Importing FMCG products into Ivory Coast: practical guide
Abidjan is one of the busiest ports in West Africa and the natural arrival point for Whitworth containers bound for Ivory Coast. This guide explains, for an Ivorian importer, what buying a container of fast-moving consumer goods shipped from Antwerp involves.
Before you order
To get off to a good start, gather the details of your import company, your needs per reference and your sales calendar, taking peak periods such as the year-end holidays into account. We send you a proforma invoice specifying prices in euros, the number of pallets, the container fill rate and the Incoterm. Share it with your Ivorian forwarder: they will check the formalities specific to your products and can prepare the declaration before the vessel arrives in Abidjan.
Required documents
The file is standard, but its quality determines how quickly goods clear customs at the Port Autonome d'Abidjan.
Commercial invoice
In euros, with the trade name of the products and the country of origin of each line.
Packing list
Breakdown per pallet and per carton, weights and volumes, for the declaration and inspection.
Bill of lading (B/L)
The sea transport document that makes you owner of the container on arrival.
Certificate of origin
It proves the European or Belgian origin of the products.
Health certificates
Required depending on the nature of the products, in particular for certain foods of animal or plant origin.
Incoterms offered
Under FOB Antwerp, you keep control of freight and of your forwarder. Under CIF Abidjan, Whitworth books sea transport and insurance to the Ivorian port, which makes it easier to compare several offers. The choice often depends on your existing freight contracts.
Sea transit from Antwerp
The Antwerp to Abidjan leg usually takes two to three weeks at sea, sometimes a little longer when the vessel serves other Gulf of Guinea ports. Add consolidation in Antwerp and the time to leave the terminal to estimate the date the goods reach the shelves.
Customs clearance and delivery
On arrival in Abidjan, your forwarder draws up the customs declaration based on our documents and arranges any physical inspection. Once duties are settled, the container leaves the terminal for your warehouses in Abidjan or inland, for example Bouaké or Yamoussoukro. If part of the goods continues to a neighbouring WAEMU country, it follows a specific transit regime that your forwarder manages.
Tariff zone and duties
Ivory Coast belongs to both WAEMU and ECOWAS. In practice, the ECOWAS common external tariff applies to products from Europe, supplemented by community and national levies. WAEMU membership also makes re-shipment to neighbouring union countries easier. Amounts due are to be confirmed with your freight forwarder or customs (Direction générale des douanes).
Currency and payment methods
The currency is the CFA franc (XOF), at a fixed parity with the euro. For an Ivorian importer, an invoice in euros therefore carries no significant exchange risk. Payment is made by bank transfer or by letter of credit opened with a local bank.
Points to watch
French labelling
Mandatory information must be legible in French on the sales packaging.
Expiry dates
Check that the remaining shelf life covers transit, clearance and distribution.
Cold chain
Reefer container set at the right temperature and quick collection at the terminal.
Regional re-export
If part of the goods is bound for Burkina Faso or Mali, tell us before the invoice.
Frequently asked questions
Can you invoice in CFA francs?
We invoice in euros; the fixed parity makes conversion simple for your bank.
Is the port of San-Pédro possible?
Abidjan is our usual destination; San-Pédro can be considered depending on sailings.
What is the minimum order?
A full container is ideal, but groupage can be considered for a first trial.
What duties will I pay in Abidjan?
They depend on the tariff heading of each product: to be confirmed with your freight forwarder or customs.
Who handles customs clearance?
Your licensed forwarder in Ivory Coast, with the documents we send them.
Your next container for Abidjan starts with a product list: we come back to you with a proforma invoice.