Published June 19, 2026 · Market analysis
Your Container Just Got $3,800 More Expensive — Shipping Costs Are Soaring and African Currencies Are Falling. Here Is What Used Clothing Importers Need to Know.
If you imported a container of used clothing in 2025, you paid roughly $3,000 in freight from China to Lagos. That same container today? Up to $6,820.
That is not a typo. Freight costs from China to West Africa have more than doubled in five months. And it is not just Nigeria — East Africa, South Africa, every route is affected.
At the same time, African currencies are under pressure. The Ethiopian birr dropped 30% in a single day. Tanzanian shilling is tightening. Nigerian naira remains fragile. For importers who pay in dollars and sell in local currency, this is a double squeeze.
This article explains what is happening, why it is happening, and — most importantly — what used clothing importers can do about it.
⏱ 9 min read · For used clothing importers managing costs
In this article:
- Why shipping costs from China to Africa have doubled
- African forex crisis — country by country breakdown
- Real numbers: what a container actually costs you now
- 5 strategies importers can use to protect their margins
- What the US-Iran ceasefire means for future shipping costs
📦 The Numbers: What Shipping Costs Look Like Right Now
Here is the reality in June 2026. These are real carrier surcharges announced in the past two weeks:
| Route | New Surcharge | Total 40ft Est. | vs 5 Months Ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| China → Nigeria (Lagos) | $750/TEU | $6,820 | ⬆️ +127% |
| China → Ghana/Togo/Benin | $750/TEU | $5,500-6,500 | ⬆️ +100%+ |
| China → Kenya (Mombasa) | $400/TEU | $4,000-4,500 | ⬆️ +60-80% |
| China → Tanzania (Dar) | $400/TEU | $4,000-4,500 | ⬆️ +60-80% |
| China → South Africa (Durban) | $250/TEU | $3,500-4,000 | ⬆️ +40-60% |
Sources: CMA CGM, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd announcements June 2026. Total estimates include base freight + all surcharges.
⚠️ Let us be direct: If you are importing used clothing from China to West Africa, your freight cost per container has gone up by roughly $3,000-3,800 compared to early 2026. That is real money that comes directly out of your margin.
🌍 Why Is This Happening? Three Reasons
Reason 1: Red Sea Crisis & Persian Gulf Conflict
The Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and the US-Iran conflict in the Persian Gulf have forced major shipping lines to divert vessels around longer routes. This has created a global container shortage — there simply are not enough ships in the right places. Even with the US-Iran ceasefire signed on June 14, shipping companies say it will take 2-3 months for normal routing to resume. Mine clearance in the Strait of Hormuz alone could take 6 weeks.
Reason 2: Peak Season Demand Surge
June marks the start of peak shipping season globally. Carriers always raise rates during peak season — but this year, they are adding surcharges on top of already-elevated base rates. CMA CGM alone announced $750/TEU peak season surcharge on Asia-West Africa routes — one of the highest ever seen.
Reason 3: Equipment Imbalance
Containers are piling up at destination ports in Africa while empties are scarce in Asia. This imbalance drives up costs because carriers must reposition containers at their own expense.
💰 The Other Half of the Squeeze: African Currency Crisis
Higher shipping costs are painful enough. But many importers are facing a second problem: their local currency buys fewer dollars than it did a month ago.
| Country | Currency Situation | Impact on Importers |
|---|---|---|
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | Naira fragile despite $50B reserves. IMF warns of “hot money” risk. | Hard to find dollars. Importers pay premium on parallel market. |
| 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | Birr devalued 30% as IMF reforms take effect. | Container landed cost in birr just jumped 30%. Instant margin loss. |
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania | Central bank pulled $25M from forex market to prop up shilling. | Dollar access tightening. Expect delays in forex approval. |
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | Dollar shortage persists. Transport costs up 150%. | Importing via Kenya becoming more expensive across the board. |
| 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | Government cracks down on USD pricing. Firms penalized. | Market instability makes pricing and planning nearly impossible. |
The combined effect: shipping costs up in dollars + local currency weaker against the dollar = landed cost increase that is significantly higher than the freight surcharge alone.
🔢 Let Us Run the Numbers: A Real Example
| Cost Component | Jan 2026 | Jun 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOB price (10 tons A Grade) | $25,000 | $25,000 | — |
| Ocean freight (40ft) | $3,000 | $6,820 | ⬆️ +$3,820 |
| Insurance & docs | $500 | $500 | — |
| Import duty (16%) | $4,500 | $5,090 | ⬆️ $590 |
| Total landed cost | $33,000 | $37,410 | ⬆️ +$4,410 |
| Per kg landed cost | $3.30/kg | $3.74/kg | ⬆️ +13% |
And if you are in Ethiopia: add a 30% currency devaluation on top. Your effective cost in birr just went up by 43%.
This is the reality. Used clothing importers are paying more to ship less. And in many markets, end customers cannot absorb a 13% price increase overnight.
🎯 What Importers Can Do Right Now
- 📦 Lock in freight rates early. Do not book spot. Negotiate 2-3 month contracts with your freight forwarder. Spot rates are spiking fastest.
- 📐 Adjust bale selection. With shipping costing more per kg, consider higher-grade bales where the margin per item justifies the freight cost. A Grade bales make more economic sense than B Grade when freight is expensive.
- 💱 Hedge your currency risk. If your local currency is weakening, consider paying deposits earlier rather than later. The dollar is only going to get more expensive in some markets.
- 🤝 Consolidate orders. Can you combine orders with another importer in your market? Shared container = shared freight cost. This is common in markets like Kenya and Tanzania.
- 📊 Watch the US-Iran ceasefire timeline. If the Strait of Hormuz reopens fully by September, freight rates should ease. Plan your Q4 orders accordingly — but do not count on a return to 2025 pricing.
📉 Outlook: What Happens Next?
The US-Iran ceasefire is positive for shipping costs, but the effect will not be immediate. Analysts expect:
- July-August 2026: Freight rates remain elevated. Peak season surcharges continue.
- September 2026: If Hormuz is fully reopened, rates may ease 15-20%.
- Q4 2026: Possible return to “normal” elevated levels (not 2025 levels, but better than now).
- Key variable: Iran’s nuclear negotiations. If they fail and conflict resumes, rates could spike again.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why have shipping costs from China to Africa doubled?
How much more am I paying per container now?
Will shipping costs go down after the US-Iran ceasefire?
Should I stop importing used clothing until freight rates drop?
Which African currencies are under the most pressure?
Locked freight rate
Stable currency
Spot freight rate
Weak local currency
📚 Stay Informed on Market Changes
Shipping rates, currency markets, and trade policies are changing fast. Importers who stay informed make better decisions.
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