Latest and most comprehensive information on air freight of goods from China to South Africa

Air services from China to South Africa take off from airports including Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, etc. Some airlines such as Cathay Pacific and South African Airways provide direct flights, which can arrive in 1-3 days.

Airports with air freight services from China to South Africa

China has multiple airports that provide air freight services to South Africa, mainly including the following:

The main airports in South Africa that receive Chinese goods are:

Chinese airlines providing air freight services to South Africa

Here are some airlines that offer air freight services from China to South Africa:

In addition, Air China operates flights from Beijing (via Shenzhen) to Johannesburg. Airlines such as UAE Airlines (EK) and Ethiopian Airlines (ET) also provide air freight services from China to South Africa, usually with layovers in cities such as Dubai and Addis Ababa.
China → Cape Town (CPT)

China → Johannesburg (JNB)

China → Durban (DUR)

The time required for air freight from China to South African airports

Air freight from China to South Africa generally takes 3-8 days. The specific time will vary depending on factors such as flight arrangements, airlines, weather conditions, and customs clearance processes . Major airports in South Africa include Johannesburg's Oliver Tambo International Airport (JNB), Cape Town International Airport (CPT), and Durban's King Shaka International Airport (DUR).

Departure Airport: Guangzhou/Hong Kong, with the highest flight density and the fastest time (3-5 days). Shanghai/Shenzhen, need to combine with the second route positioning (may be delayed by 1-2 days).
Transit point efficiency: ADD (Addis Ababa): Ethiopian aviation hub, fastest in Africa. AUH/DOH (Middle East): Fast customs clearance, suitable for high-value cargo. IST (Istanbul): Multiple routes but may be congested.
Type of goods: General cargo is subject to normal delivery. Sensitive goods (batteries/liquids) require additional inspection and may be delayed by 1-2 days.
Customs clearance and final delivery: South African customs clearance usually takes 1-2 days (with complete documents).
China → South Africa, popular air freight route timeline reference table

Cargo charter flights from China to South African airports

Cargo charter flights are a type of flight service specifically designed to transport goods, usually used when there is a large amount of cargo that needs to be transported quickly or when regular commercial flights cannot meet the demand. Cargo charter flights from China to South Africa can be operated by various airlines, depending on the customer's needs, available aircraft, and route arrangements.

Air China: Air China provides charter services for Boeing 777F and 747-400F all-cargo aircraft, with the main route being direct flights from Beijing (PEK) to Johannesburg (JNB). The airline's aircraft have strong capacity and are suitable for transporting high-value goods or government project materials.
China Southern Airlines: Starting from Guangzhou (CAN), China Southern Airlines operates Boeing 777F and 787F freighter charter flights with direct access to Cape Town (CPT). Its advantage lies in the dense cargo network in southern China, which is particularly suitable for the transportation of goods with high timeliness requirements such as electronic products, general cargo, and fresh produce.
Hainan Airlines (Hainan Airlines): Hainan Airlines mainly uses Airbus A330-200F freighters, providing charter services from Shenzhen (SZX) to Johannesburg (JNB).
UAE Airways (Emirates SkyCargo): UAE Airways has the world's leading cargo fleet (Boeing 777F, 747-8F), providing charter services from Shanghai (PVG)/Hong Kong (HKG) to Johannesburg (JNB) via Dubai (DWC).
Qatar Airways Cargo
Turkey Airlines Cargo
About Ethiopian Airlines Cargo
Charter flight process: Confirm demand → Air rights application → Aircraft type matching → Customs declaration → Departure → Destination port customs clearance. 7-15 days in advance, booking (air rights approval time-consuming).
Cost influencing factors: route distance, aircraft type, fuel surcharge, take-off and landing time (night may be charged).
Document requirements: need to provide a list of goods, MSDS (dangerous goods), live animal quarantine certificate, etc.
Customs Clearance: South African customs may impose high tariffs on high value goods such as electronics.
Insurance: It is recommended to purchase full freight insurance (coverage ≥ 130% of the value of the goods).

Reference price for air freight from China to South Africa airport

The price of air freight from China to South Africa will vary depending on factors such as weight, volume, cargo type, and specific terms of the selected service. Here are some updated reference prices for 2025. The cheapest way to fly from China to South Africa is from Hong Kong to Johannesburg (38.8 yuan/kg), followed by Shanghai to Durban (41 yuan/kg). Other routes have slightly higher prices, and sensitive goods (batteries, liquids, etc.) may be charged extra. Remember to confirm the positioning and final price before booking!
China → South Africa Air Freight Price Comparison Table (Unit: ¥/kg)

Air freight prices from some Chinese airports to South African airports in May 2025