, with door-to-door transit of 5-10 business days. A 100 kg shipment works out at roughly USD 2,501 on that rate — indicative freight only. Duty and tax raised by the destination customs authority depend on what you are shipping and are quoted separately.

Rate from
USD 25.0/kg
Transit time
5-10 business days
Destination
Nairobi, Kenya
Customs authority
the destination customs authority
Duty-free threshold
No practical de-minimis

Indicative published channel rate for planning, not a quotation. What you actually pay depends on the product and its HS code, chargeable weight, declared value, duty and tax at destination and the exchange rate on the day — it can come in above or below this.

Current Freight Rates

Last updated: 2026-11-05
USD per KG
Weight Rate (USD / KG)
21 KG USD 27.62
22 KG USD 27.53
23 KG USD 27.75
30 KG USD 27.26
50 KG USD 26.89
100 KG USD 26.33
150 KG USD 25.85
200 KG USD 25.76
505 KG USD 25.04
850 KG USD 25.09
1700 KG USD 24.73
2500 KG USD 24.71
3400 KG USD 24.46

How these prices are calculated — chargeable weight

Freight is not billed on the number on your bathroom scale. It is billed on chargeable weight: the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight, where volumetric weight is L × W × H (cm) ÷ 6000. Denser cargo pays on its weight; light bulky cargo pays on the space it occupies. Whichever is higher is the one you pay — never the lower.

  • One cubic meter = 167 kg. That is 1,000,000 cm³ ÷ 6000, the same divisor used for the volumetric check, so both sides of this page agree with each other.
  • Per-kilogram channels. The rate is multiplied by chargeable weight, rounded up to the next whole kilogram. A 300 kg consignment that only measures out to a smaller volumetric figure is still charged on its 300 kg actual weight.
  • Freight only. These are published freight rates. Duty, tax and customs charges at destination are not a fixed number we can print: they follow your product's HS code, its declared value and the exchange rate applied on the day of entry, so they are confirmed against your actual goods and quoted separately.
  • Indicative only — the real price can be higher or lower. Nothing on this page is a quotation or a commitment. What you finally pay depends on what the product is, how it is packed, the chargeable weight, the declared value, the destination duty position and the exchange rate at the time. Send the product details, weight and dimensions and we will price your specific shipment.
Trade Terms Explained — Who Pays for What EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP and seven more — see which costs sit with us and which sit with you

The rate above is quoted on one specific trade term. Change the term and you change how much of the journey to Kenya is already inside the price. The table below maps the eleven common Incoterms® against the twelve cost stages of a door-to-door shipment, so you can see exactly where our responsibility ends and yours begins.

  • Seller — Cost and arrangement sit with the seller / shipper.
  • Buyer — Cost and arrangement sit with the buyer / consignee.
  • Negotiable — Not fixed by the rule — agree it in the contract.
Responsibility for each shipment stage under each Incoterms rule
Term 1 Loading on truck 2 Export customs declaration 3 Carriage to port of export 4 Unloading at port of export 5 Loading on vessel / aircraft 6 Main carriage 7 Cargo insurance 8 Unloading at port of import 9 Loading on truck at import 10 Carriage to destination 11 Import customs clearance 12 Import duties & taxes
EXW Ex Works Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck Buyer Buyer — Export customs declaration Buyer Buyer — Carriage to port of export Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of export Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft Buyer Buyer — Main carriage Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
FCA Free Carrier Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Buyer Buyer — Carriage to port of export Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of export Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft Buyer Buyer — Main carriage Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
FAS Free Alongside Ship Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft Buyer Buyer — Main carriage Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
FOB Free On Board Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Buyer Buyer — Main carriage Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
CFR Cost and Freight Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Seller Seller — Cargo insurance Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
CPT Carriage Paid To Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import Seller Seller — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Seller Seller — Cargo insurance Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import Seller Seller — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU) Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
DAP Delivered At Place Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import Seller Seller — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
DDP Delivered Duty Paid Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import Seller Seller — Carriage to destination Seller Seller — Import customs clearance Seller Seller — Import duties & taxes

EXW Ex Works

Buyer takes over at the seller's door and carries every cost from there. Lowest quoted price, highest buyer workload.

