Sea Freight Brokerage
Port of Durban
FCL and LCL ocean freight brokerage through Africa's busiest container port — connecting South Africa to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, UK and the Americas.
FCL & LCL Brokerage
Through Africa's Busiest Port
The Port of Durban handles over 2.9 million TEU annually and is the southern hemisphere gateway for trade with Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas. Hagens Logistics brokers both FCL and LCL shipments on behalf of exporters, importers and freight intermediaries — leveraging carrier relationships and SARS AEO-accredited customs partner clearance.
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FCL — Full Container Load20ft, 40ft, 40ft HC, 45ft and specialised units (open-top, flat-rack, reefer, tank). Direct box integrity. Optimal for cargo exceeding 12 to 15 CBM or full-pallet loads.
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LCL — Less-than-Container-LoadConsolidated groupage via our partner depots in the Durban port precinct. Cost-effective for volumes under 15 CBM. Weekly departures to major destination hubs.
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Project & Breakbulk CargoOOG and heavy-lift cargo requiring flat-rack, low-loader and open-top containers. Pre-stow survey coordination and port authority liaison via project cargo partners.
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Reefer & Controlled AtmosphereTemperature-controlled container brokerage for fruit, seafood, frozen cargo and industrial chemicals. Pre-trip inspection and continuous monitoring at Durban Container Terminal.
What We Broker
Through Durban Port
20ft & 40ft FCL Export
Box booking, shipper export declaration, bill-of-lading issuance and carrier coordination for standard, high-cube and specialised ISO containers departing Durban.
LCL Consolidation
Groupage cargo consolidated at partner depots in the Durban port zone. Weekly sailings to Jebel Ali, Nhava Sheva, Yantian, Rotterdam and Felixstowe via co-load partners.
Reefer & Cold Container
Temperature-controlled reefer container brokerage. Pre-trip inspection, plug monitoring and temperature data retrieval. Ideal for fruit, fish, wine and chemical exports.
Customs & Documentation
Bill of lading, certificate of origin, SARS SAD500/DA550 filing, EUR.1 certificates and letter-of-credit documentation via SARS AEO-accredited customs broker partners.
Project & OOG Cargo
Over-gauge, heavy-lift and breakbulk cargo requiring flat-rack, open-top or mafi trailer configuration. Port authority liaison and berth planning via project cargo specialists.
Dangerous Goods Sea
IMDG Code-compliant dangerous goods packing, declaration and stowage for Classes 1 through 9. Packed and documented by IMDG-certified specialists via our partner network.
Durban Departure Transit Times
Transit times are indicative based on direct or transhipment services. Actual ETAs subject to carrier schedules and port congestion. Contact us for live sailing windows.
| Destination Port | Region | FCL (Days) | LCL (Days) | Primary Carriers | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jebel Ali (DXB) | UAE / Middle East | 12–14 | 14–18 | MSC · Hapag-Lloyd · CMA CGM | Weekly |
| Nhava Sheva (Mumbai) | India | 16–18 | 18–22 | MSC · Evergreen | Weekly |
| Yantian / Shanghai | China | 22–26 | 26–32 | COSCO · Evergreen · MSC | Weekly |
| Singapore (PSA) | South-East Asia | 20–24 | 24–30 | APL · Hapag-Lloyd | Weekly |
| Rotterdam | North Europe | 19–22 | 22–28 | Maersk · MSC · CMA CGM | Weekly |
| Felixstowe / Tilbury | United Kingdom | 21–25 | 25–30 | Hapag-Lloyd · MSC | Weekly |
| Houston / New York | United States | 26–32 | 30–38 | CMA CGM · Hapag-Lloyd | Bi-weekly |
Compliance and clearance conducted by SARS AEO-accredited customs broker partners. IATA-compliant DG handling via our certified partner network. Not sure FCL vs LCL? Try our free calculator.
Sea Freight Brokerage Through Africa's Busiest Container Port
The Port of Durban handles over 2.9 million TEU annually and connects South Africa to every major global trade route. Here is what working through Hagens Logistics as your Durban FCL and LCL broker looks like in practice.
FCL Export Booking
We handle box booking, VGM submission, shipper's export declaration (SED), and B/L issuance on your behalf. 20ft, 40ft, and 40ft HC standard — open-top, flat-rack and reefer on request.
LCL Consolidation
Weekly groupage from Durban Container Terminal to Jebel Ali, Nhava Sheva, Yantian, Rotterdam, and Felixstowe. Minimum 1 CBM accepted. Co-loaded on SOLAS-verified CFS basis.
Customs & Documentation
Bill of lading, Certificate of Origin, EUR1/Form A preferential origin documentation, DA 550 customs clearance, and SARS AEO-expedited release via our certified partner network.
Durban Port Congestion & How We Manage It for You
Durban Container Terminal has experienced periodic congestion driven by labour stoppages, infrastructure constraints at the Pier 1 and Pier 2 terminals, and vessel bunching. Dwell times that should average 3–4 days can extend to 10–14 days during peak disruption periods, directly impacting supply chain reliability for exporters and importers.
Hagens Logistics mitigates this through pre-clearance submission on DA 550 and DA 306 documentation, early VGM and booking confirmation to secure vessel slots ahead of rush periods, and contingency routing via Ngqura Container Terminal (Port of Coega, near Port Elizabeth) for time-sensitive FCL cargo when Durban's terminal situation warrants it.
Durban to Major Destination Port — Transit Time Guide (2026)
| Destination Port | Shipping Line Options | FCL Transit (Days) | LCL Transit (Days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jebel Ali (DXB), UAE | MSC, CMA CGM, Evergreen | 12–14 | 16–18 |
| Nhava Sheva (Mumbai), India | MSC, PIL, Hapag-Lloyd | 14–17 | 18–22 |
| Yantian (Shenzhen), China | MSC, COSCO, Evergreen | 22–26 | 28–32 |
| Rotterdam, Netherlands | Maersk, CMA CGM, MSC | 18–22 | 24–28 |
| Felixstowe, UK | MSC, Maersk | 21–24 | 26–30 |
| Houston, USA | MSC, Hapag-Lloyd | 28–33 | 34–38 |
Transit times are indicative for 2026 and subject to vessel schedule changes and port congestion. Contact Hagens Logistics for a current sailing schedule and firm quotation.
FCL or LCL —
We Find the Best Rate
Share your cargo details — CBM, weight, commodity and destination — and we will return a competitive FCL or LCL rate with sailing options within 48 hours.
Get a Quote
Response within 48 hours · No obligation
Ready to Move Your Cargo?
Speak to a Hagens Logistics specialist about your requirement — SADC, East Africa, UAE, Asia, Europe & UK.
