If you need to ship goods from Dubai to Africa, air shipping can be a great option. It’s faster than sea shipping and can be more cost-effective than other forms of transportation. The process involves booking freight and transporting your cargos over long distances on time. However, air shipping can still be expensive, especially if you don’t take the time to find the right carrier, optimize your shipment or pay attention to the factors stated below. In this blog post, we’ll share some money saving tips for air shipping to Africa from Dubai.
Cost Effective Air Shipping to Africa from Dubai
Optimize your packaging
Air shipping rates are based on weight and volume, so it’s important to pack your items efficiently. Use the smallest possible packaging while still ensuring your items are well-protected during transit. This will help reduce the dimensional weight of your shipment, which can be a major factor in the cost.
If items aren’t packaged properly, they can get damaged or broken during transport, which will lead to additional costs. The best way to avoid this is by using professional packaging materials that are designed specifically for use with air freight shipments. This includes corrugated cardboard or paper board, bubble wrap and foam peanuts, which provide cushioning during transit and help prevent damage from shifting cargo in transit. This will also help keep costs down as well as reduce the total weight of your shipment.
Consolidate your shipments
Air cargo rates in Dubai vary depending on factors such as size and weight of the shipment, as well as distance travelled. Therefore, it is often recommended that companies consolidate shipments so as to minimise costs and increase efficiency when transporting goods from point A to point B.
With multiple cargo or freight on air shipping to Africa from Dubai at the same time, it makes sense to consolidate them into one shipment so that you only have one bill of lading (BOL), ensuring speed because there is less paperwork involved with a consolidated shipment than with multiple individual shipments.This will save you money on freight costs and eliminate the need for multiple customs declarations for each package. Therefore, if you have more than one item to ship at once, make sure they’re all going in the same direction and with the same carrier.
Avoid air shipping during peak seasons
The busiest times for shipping typically occur during Christmas and other holidays when people tend to send gifts or other items over long distances. This means that there will likely be more packages being shipped at the same time as yours, which can increase costs significantly due to increased demand and competition between shipping companies for business and there is a likelihood that there will be a shortage of cargo space.
When this happens during air shipping to Africa in Dubai, it means that your shipment may have to wait at the airport for days before it can be shipped out. This is not only harmful for the goods but also expensive since you will have to pay storage fees for your shipment at the airport.
Know what you can and cannot ship to Africa
There are certain things that you cannot import into Africa, including drugs, illegal substances and firearms etc., so make sure that you check what items are allowed before sending them off to Africa via air freight or sea freight. If you are shipping something that has to be delivered urgently or within a short time frame (such as perishable goods), then air freight may be your best option. A business, manufacturer or supplier can engage in cars, business goods, furniture, electronics devices, engine oil, auto spare parts, and also aircraft parts export to Africa.You should check with the airline, customs and African authorities before flying to Africa from Dubai.
Use A Freight Forwarder
Clearing and forwarding companies in Dubai can provide a range of services, including customs clearance, storage, documentation preparation, loading and unloading services. Freight forwarding companies can be quite expensive for small businesses because they require a large amount of capital to start up an operation and maintain its operations over time.
However, there are some ways you can save money when using a freight forwarder in Dubai:
- Use a freight forwarder with an established track record of successful deliveries.
- Ask about discounts for volume shipments or for larger shipments.
- Negotiate price discounts if you plan on using their services regularly.
Obtain all required documentation
In order to ensure that your cargo is properly transported, you will need to obtain the proper documentation for air shipping to Africa from Dubai. As a rule, this means having your shipment inspected and packaged by customs officials. It is also important to note that you may need to provide certain documents or certificates in order to receive permission from the government of Africa.
The bill of lading. It is a document that confirms the receipt of cargo by the carrier. The carrier issues it on behalf of the consignee and lists details such as quantity, description, value, name of carrier and consignee etc.
The commercial invoice (CI). It is an official document issued by the seller to indicate purchase price of goods sold to the buyer. It also contains information about shipping terms, payment terms and payment terms.
Customs declaration form (CD). It contains information about cargo being shipped like its type, quantity and value etc. This form is used while clearing customs at the destination country.
Insurance certificate/ policy – Insurance certificate is mandatory from the insurance company at time of shipping your cargo internationally. It provides coverage against loss or damage during the transit period through air cargo services providers or airlines depending on your requirement and budget.
Negotiating rates
Another thing that you can do to save money on shipping costs is negotiate with different companies for lower rates for cargo air shipping to Africa from Dubai. There are many companies that offer air cargo services but not all of them will be able to offer you a good deal because they are not as competitive as others. When negotiating rates with different companies, make sure that their offers match up with what you need so they can provide better service at an affordable price.
Air cargo to Africa can be a cost-effective option for shipping goods from Dubai if you take the time to find the right carrier, optimize your shipment, and plan ahead. By following these cost-conscious tips, you can save money and ensure that your shipment arrives on time and in good condition.
Partner With A Reliable Shipping Company Offering Air Shipping to Africa from Dubai3
Regardless of how you choose to navigate the process, the most important thing you can do is partner with a reliable shipping company. Whether your cargo is fragile or valuable, a reputable partnership will always be necessary, and Dubai to Africa by air is no different. Make sure that your ideal partner offers all of the services you need, and you’ll enjoy worry-free air shipping to Africa from Dubai that keeps your costs low. Connect with Green Way Cargo, the best shipping company in Dubai offering cost effective sea, air and land freight and cargo movement to Africa services.