FCA Free Carrier

Seller clears the goods for export and hands them to the carrier the buyer nominated.

FAS Free Alongside Ship

Sea and inland waterway only. Seller delivers alongside the vessel; loading is on the buyer.

FOB Free On Board

Sea and inland waterway only. Risk passes once the goods are on board. The most common buying term.

CFR Cost and Freight

Seller pays the main carriage but carries no insurance obligation; risk still passes on loading.

CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight

As CFR, plus the seller must buy and pay for cargo insurance (minimum cover unless you agree more).

CPT Carriage Paid To

Any mode. Seller pays carriage through to the named destination; insurance is not obligatory.

CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid

As CPT, plus the seller must insure the cargo through to the named destination.

DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU)

Seller delivers unloaded at the named terminal. Renamed DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded) in Incoterms® 2020.

DAP Delivered At Place

Seller delivers to your address ready for unloading; import clearance and duty stay with the buyer.

DDP Delivered Duty Paid

Seller carries everything through to your door, duty and tax included. Highest quoted price, least buyer workload.

Two things worth flagging. Under CIF and CIP the seller is obliged to buy cargo insurance and pay the premium; under every other term insurance is optional, and we recommend buyers arrange their own cover so a loss or damage in transit is recoverable. And this table is a working summary for planning purposes — the binding definitions are the ones published by the International Chamber of Commerce in the Incoterms® rules, so confirm the exact term wording in your sales contract before you ship.

Service Details

How This Lane Works

For shippers sending goods from China to Nairobi (NBO), Kenya, Air DDP Cleared offers an air freight option with door delivery. Import duty, taxes and customs clearance in Kenya are built into the rate, so the price you see is the price delivered.

  • Ships from: Guangzhou, Shenzhen or Yiwu
  • Delivers to: Nairobi (NBO), Kenya
  • Terms: duty-paid (duty and tax included)
  • Chargeable weight: greater of gross kg or L×W×H (cm) ÷ 6000
  • Prices quoted in USD

Suited to general cargo with no batteries, liquids, powders or third-party branding.

Rates on this lane are per kilogram of chargeable weight, which is the greater of actual gross weight and L×W×H ÷ 6000. One cubic meter of cargo is treated as about 166.7 kg, so anything lighter than that per cubic meter is billed on the space it occupies rather than on the scale reading. Knowing which side of that line your cargo falls on changes the quote more than any negotiation will.

The consignments that move regularly on this service into Kenya are dominated by electric motors (HS 84), where clearance turns on cE marking to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC with a signed declaration of conformity, ceramic tableware (HS 69 / 70) and fabric (HS 50–63 / 64 / 42). We publish a handling brief for each, because the difference between a clean clearance and a two-week hold is almost always documentation prepared before the cargo leaves the factory rather than anything that happens in transit.

To see this tariff against a real consignment rather than a rate card, the 10 KG, 21 KG, 50 KG and 100 KG pages run it at a fixed weight and show the landed total, including the point where stepping up a bracket lowers your cost per kilo. They are the fastest way to check whether consolidating two orders into one is worth the wait.

If you already know roughly what you are moving, skip the rate maths. The 10 KG, 21 KG, 50 KG and 100 KG pages apply this tariff to a fixed consignment and show the result, including the point where stepping up a tier lowers your cost per kilo. The China to Kenya Air Freight Cost page sets this channel against the alternatives, and shipping from China to Kenya is the full destination guide.

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Additional Information

Paperwork Checklist

  • Commercial invoice with unit values in USD
  • Packing list with carton count, weights and dimensions
  • HS code for each product line
  • Consignee name, full address, postal code and phone number

Mismatched values or vague descriptions ("parts", "samples") are the most common cause of customs holds — be specific.

Where these numbers come from

Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by the national customs service against your declared HS code at the time of entry; where the amount is material, verify the current rate through ITC Market Access Map before committing to an order.

Most landed-cost surprises trace back to classification rather than freight. the WCO Harmonized System defines the heading structure every customs administration builds on, and ITC Market Access Map will show you the duty a given heading attracts in this destination.

