This topic measures the time and cost (excluding tariffs) associated with the logistical process of exporting and importing goods. It assesses three sets of procedures –documentary compliance, border compliance and domestic transport—within the overall process of exporting or importing a shipment of goods.
The information appearing on this page was collected as part of the Doing Business subnational project in South Africa, which measures and compares regulations relevant to the life cycle of a small to medium-sized domestic business in cities and regions.
Click on the port name to see details:
Port of Cape Town | Port of Durban | Port of Ngqura | Port of Port Elizabeth
INDICATOR SNAPSHOT
| Distance to frontier score (0-100) | 62.47 |
| Time to export | |
| Documentary compliance (hours) | 96 |
| Border compliance (hours) | 118 |
| Cost to export | |
| Documentary compliance (US$) | 73 |
| Border compliance (US$) | 503 |
| Time to import | |
| Documentary compliance (hours) | 36 |
| Border compliance (hours) | 66 |
| Cost to import | |
| Documentary compliance (US$) | 73 |
| Border compliance (US$) | 676 |
PORT DETAILS
| Characteristics | Export | Import |
| Product | HS 08: Edible fruit and nuts;peel of citrus fruit or melons | HS 8708: Parts and accessories of motor vehicles |
| Trade partner | Netherlands | Germany |
| Border | Port of Cape Town | Port of Cape Town |
| Distance (km) | 1,398 | 1,398 |
| Domestic transport time (hours) | 60 | 60 |
| Domestic transport cost (USD) | 1,882 | 1,882 |
COMPONENTS OF BORDER COMPLIANCE
| Export | Time to Complete (hours) | Associated Costs (USD) |
| Clearance and inspections required by customs authorities | 4 | 141 |
| Clearance and inspections required by agencies other than customs | 30 | 52 |
| Port or border handling | 84 | 310 |
| Import | Time to Complete (hours) | Associated Costs (USD) |
| Clearance and inspections required by customs authorities | 6 | 258 |
| Clearance and inspections required by agencies other than customs | 0 | 0 |
| Port or border handling | 60 | 418 |
TRADE DOCUMENTS
| Export | Import |
| Bill of lading | Bill of lading |
| Cargo Dues Order | Cargo Dues Order |
| EUR 1 - Certificate of origin | EUR 1 - Certificate of origin |
| Commercial invoice | Commercial invoice |
| Customs Export Declaration (SAD 500) | Customs import declaration (SAD 500) |
| Export certificate | Packing list |
| Phytosanitary certificate | SOLAS certificate |
| Packing list | |
| SOLAS certificate |
INDICATOR SNAPSHOT
| Distance to frontier score (0-100) | 59.64 |
| Time to export | |
| Documentary compliance (hours) | 68 |
| Border compliance (hours) | 92 |
| Cost to export | |
| Documentary compliance (US$) | 55 |
| Border compliance (US$) | 1,257 |
| Time to import | |
| Documentary compliance (hours) | 36 |
| Border compliance (hours) | 87 |
| Cost to import | |
| Documentary compliance (US$) | 73 |
| Border compliance (US$) | 676 |
PORT DETAILS
| Characteristics | Export | Import |
| Product | HS 87: Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof | HS 8708: Parts and accessories of motor vehicles |
| Trade partner | United States | Germany |
| Border | Port of Durban | Port of Durban |
| Distance (km) | 570 | 570 |
| Domestic transport time (hours) | 16 | 16 |
| Domestic transport cost (USD) | 1,100 | 1,100 |
COMPONENTS OF BORDER COMPLIANCE
| Export | Time to Complete (hours) | Associated Costs (USD) |
| Clearance and inspections required by customs authorities | 4 | 200 |
| Clearance and inspections required by agencies other than customs | 0 | 0 |
| Port or border handling | 88 | 1,057 |
| Import | Time to Complete (hours) | Associated Costs (USD) |
| Clearance and inspections required by customs authorities | 6 | 258 |
| Clearance and inspections required by agencies other than customs | 0 | 0 |
| Port or border handling | 81 | 418 |
TRADE DOCUMENTS
| Export | Import |
