Importing FMCG products into Congo-Brazzaville: practical guide
Pointe-Noire is the large deep-water port of the Republic of the Congo and the entry point for almost all containers bound for the country. This guide describes how a Congolese importer can buy a container of fast-moving consumer goods from Whitworth and receive it in good condition.
Before you order
Before ordering, agree with your forwarder on the actual final destination, Pointe-Noire or Brazzaville, as it affects the choice of products and the total lead time. Then send Whitworth your list of references and volumes. We reply with a proforma invoice detailing prices in euros, the number of pallets, the container fill rate and the proposed Incoterm. Your bank can rely on this document to prepare the funds transfer, and your forwarder to anticipate the customs declaration.
Required documents
In Congo, consistent documents avoid storage charges at the Port Autonome de Pointe-Noire.
Commercial invoice
In euros, by reference, with the origin and value of each line.
Packing list
Quantities, weights and number of pallets for inspection at the port.
Bill of lading (B/L)
Released according to the payment terms, it allows you to collect the container.
Certificate of origin
It establishes the European origin of the products.
Health certificates
For foodstuffs that require them, prepared before departure.
Incoterms offered
FOB Antwerp suits you if your forwarder already has freight contracts to Pointe-Noire. CIF Pointe-Noire, with freight and insurance included, is simpler for an importer who wants a single price delivered to the Congolese port.
Sea transit from Antwerp
Allow generally three to five weeks at sea between Antwerp and Pointe-Noire, depending on the service and port calls. For Brazzaville, add inland transport by road or rail from the coast, which can take several more days.
Customs clearance and delivery
When the vessel reaches Pointe-Noire, your forwarder files the customs declaration with our documents and arranges any inspection. After payment of duties and taxes, the container is delivered locally or loaded onto the Congo-Ocean railway or a truck to Brazzaville. This second leg must be booked early, especially for a reefer container that must stay powered throughout the inland journey. A good local forwarder often makes the difference on the final lead time.
Tariff zone and duties
The Republic of the Congo belongs to CEMAC and applies its common external tariff to European products, with national taxes on top. This makes trade with other community countries, such as Gabon or Cameroon, easier. Amounts are to be confirmed with your freight forwarder or Congolese customs.
Currency and payment methods
The currency is the Central African CFA franc (XAF), linked to the euro at a fixed parity. Our invoices in euros are settled by transfer or by letter of credit. Transfers to Europe follow CEMAC exchange regulations, handled by your bank.
Points to watch
French labelling
Legal information and dates legible in French.
Inland lead times
Include the Pointe-Noire to Brazzaville leg when calculating product shelf life.
Cold chain
Reefer monitored up to the warehouse, especially if a land leg follows.
Port charges
An incomplete file leads to storage charges.
Frequently asked questions
Do you deliver directly to Brazzaville?
We deliver to Pointe-Noire; your forwarder organises the onward leg to Brazzaville.
Why choose CIF?
To know the cost delivered to port without negotiating ocean freight yourself.
Can I combine several brands?
Yes, several European brands can travel in the same container.
What import taxation applies?
It depends on the products: to be confirmed with your freight forwarder or customs.
How do I pay?
By bank transfer or letter of credit, in euros, according to the proforma terms.
Send your product list for Pointe-Noire: we calculate the fill rate and send you a proforma.