On the air side, anything with a cell or a battery in it, plus liquids, powders, magnets and aerosols, is governed by the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. Those articles are not refused outright, but they need to be declared at booking so the shipment is built correctly — declaring them late is the single most common cause of an air consignment being offloaded.

For a wider view of how importing into Kenya actually works — documentation norms, inspection behavior, the paperwork that tends to hold shipments — the U.S. ITA guide to Kenya customs regulations is a useful independent read alongside our own lane notes.

China to Kenya — Shipping Reference Data

Main air gatewaysthe primary international airport
Destination customs authoritythe national customs service
De-minimis / duty-free thresholdNo practical de-minimis
Import tax & duty regimeImport VAT + duty 5–35%; PSI common
Local currencyUSD
Typical clearance / dwell time7–21 days
Peak / busy seasonOct–Dec
Conformity & certificationPre-shipment conformity certificate

Thresholds and duty bands are buyer-planning references, not formal customs rulings — confirm the exact HS-code rate for your goods before shipping.

Free 3D Loading Tools for This Air Route

This page covers a Air freight service from China to Kenya. Use the matching tool below to plan your cargo before requesting a quote.

3D Carton Packing Calculator

Before tendering this Air DDP Cleared shipment, check how many units really fit per carton — the 3D packing tool computes layers, rotation, and protective gaps for your exact product dimensions.

Open Packing Tool →

Kenya Air Freight Checklist

  • Label every carton with destination, carton number, and total count (e.g. 3/12).
  • Confirm whether the Kenya rate includes fuel and security surcharges or lists them separately.
  • Keep single cartons under 30 KG for air handling to Kenya to avoid overweight surcharges.
  • Shrink-wrap and corner-protect cartons — air cargo is transloaded multiple times.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Air DDP Cleared from China to Kenya take?

Air freight on this route runs about 5–10 business days door-to-door, plus roughly 7–21 days of clearance/dwell once it reaches the gateway. All times include customs clearance under DDP terms.

What duties and taxes apply when importing into Kenya?

Clearance is handled by the national customs service. The regime is: Import VAT + duty 5–35%; PSI common, with a de-minimis position of No practical de-minimis. Under DDP these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival.

What certification is needed to import into Kenya?

For regulated goods, plan for: Pre-shipment conformity certificate. Missing conformity paperwork is the most common clearance hold with the national customs service, so confirm requirements for your HS code before shipping.

How is the shipping cost on this route calculated?

We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000, so one cubic meter counts as about 166.7 kg) and charge whichever is greater, rounded up to the next kilogram, then apply the per-KG rate shown in the table above. A 300 kg consignment measuring out to only 200 kg volumetric is still charged on the 300 kg.

Can you ship special cargo (batteries, branded goods) to Kenya?

Yes — battery cargo by air follows IATA PI966/PI967; we run certified battery channels via the primary international airport. Brand-goods and DG paperwork are handled within the DDP service. Surcharges apply.

What documents are required for customs clearance in Kenya?

the national customs service typically requires a commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading/air waybill, a certificate of origin (may lower duty), and any product certification (Pre-shipment conformity certificate). We file these under DDP.

Historical Price Records

All price updates are recorded here. Use the weekly tabs to browse older entries.

