Import & Export Guide: South Africa

1. Pre-Shipment Requirements

• Import Permit: Required for restricted goods (pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, military equipment). Apply via International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC).
• Customs Registration: Importers must register with SARS (South African Revenue Service) and obtain Customs Client Number.
• SABS Certification: South African Bureau of Standards compliance for regulated products (electrical, automotive, food contact materials).
• Commercial Documents: Invoice (with HS code, Rand value), packing list, certificate of origin, insurance certificate.

2. Customs Clearance Process

1. Submit Customs Declaration via eFiling or registered clearing agent using SARS e-Customs platform
2. Upload supporting documents: Bill of Lading, commercial invoice, permits, certificates
3. SARS assigns risk assessment: Green (auto-release), Blue (documentary inspection), Red (physical examination)
4. Payment of customs duties, VAT, and excise via eFiling or bank transfer
5. Physical inspection at port/border if flagged (Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Beitbridge)
6. Release authorization issued after compliance verification and payment confirmation

3. Required Documents

• ✓ Bill of Lading / Airway Bill
• ✓ Commercial Invoice (ZAR value)
• ✓ Packing List
• ✓ Certificate of Origin
• ✓ Insurance Certificate
• ✓ Customs Registration Number
• ✓ Import Permit (restricted goods)
• ✓ SABS Letter of Authority (regulated products)
• ✓ Phytosanitary Certificate (plants/wood)
• ✓ Veterinary Health Certificate (animal products)

4. Typical Clearance Timeline

SACU Tariff Structure

South Africa applies the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Common External Tariff:

• 0%: Essential capital equipment, raw materials for manufacturing, strategic imports
• 0-7.5%: Primary agricultural products, basic commodities
• 10-20%: Intermediate goods, semi-processed materials, industrial inputs
• 20-30%: Finished goods, manufactured products
• 30-45%: Sensitive sectors (textiles, clothing, footwear, motor vehicles)

Additional Taxes & Levies

Preferential Trade Agreements

• SACU (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Eswatini): 0% duty, free movement of goods
• SADC Free Trade Area: 0% duty for SADC-origin products (16 member states)
• EU Economic Partnership Agreement: Duty-free access for 98.7% of SA exports to EU, reciprocal phased liberalization
• EFTA (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein): Preferential tariffs on industrial goods
• UK-SACU EPA: Continuity agreement post-Brexit, duty-free/reduced tariffs
• AfCFTA: Progressive implementation with 90% tariff liberalization by 2034
• Automotive Production Development Programme (APDP): Rebates and incentives for vehicle manufacturing

Major Ports & Gateways

• Port of Durban: Africa's busiest container port. 4.5M TEU/year, 80M+ tons total cargo. Gateway to Gauteng industrial heartland. 24/7 operations.
• Port of Cape Town: Second largest container port. 1M TEU/year. Fresh fruit export hub (Table Grapes, citrus). Deep-water container terminal.
• Port of Ngqura (Coega): Modern deep-water port. 1.3M TEU capacity. Transshipment hub. Adjacent IDZ (Industrial Development Zone).
• Port Elizabeth: Automotive export hub. 380K TEU/year. Ro-Ro facilities for vehicle trade.
• OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg): Africa's largest cargo airport. 450K+ tons/year. Cold chain facilities, 24/7 operations.

Transport Routes & Costs

Regional Corridor Access

• North-South Corridor: Durban/Cape Town → Gauteng → Zimbabwe → Zambia → Tanzania (TAZARA connection)
• Maputo Corridor: Gauteng → Mozambique (Maputo Port) - alternative gateway reducing Durban congestion
• Trans-Kalahari Corridor: Gauteng → Botswana → Namibia (Walvis Bay) - Atlantic Ocean access
• Beitbridge Border: Busiest land border in Southern Africa. 500+ trucks/day. OSBP operational.