Home Shipping from China to Kenya LCL sea freight from China to Kenya (Mombasa, Nairobi, Nakuru & Eldoret) — 2026 reference rates

LCL sea freight from China to Kenya (Mombasa, Nairobi, Nakuru & Eldoret) — 2026 reference rates

Kenya is East Africa's principal gateway and a mature trade lane under the Belt and Road programme. Mombasa is the seaport; Nairobi, Nakuru and Eldoret are inland points fed by rail or road from there. Shanghai offers the cheapest rate at USD 70 per CBM, while Ningbo runs two very different service levels on the same corridor.

One compliance point matters more than price here: Kenya requires a COC certificate (Certificate of Conformity) for most regulated imports, issued by an accredited inspection body before shipment. Cargo arriving without one can be refused clearance.

How to read these rates: figures are indicative reference levels for port-to-port LCL ocean freight, updated for October 2026. They exclude origin haulage, warehouse and customs charges, destination port charges and any surcharges. Space, cut-off times and rates must be re-confirmed at booking.

LCL rates from China to Kenya

Ningbo to Mombasa — USD 152 per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum — CBM; transhipment via Dubai; carrier TSL / COSCO; cut-off/ETD Closed Fri / ETD Wed; transit time about 45 days.
Ningbo to Mombasa — USD 79 per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; direct consolidation; carrier RCL; cut-off/ETD Closed Mon / ETD Sat; transit time about 38 days.
Ningbo to Nairobi — USD 133 per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 2 CBM; transhipment via Mombasa; carrier RCL; cut-off/ETD Closed Mon / ETD Sat; transit time about 45 days.
Shanghai to Mombasa — USD 70 per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum — CBM; transhipment via Hong Kong; carrier Haihua / Asia Shipping; cut-off/ETD Closed Tue / ETD Fri; transit time about 30 days.
Shanghai to Nairobi — USD 135 per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via Mombasa; carrier —; cut-off/ETD Closed Thu / ETD Sun; transit time about 32 days.
Shantou to Nakuru — USD 96 per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via Mombasa; carrier HK-ONE; cut-off/ETD Closed Wed / ETD Mon; transit time about 25 days.
Guangzhou to Eldoret — USD 96 per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via Mombasa; carrier HK-ONE; cut-off/ETD Closed Wed / ETD Mon; transit time about 25 days.

COC certificate required. Kenya's standards body requires a Certificate of Conformity for most regulated products, issued by an accredited inspection company before the goods leave China. Without it, clearance at Mombasa can be refused. Tell us the product category at booking so we can arrange inspection in time.

Two Ningbo service levels. The same origin quotes USD 152 per CBM via Dubai (45 days) and USD 79 per CBM direct (38 days) — the same destination at almost double the price on one of the two options. Always confirm which routing is being booked.

Shanghai is the value lane. USD 70 per CBM to Mombasa in 30 days, the cheapest and fastest combination in the table, feeding through a Hong Kong consolidation.

Mombasa and the Northern Corridor

Mombasa is the entry point for the Northern Corridor, which serves not just Kenya but also Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan. Cargo for those countries is declared for transit at Mombasa and moves onward by road or on the standard-gauge railway to Nairobi and beyond. If your consignee is in Kampala or Kigali, tell us at booking — the documentation differs from a straightforward Kenyan import.

Planning around the COC requirement

The conformity inspection has to happen in China before loading, and it takes time. Build it into your schedule: a shipment that misses the inspection window will miss the vessel. Get the product category, the invoice and the test reports to us early and we will coordinate with the inspection body.

FAQ — LCL shipping from China to Kenya