Date 21-1001013015011001
2026-11-05Latest USD 27.62USD 25.89USD 25.28USD 24.98USD 24.60
2026-11-04 USD 27.61USD 25.88USD 25.26USD 24.97USD 24.58
2026-10-24 USD 27.61USD 25.87USD 25.26USD 24.97USD 24.58
2026-10-16 USD 27.60USD 25.87USD 25.26USD 24.96USD 24.58
2026-10-10 USD 27.60USD 25.86USD 25.25USD 24.96USD 24.57
2026-09-30 USD 27.59USD 25.86USD 25.25USD 24.96USD 24.57
2026-09-30 USD 27.61USD 25.87USD 25.26USD 24.97USD 24.58
2026-09-30 USD 27.58USD 25.85USD 25.24USD 24.94USD 24.56
2026-09-17 USD 27.57USD 25.83USD 25.22USD 24.93USD 24.55
2026-09-15 USD 27.52USD 25.78USD 25.17USD 24.88USD 24.50
2026-09-15 USD 26.53USD 24.82USD 24.22USD 23.93USD 23.57
2026-09-07 USD 25.98USD 24.26USD 23.66USD 23.37USD 23.01
2026-08-31 USD 25.98USD 24.26USD 23.66USD 23.37USD 23.01
2026-08-17 USD 25.96USD 24.24USD 23.65USD 23.36USD 22.99
2026-08-17 USD 26.00USD 24.29USD 23.69USD 23.40USD 23.03
2026-08-06 USD 26.00USD 24.28USD 23.68USD 23.40USD 23.03
2026-08-03 USD 26.01USD 24.29USD 23.69USD 23.40USD 23.04
2026-07-30 USD 26.00USD 24.28USD 23.68USD 23.40USD 23.03
2026-07-20 USD 26.03USD 24.31USD 23.71USD 23.42USD 23.06
2026-07-17 USD 25.79USD 24.08USD 23.48USD 23.19USD 22.83
2026-07-14 USD 25.78USD 24.06USD 23.47USD 23.18USD 22.82
2026-07-07 USD 25.75USD 24.04USD 23.45USD 23.16USD 22.80
2026-07-03 USD 25.77USD 24.05USD 23.46USD 23.17USD 22.81
2026-07-02 USD 25.75USD 24.04USD 23.45USD 23.16USD 22.80
2026-06-30 USD 25.76USD 24.04USD 23.45USD 23.16USD 22.80
2026-06-23 USD 25.75USD 24.04USD 23.44USD 23.16USD 22.80
2026-06-15 USD 25.78USD 24.07USD 23.47USD 23.18USD 22.82
2026-06-08 USD 25.78USD 24.06USD 23.47USD 23.18USD 22.82
2026-05-19 USD 25.74USD 24.02USD 23.43USD 23.14USD 22.78
2026-05-14 USD 25.73USD 24.02USD 23.42USD 23.14USD 22.78
2025-12-29 USD 25.60USD 23.88USD 23.29USD 23.00USD 22.64

Price Trend

Shipping Kenya cargo by industry

This rate is for the lane. What decides whether the cargo arrives intact is the commodity — how it prices, how it must be packed and loaded, and which compliance step holds it at the border. These guides cover that per industry.

All 60 industry guides →

China Ocean Freight

About China Ocean Freight

China Ocean Freight is a China-based freight forwarder for importers who buy from Chinese factories. We handle the whole move: pickup from your supplier, warehouse consolidation, export customs, the main sea, air or rail leg, import clearance and delivery to your door.

On this lane we book space on scheduled freighters and belly cargo out of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, then hand over to our clearance partner in Kenya for delivery.

  • One coordinator owns your shipment from booking to delivery
  • Prices taken from current carrier tariffs, not index averages
  • Supplier pickup, inspection, repacking and labeling in China
  • DDP or DAP terms, with every charge stated before you book

More about us → Talk to our team

Get a quote — Kenya

Send the cargo details below and we price your actual shipment. Weight, dimensions and what the goods are is everything we need to come back with a firm number.

Answer these and you get a real price, not a range. These are the exact figures a carrier needs before it will quote. Fill them in once and we can price your cargo the same day — leave them out and we have to come back and ask, which is what turns an hour into a week.

kg
ctn
Carton sizeoptional
× × cm
m³
ctr
Built-in battery?* Lithium cells are dangerous goods.
Someone else's brand?* Logos you are not authorized to ship.
Magnetic product?* Speakers, motors, magnets.
Why these three decide everything

They determine whether your cargo can fly, and on which service. A declared battery changes the price; an undeclared one grounds the shipment at the airport and you pay storage while it sits. Unauthorized brands are seized at customs and the freight is lost with them. Magnetic goods need a field test — routine, but it has to be booked ahead. Telling us now costs a click; telling us later costs the shipment.

Sea or air?*
Tick both and we quote both.
When should it move?optional
Photographs of the goodsoptional
    Your details are used to prepare this quotation and nothing else.

    Customs clearance in Kenya

    Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border — plus who files the entry.

    Kenya clearance requirements →

    Have cargo ready in China?

    Tell us what it is, how much and where it goes. We reply with routing options and a landed-cost quote within one business day.

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