Home Shipping from China to Uganda LCL sea freight from China to Uganda (Kampala) — 2026 reference rates

LCL sea freight from China to Uganda (Kampala) — 2026 reference rates

Uganda is landlocked, so every consignment lands at Mombasa in Kenya and travels the Northern Corridor by rail or road to Kampala. It is the standard East African landbridge arrangement, and our four lanes all use it.

Shantou is by far the best value at USD 126 per CBM in 35 days. Zhongshan is the most expensive at USD 205, and Zhuhai the slowest at 40 days. Get the origin right and Uganda is a perfectly workable destination.

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 Uganda — Kampala

Shantou to Kampala — USD 126 per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via Mombasa; carrier ONE; cut-off/ETD Closed Wed / ETD Mon; transit time about 35 days.
Huizhou to Kampala — USD 153 per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via Mombasa; carrier ONE; cut-off/ETD Closed Wed / ETD Mon; transit time about 32 days.
Zhuhai to Kampala — USD 175 per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via Mombasa; carrier EMC; cut-off/ETD Closed Fri / ETD Thu; transit time about 40 days.
Zhongshan to Kampala — USD 205 per CBM, volume range 0~15 CBM; minimum 1 CBM; transhipment via Mombasa; carrier EMC; cut-off/ETD Closed Wed / ETD Sun; transit time about 32 days.

Shantou is the pick. USD 126 per CBM, USD 27 below the next cheapest and USD 79 below Zhongshan, with a credible 35-day transit. There is no reason to use another origin unless the cargo is already elsewhere.

Huizhou is the fastest. 32 days at USD 153 per CBM, tied with Zhongshan on transit but USD 52 cheaper.

Mombasa transit formalities. Cargo for Uganda is declared for transit at Mombasa and moves under bond on the Northern Corridor. The consignee needs a Kenyan transit agent as well as their Ugandan broker — tell us at booking so the documents are raised correctly.

The Northern Corridor

The Northern Corridor runs from Mombasa through Nairobi to Malaba on the Ugandan border, then on to Kampala. Cargo moves either on the standard-gauge railway to Naivasha or Nairobi and then by road, or entirely by road. Transit times vary with border queues at Malaba, which can add several days without warning, particularly in the run-up to December.

Comparing the origins

Shantou is USD 126, Huizhou USD 153, Zhuhai USD 175 and Zhongshan USD 205 — a spread of 63 per cent for the same destination and much the same transit. Shantou and Huizhou both run on the ONE service with a Wednesday cut-off, and the 32-day Huizhou transit may be worth the USD 27 premium if you need speed.

FAQ — LCL shipping from China to Uganda