What Ghanaian businesses export with us
Most of our export work is agricultural produce and processed goods. Typical cargo includes:
- Processed cocoa products such as cocoa butter, cocoa powder and chocolate. Raw cocoa beans are marketed through COCOBOD, so we do not ship beans for private exporters.
- Cashew and shea, both raw nuts and processed products such as shea butter
- Cassava products and gari, often to Ghanaian and West African shops abroad
- Yams, pineapples and other fresh produce, by sea in reefer containers or by air
- Fish and seafood, frozen or smoked, with the health certificates the buyer's country asks for
- Timber products, which need Forestry Commission export permits
- Handicrafts, textiles and furniture, including kente, baskets and carvings
We do not handle gold or other precious minerals.
Export documents from Ghana
Every export needs a core set of documents, and most produce needs at least one certificate on top. Getting these lined up before the container is booked is what keeps an export on schedule.
- Commercial invoice showing the buyer, the goods, the value and the agreed Incoterm
- Packing list with weights, package counts and marks
- Export declaration, lodged in ICUMS by a licensed customs broker
- Exporter registration with the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA)
- Certificate of origin: a general certificate, or an ECOWAS certificate of origin so a buyer elsewhere in ECOWAS can claim duty-free treatment for approved goods
- Phytosanitary certificate from the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) for plants and plant products
- Commodity permits where required, for example from the Tree Crops Development Authority for unprocessed cashew and shea, or the Forestry Commission for timber
Your buyer may also ask for a certificate of analysis, a fumigation certificate or a health certificate. Check their requirements before you produce the goods, not after. If you also import, our import documents checklist covers the other direction.
Permits for regulated exports
A few products have their own regulator, and shipping without its approval can stop the container at the port gate.
Cashew and shea. Exporters of unprocessed cashew and shea need written authorisation from the Tree Crops Development Authority, and PPRSD expects proof that the related levies are paid before it issues a phytosanitary certificate.
Timber. Timber and wood products need export permits through the Forestry Commission, and some forms and species are restricted or banned. Confirm the rules for your product before you sign a contract.
Fish and food. Food exports may need certification from the relevant Ghanaian authority, and buyers in the EU, UK or US apply their own import rules on top. We help you work out the list for your product and your buyer's country.
Container stuffing and inspection
Goods can be stuffed into the container at your warehouse or factory, or delivered to a loading point near the port. Stuffing at your premises saves double handling; stuffing near Tema helps when cargo comes from several suppliers.
Customs and other agencies may inspect export cargo before the container is sealed, particularly produce and anything under permit. We arrange the inspection, record the seal numbers against your documents and make sure the weights declared match what is loaded. Overweight or wrongly declared containers are a common reason for a box missing its vessel.
For produce, ask about packaging early. Sacks, cartons and pallets need to suit the cargo, the transit time and the destination country's rules on wood packaging.
Sea from Tema or Takoradi, air from Accra airport
Tema handles most container exports and has the widest choice of shipping lines and destinations. Takoradi suits exporters in the Western Region and some bulk cargo. Air freight from Accra International Airport is the choice for fresh produce with a short life, samples, and small high-value orders.
We handle the road leg to the port too, from anywhere in Ghana. See haulage and trucking in Ghana, sea freight and air freight for how each mode works.
How to start an export with us
- Tell us the product, the quantity, the packaging and the buyer's country and port or airport.
- We confirm the documents and permits your product needs, and what the buyer must arrange at their end.
- We quote haulage, port charges, customs and freight together, based on the Incoterm you agreed. Our guide to Incoterms explains who pays for what.
- We book the space, arrange stuffing and inspection, and lodge the export declaration in ICUMS.
- You receive the bill of lading or air waybill for your buyer, and can follow the shipment on our tracking page.
Ready to price a shipment? Request a quote with your product and destination.
Questions
What documents do I need to export from Ghana?
At minimum a commercial invoice, packing list and an export declaration lodged in ICUMS. Most exporters also need GEPA registration and a certificate of origin, and plant products need a phytosanitary certificate from PPRSD. Some goods need a permit from their own regulator.
Can you export cocoa beans for me?
No. Cocoa beans are marketed through COCOBOD. We ship processed cocoa products such as butter, powder and chocolate for exporters who hold the right approvals.
Do I need a permit to export shea butter or cashew?
Exporters of unprocessed cashew and shea need authorisation from the Tree Crops Development Authority. Processed products such as shea butter may have different requirements, so tell us exactly what you are shipping and we will confirm.
How do I get an ECOWAS certificate of origin?
The goods and the producer must be approved under the ECOWAS trade scheme first. The certificate then lets your buyer in another ECOWAS country claim the preferential duty rate. We tell you which office handles your goods and what to submit.
Should I ship by sea or air?
Sea is far cheaper for anything above a few hundred kilos and suits most dry and frozen goods. Air suits fresh produce with a short life, samples and urgent small orders.
Can you collect the goods from my farm or factory?
Yes. We arrange trucking from anywhere in Ghana to Tema, Takoradi or Accra airport, and can stuff the container at your premises.
Talk to our operations desk.
Send your documents or cargo details and we will reply with a full quote: freight, clearance and delivery on one page.