Shipping from Germany to Egypt — Freight Cost & Transit Times
A standard 40ft container from Hamburg to Alexandria costs approximately US$3,200 (range $2,816–$3,680) with a total sea transit of 31 days and typical door-to-door lead time of 38–42 days including port handling and customs clearance. Egypt applies 5% customs duty and 14% VAT on imported goods.
Freight & duty summary
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| 40ft container (low–high) | $2,816 – $3,680 |
| 20ft container (low–high) | $1,830 – $2,392 |
| Origin ports | Hamburg, Bremerhaven |
| Destination ports | Alexandria, Port Said, Sokhna |
| Major carriers | Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM |
| Customs duty | 5% |
| VAT | 14% |
| FTA benefit | Standard MFN rates apply |
Indicative General Cargo rates; refreshed monthly by DocMakTrade's trade desk.
Departure port comparison — Germany to Egypt
| Departure port | 40ft (USD) | 20ft (USD) | Sea transit (days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamburg | $3,200 | $2,080 | 31 |
| Bremerhaven | $3,264 | $2,122 | 31 |
Rates differ by loading port because of terminal handling and inland positioning costs in Germany.
Freight cost comparison — most requested lanes into Egypt
Indicative 40ft container freight into Egypt across the lanes importers request most often. The Germany lane is highlighted, so you can see instantly whether switching origin would materially change your ocean freight line item. Figures are the mid-point of each lane's assessed range and exclude duty, VAT and destination clearance.
- India → Egypt — $1,500 per 40ft container (indicative)
- Turkey → Egypt — $1,900 per 40ft container (indicative)
- China → Egypt — $2,200 per 40ft container (indicative)
- Vietnam → Egypt — $2,300 per 40ft container (indicative)
- South Korea → Egypt — $2,400 per 40ft container (indicative)
- Italy → Egypt — $2,900 per 40ft container (indicative)
- Netherlands → Egypt — $3,038 per 40ft container (indicative)
Documents and customs for Egypt
Documents usually required
- Commercial invoice (signed, showing HS codes and Incoterm)
- Packing list with gross/net weights and package marks
- Bill of lading (original, telex release or sea waybill)
- Certificate of origin (chamber-attested where requested)
- ACI pre-registration on the NAFEZA platform (ACID number) before shipment
Customs notes
- Duty varies 2–40%, average 5–10%. 14% VAT + potential development fee.
- Typical customs clearance at Alexandria: 3–7 working days once documents are complete.
- VAT base: CIF value plus duty; settlement currency EGP.
- Trade agreements recognised by Egypt: GAFTA, COMESA, Egypt–EU Association, Agadir.
Prepare the paperwork with the commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin makers, then check the full Egypt import guide.
Best time to ship Germany → Egypt
February–June is typically the steadiest window; August holidays and pre-Christmas peak can tighten North Europe space.
What moves on the Germany → Egypt lane
Germany is a machinery, automotive-parts, specialty-chemical and engineered-plastics origin, consolidating through Hamburg and Bremerhaven.
North Europe–Middle East services, usually with one transshipment at a Mediterranean or Jebel Ali hub.
Egypt imports feedstock, grain and industrial inputs through Alexandria, Port Said and Sokhna, with Sokhna serving the Suez industrial zone.
Commodities commonly imported from Germany
Arrival ports in Egypt
Other origins shipping to Egypt
Other destinations from Germany
Run the numbers for this lane
Frequently asked questions
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Import destinations
Popular shipping routes
Ready to run the numbers?
Run the freight estimator for Germany → Egypt.