Import European brands to West Africa
Whitworth is a Belgian trading house shipping European food, beverage and appliance brands from Antwerp to West Africa: Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Senegal, as well as Togo, Benin, Guinea or Mali. Mixed dry and reefer containers, FCL or LCL groupage, FOB Antwerp or CIF destination port, with a freight forwarder available to the port.
How we ship to West Africa
Four main ports with regular sailings from Antwerp. Average sea transit times are indicative and confirmed with the proforma invoice.
Tema
Ghana, next to Accra. About 16 days from Antwerp.
Abidjan
Ivory Coast. About 15 days from Antwerp.
Lagos Apapa
Nigeria, Apapa and Tin Can Island terminals. About 16 days from Antwerp.
Dakar
Senegal. About 12 days from Antwerp.
Mixed container
Dry and reefer goods in the same order. Several brands per container.
FCL or LCL groupage
Full 20 ft or 40 ft container, or LCL groupage for smaller volumes.
FOB Antwerp or CIF destination port
Buy FOB Antwerp with your own forwarder, or CIF with sea freight included.
Freight forwarder available
We can arrange the forwarder and booking to the port of arrival of your choice.
Countries in the region
Ghana
Port of arrival: Tema
about 16 days from Antwerp
Ivory Coast
Port of arrival: Abidjan
about 15 days from Antwerp
Nigeria
Port of arrival: Lagos
about 16 days from Antwerp
Senegal
Port of arrival: Dakar
about 12 days from Antwerp
We also serve
- BeninCotonou
- Burkina Fasovia Abidjan, Tema or Lomé
- Cape VerdePraia
- The GambiaBanjul
- GuineaConakry
- Guinea-BissauBissau
- LiberiaMonrovia
- Malivia Dakar or Abidjan
- MauritaniaNouakchott
- Nigervia Cotonou or Lomé
- Sierra LeoneFreetown
- TogoLomé
Landlocked countries: arrival at a coastal port, then onward transport by road with your forwarder.
Brands available for West Africa
Brands in our selection, loaded in Antwerp. Availability and formats per reference are confirmed on the proforma invoice.
Product categories
- Grocery and beverages
- Seasonings and bouillon
- Malt drinks and soft drinks
- Biscuits and confectionery
- Sauces and condiments
- Small appliances
How an order works
Enquiry
Send your product list, volumes and port of arrival. Online or on WhatsApp.
Proforma invoice
We confirm prices, pallets, container fill, Incoterm and payment terms.
Production and consolidation
Goods are sourced, then consolidated and loaded in Antwerp.
Shipping and documents
Sea freight to the port of arrival and export documents sent to you and your clearing agent.
Fill your container
Pick your port of arrival (Tema, Abidjan, Lagos or Dakar), add products by case or pallet and see how full your 20 ft or 40 ft container is before you ask for a quote.
Questions from importers
Which port should I choose in West Africa?
Choose the port closest to your warehouses and customers: Tema for Ghana, Abidjan for Ivory Coast, Lagos (Apapa) for Nigeria, Dakar for Senegal. For landlocked countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso or Niger, goods arrive at a coastal port and continue by road with your forwarder. The port is stated on the proforma invoice.
Can I start with LCL groupage for a first trial order?
Yes. LCL groupage lets you test a few brands and references before moving to a full 20 ft or 40 ft container (FCL). Send your product list and we confirm on the proforma invoice what fits your volume.
Can I mix brands, dry and reefer goods in one shipment?
Yes. Several European and Belgian brands can go in the same container, and mixed dry and reefer shipments are possible. The split is set out on the proforma invoice.
Which documents come with a shipment to West Africa?
We provide the shipping documents for each shipment and send them to you and your clearing agent, who handles import formalities in your country. Tell us before loading what your clearing agent needs.
What is the lead time to the port of arrival?
Average sea transit from Antwerp is about 12 days to Dakar, 15 days to Abidjan and 16 days to Tema and Lagos. The total lead time also depends on product availability and consolidation in Antwerp. We give you an estimate together with the proforma invoice.
Send your product list and we return a proforma invoice for your container, FOB Antwerp or CIF destination port.