Destination \u00b7 Benin
Shipping to Benin from the UK
RoRo vehicle shipping and container freight to Cotonou Port \u2014 a direct call on regular West Africa sailings. Gateway to Niger, Burkina Faso and northern Nigeria.
From £850
RoRo per vehicle
16–20 days
Transit to Cotonou
Direct
Port call — no transhipment
15+ years
West Africa experience
Shipping services to Benin
RoRo Vehicle Shipping to Benin
Cotonou Port Autonome is a direct RoRo call on regular West Africa sailings from Grimsby, Tilbury or Southampton. You deliver the vehicle to your nearest departure port using the shipping note we issue — the port team drives it onto the vessel and off again at Cotonou. No containerisation costs, no crane fees.
Container Shipping to Benin
FCL containers from UK ports to Cotonou — Benin’s principal deep-water port and a key transit gateway for landlocked Niger, Burkina Faso and northern Nigeria.
LCL — Groupage
Share container space with other shippers moving cargo to Cotonou. We consolidate at our UK depot under a single bill of lading.
Customs clearance in Benin
ECOWAS Import Documentation
Benin applies ECOWAS Common External Tariff rates. All commercial imports require a customs declaration lodged through the SYDONIA system operated by the Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects (DGDDI). Our Cotonou agents prepare and lodge the declaration before arrival.
Pre-Shipment Inspection (Cotecna)
Commercial imports above the threshold value require inspection and a Certificate of Conformity from Cotecna before goods leave the UK. We coordinate the inspection as part of the export process, ensuring the certificate is in place before the vessel or aircraft departs.
Customs Assessment & Duty Payment
Import duty is assessed on CIF value. Benin applies ECOWAS tariff bands of 0%, 5%, 10%, or 20% depending on the product category. Duty is paid through the SIGIF treasury payment system. Our local agents manage assessment, payment, and release.
Port Release & Delivery
A release order is issued once duty is paid authorising removal from the Port Autonome de Cotonou. Our Cotonou-based partners confirm clearance and arrange onward delivery across Cotonou and upcountry destinations.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cotonou a direct RoRo port from the UK?
Yes. Cotonou Port Autonome is a direct call on regular West Africa RoRo sailings from Grimsby, Tilbury and Southampton. Transit time from UK ports to Cotonou is typically 16–20 days. There is no transhipment.
How much does it cost to ship a car to Benin?
RoRo rates to Cotonou start from £850 per vehicle. The final price depends on vehicle dimensions and the sailing schedule at time of booking. We can usually confirm a rate and sailing date within 24 hours of enquiry.
Can I use Cotonou as a gateway to Niger or Burkina Faso?
Yes. Cotonou is the principal transit port for landlocked Niger and Burkina Faso, and a secondary gateway for northern Nigeria. We can arrange port-to-port shipping to Cotonou with your nominated inland agent handling onward movement.
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