Published June 19, 2026 · Market analysis
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
| 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.
The US-Iran ceasefire is positive for shipping costs, but the effect will not be immediate. Analysts expect:
📚 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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