| Bill of lading | Bill of lading |
| Cargo Dues Order | Cargo Dues Order |
| AGOA Certificate of origin | EUR 1 - Certificate of origin |
| Commercial invoice | Commercial invoice |
| Customs Export Declaration (SAD 500) | Customs import declaration (SAD 500) |
| Landing order | Packing list |
| Packing list | SOLAS certificate |
| SOLAS certificate |
INDICATOR SNAPSHOT
| Distance to frontier score (0-100) | 68.93 |
| Time to export | |
| Documentary compliance (hours) | 68 |
| Border compliance (hours) | 84 |
| Cost to export | |
| Documentary compliance (US$) | 55 |
| Border compliance (US$) | 451 |
| Time to import | |
| Documentary compliance (hours) | 36 |
| Border compliance (hours) | 54 |
| Cost to import | |
| Documentary compliance (US$) | 73 |
| Border compliance (US$) | 676 |
PORT DETAILS
| Characteristics | Export | Import |
| Product | HS 84: Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances;parts thereof | HS 8708: Parts and accessories of motor vehicles |
| Trade partner | United States | Germany |
| Border | Port of Ngqura | Port of Ngqura |
| Distance (km) | 1,043 | 1,043 |
| Domestic transport time (hours) | 24 | 24 |
| Domestic transport cost (USD) | 1,350 | 1,350 |
COMPONENTS OF BORDER COMPLIANCE
| Export | Time to Complete (hours) | Associated Costs (USD) |
| Clearance and inspections required by customs authorities | 4 | 200 |
| Clearance and inspections required by agencies other than customs | 0 | 0 |
| Port or border handling | 80 | 251 |
| Import | Time to Complete (hours) | Associated Costs (USD) |
| Clearance and inspections required by customs authorities | 6 | 258 |
| Clearance and inspections required by agencies other than customs | 0 | 0 |
| Port or border handling | 48 | 418 |
TRADE DOCUMENTS
| Export | Import |
| Bill of lading | Bill of lading |
| Cargo Dues Order | Cargo Dues Order |
| Certificate of origin | EUR 1 - Certificate of origin |
| Commercial invoice | Commercial invoice |
| Customs Export Declaration (SAD 500) | Customs import declaration (SAD 500) |
| Packing list | Packing list |
| SOLAS certificate | SOLAS certificate |
INDICATOR SNAPSHOT
| Distance to frontier score (0-100) | 69.25 |
| Time to export | |
| Documentary compliance (hours) | 68 |
| Border compliance (hours) | 80 |
| Cost to export | |
| Documentary compliance (US$) | 55 |
| Border compliance (US$) | 451 |
| Time to import | |
| Documentary compliance (hours) | 36 |
| Border compliance (hours) | 54 |
| Cost to import | |
| Documentary compliance (US$) | 73 |
| Border compliance (US$) | 676 |
PORT DETAILS
| Characteristics | Export | Import |
| Product | HS 84: Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances;parts thereof | HS 8708: Parts and accessories of motor vehicles |
| Trade partner | Germany | Germany |
| Border | Port of Port Elizabeth | Port of Port Elizabeth |
| Distance (km) | 1,061 | 1,061 |
| Domestic transport time (hours) | 24 | 24 |
| Domestic transport cost (USD) | 1,350 | 1,350 |
COMPONENTS OF BORDER COMPLIANCE
| Export | Time to Complete (hours) | Associated Costs (USD) |
| Clearance and inspections required by customs authorities | 4 | 200 |
| Clearance and inspections required by agencies other than customs | 0 | 0 |
| Port or border handling | 76 | 251 |
| Import | Time to Complete (hours) | Associated Costs (USD) |
| Clearance and inspections required by customs authorities | 6 | 258 |
| Clearance and inspections required by agencies other than customs | 0 | 0 |
| Port or border handling | 48 | 418 |
TRADE DOCUMENTS
| Export | Import |
| Bill of lading | Bill of lading |
| Cargo Dues Order | Cargo Dues Order |
| EUR 1 - Certificate of origin | EUR 1 - Certificate of origin |
| Commercial invoice | Commercial invoice |
| Customs Export Declaration (SAD 500) | Customs import declaration (SAD 500) |
| Packing list | Packing list |
| SOLAS certificate | SOLAS certificate |