Full container loads (FCL)
A full container is yours alone, sealed at origin and opened only for customs examination in Ghana. It is the safest and usually the fastest way to move larger volumes by sea.
- 20ft. About 33 cubic metres of space. Good for heavy cargo such as tiles, steel, rice or machinery parts, where weight runs out before space does.
- 40ft. About 67 cubic metres. The usual choice for general goods and mixed retail stock.
- 40ft high cube. About 76 cubic metres, with an extra foot of height. Best for light, bulky goods like furniture, plastics and textiles.
- Reefers. Temperature-controlled 20ft and 40ft containers for frozen fish, poultry, meat, dairy, fruit and some pharmaceuticals. Reefers need power at the terminal, so prompt clearance matters even more.
As a rough guide, once your cargo passes about 15 cubic metres a full 20ft often costs about the same as shared space. See FCL vs LCL shipping.
Shared containers (LCL consolidation)
With LCL you pay for the cubic metres you use. Your cartons are delivered to a consolidation warehouse at origin, loaded with other shippers' goods, and unpacked again after clearance in Ghana. It suits first orders, samples in volume, and buyers who source from several suppliers.
Pack well and label every carton with your name and the shipping mark. LCL cargo is handled more often than a sealed container, and clear marks stop goods going astray at the unpacking stage.
RoRo, breakbulk and project cargo
RoRo (roll-on, roll-off) carries vehicles and self-propelled machinery that drive on and off the ship. It is often cheaper than a container for a single car, truck, tractor or excavator. Personal effects cannot usually travel inside a RoRo vehicle. For used vehicles, check the 2026 import rules and estimate duty with the vehicle duty calculator before you buy, or see car shipping to Ghana.
Breakbulk and project cargo covers items too large or heavy for a container: generators, transformers, mining and construction plant, steel structures. These need lifting plans, permits for abnormal loads on Ghana's roads, and careful coordination between the ship, the port and the haulier. Tell us the dimensions and weight early and we plan the whole movement, including haulage.
Tema port or Takoradi port
Tema is Ghana's main container port, close to Accra, and handles most import containers, vehicles and transit cargo for Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. It has the widest choice of shipping lines and sailings, so most sea freight to Ghana comes here.
Takoradi, in the Western Region, serves the oil and gas, mining and cocoa sectors, and handles bulk, breakbulk and project cargo for those industries. If your site is in the west, discharging at Takoradi can save a long road haul. See our clearing agent in Takoradi page.
We clear at both ports. Ask us which suits your cargo and final destination.
How ocean freight pricing works
A sea freight quote is made of several charges, and it helps to know which ones are fixed and which move.
- Ocean freight. The base rate per container, or per cubic metre for LCL.
- Surcharges. Bunker adjustment (BAF) for fuel, plus others such as peak season, currency or security surcharges. These change often, sometimes monthly.
- Origin charges. Collection, export clearance, terminal handling and documentation in the country of loading.
- Destination terminal handling. Charged by the terminal at Tema or Takoradi for moving the container.
- Shipping line local charges. Delivery order, documentation and container fees paid to the line in Ghana before it releases the box.
- Clearance, duty and haulage. Our fee, Ghana import duty and taxes, and the truck to your premises.
Your Incoterms decide which of these you pay. See Incoterms for Ghana importers and container shipping cost to Ghana. Estimate duty with the import duty calculator and request an itemised price through our quote form.
Free time and demurrage at Tema
When the container is discharged, two clocks start: port storage from the terminal, and demurrage and detention from the shipping line. Each comes with a set of free days, after which daily charges apply. The line's clock keeps running until the empty container is returned.
We lodge your declaration in ICUMS before the vessel arrives, track both clocks for every container, and warn you before charges begin. Read the demurrage and storage guide, check the documents checklist, and follow your shipment on the tracking page. For the clearance itself, see our clearing agent in Tema service.
Questions
How long does sea freight to Ghana take?
It depends on the origin, the shipping line and transhipment. As a guide, allow about 14 to 28 days from northern Europe, about 25 to 40 days from Dubai, and about 35 to 50 days from China, port to port. Add time for collection at origin and clearance at Tema.
What is the difference between FCL and LCL?
FCL means you book a whole container for your goods only. LCL means you share a container and pay by the cubic metre. LCL suits smaller loads; above about 15 cubic metres, FCL is usually better value.
How much does it cost to ship a container to Ghana?
Rates change with fuel, season and shipping line capacity, so any fixed figure goes out of date quickly. Send us the origin, container size and cargo through the quote form for a current, itemised price.
Can you ship refrigerated goods to Tema?
Yes, in reefer containers. Frozen and chilled food also needs FDA approval, so we prepare the permit before arrival to keep the reefer at the port for as short a time as possible.
Should I use RoRo or a container for my car?
RoRo is often cheaper for a single vehicle. A container costs more but protects the car better and can carry more than one vehicle or declared personal effects.
Do you ship to Takoradi as well as Tema?
Yes. We arrange sea freight and clearance at both ports. Tema has more sailings; Takoradi can be better for cargo going to the Western Region.
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.