When buyers compare African hardwood prices, they often focus on the price per cubic metre and forget the second number that matters just as much: the timber shipping cost. Freight can add a large share to the landed price, and it changes with the route, the season, the container type and, above all, the weight of the wood.
In this guide we explain how sea freight for timber is calculated, what else you pay between the African port and your warehouse, why dense species cost more to ship per cubic metre and how to plan orders to keep freight low. We ship containers from Central Africa every week at Global Timber Trade Hub.
In short
- Sea freight for timber is charged per container, not per cubic metre.
- Heavy species fill containers by weight, so their freight cost per m³ is higher.
- Surcharges, port fees, insurance and inland transport all add to the total.
- Your Incoterm, usually FOB or CIF, decides who pays which part.
- Full containers and mixed loads lower freight per m³.
- Freight rates change often; always ask for a current quote.
How sea freight is charged
Shipping lines quote a rate per container for a given route, such as Douala to Antwerp or Pointe-Noire to Shanghai. The rate is the same whether the container holds 22 m³ of azobe or 48 m³ of ayous. That is why the volume you load has such a big effect on freight cost per cubic metre.
The base ocean freight is usually supplemented by:
- bunker or fuel surcharges that move with oil prices;
- terminal handling charges at the export and import ports;
- documentation and bill of lading fees;
- security, congestion or seasonal surcharges on some routes;
- currency adjustment factors on some trades.
What else you pay between the two ports
- Cargo insurance: usually a small percentage of the invoice value.
- Import customs clearance: broker fees and any inspection charges.
- Duties and taxes: import duty, if any, and VAT or sales tax.
- Port storage and demurrage: if the container is not collected in time.
- Inland transport: trucking or rail from the port to your site.
- Unloading: forklift or crane at your warehouse.
Who pays what: FOB vs CIF
Under FOB, we deliver the timber loaded on the ship at the export port. You book and pay the sea freight, insurance and everything after. Under CIF, we arrange and pay freight and minimum insurance to your port, and you handle import clearance and onward costs. Read our guide to FOB vs CIF for timber.
Why weight drives your freight cost per m³
Containers have a maximum payload, and road rules in many countries limit what can be delivered. Dense hardwoods reach that limit long before the container is full by volume. Typical loads per 40ft container:
| Species group | Example species | Typical load (m³) |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Ayous, okoume, frake | about 45–50 |
| Medium | Sapele, sipo, iroko, mahogany | about 38–45 |
| Dense | Padouk, doussie, wenge | about 28–35 |
| Very dense | Azobe, okan, tali | about 22–28 |
If the freight per container is the same, azobe’s freight per m³ can be close to double that of ayous. Read how much timber fits in a 40ft container.
How to estimate freight per cubic metre
- Ask your forwarder or us for the all-in freight per container to your port.
- Estimate the load in m³ for your species and sizes.
- Divide the freight by the load.
- Add insurance, port and clearance costs per container, also divided by the load.
This gives you a freight and logistics cost per m³ to add to the FOB price. Compare the landed total with local supply.
Routes and transit times
Timber from Central Africa ships mainly from Douala and Kribi in Cameroon, Owendo in Gabon and Pointe-Noire in the Republic of Congo. Typical sea transit is about 3–5 weeks to Europe, 4–6 weeks to the Middle East and Asia and 5–7 weeks to the Americas, often with transshipment. Longer routes and transshipments usually cost more and add risk of delay.
20ft or 40ft?
For light and medium species, a 40ft container usually gives the lowest freight per m³. For very dense species, a 20ft container may reach its weight limit with around 17–20 m³, and some buyers prefer 20ft units for heavy timber because they are easier to handle on local roads. Long timber over about 5.8 m needs a 40ft.
Seven ways to cut your timber shipping cost
- Fill the container: order to the container’s practical limit.
- Mix heavy and light species: use both the weight and the space.
- Buy kiln-dried where possible: drier wood weighs less, so more fits.
- Plan ahead: book space before peak seasons.
- Choose the right port: a slightly longer truck run can save on ocean freight.
- Consolidate orders: fewer, fuller shipments beat many small ones.
- Collect quickly: avoid demurrage and storage charges at the port.
Insurance: worth it
Marine cargo insurance costs a small share of the shipment value and protects you against damage and loss. Under CIF, the seller buys minimum cover; many buyers top this up to all-risks cover for 110% of invoice value. Under FOB, arrange your own cover from the moment the timber is loaded.
Documents that avoid extra cost
Delays caused by missing or mismatched documents lead to storage and demurrage charges. Make sure your shipment has a correct commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate, legality documents and, for listed species, CITES permits. See our guide on phytosanitary certificates for timber and how to import timber from Africa.
A worked example
A buyer in Europe compares two orders. Order A is 45 m³ of ayous in one 40ft container. Order B is 23 m³ of azobe in one 40ft container. If the all-in freight and port costs per container are the same, Order B’s logistics cost per cubic metre is almost twice Order A’s. If the buyer needs both species, combining 15 m³ of azobe with 20 m³ of ayous in each of two containers uses both the weight and the space, and lowers the average freight per cubic metre across the whole order. Small changes in how you group species can save real money.
Breakbulk, flat racks and open tops
Most sawn timber ships in standard containers. Very long beams, oversized slabs or logs, where log export is allowed, may need open-top containers, flat racks or breakbulk shipping on general cargo vessels. These options have different pricing and handling. If your order includes pieces longer than about 11.8 m or very heavy single pieces, tell us early so we can choose the right option and price it correctly.
Local costs at your end
Import-side costs vary widely by country and port: terminal handling, customs clearance, inspections, port storage and trucking. Heavy containers may need special trucks or permits on some roads. Ask your customs broker for a breakdown before you order, and add it to your landed-cost calculation. Many first-time importers underestimate these local costs more than the ocean freight itself.
Why freight rates change
Container freight rates move with fuel prices, global demand, available ship capacity, port congestion and seasonal peaks. Rates on some routes can change several times a year. That is why freight is usually quoted separately and for a short validity period. Our shipping and delivery policy explains how we quote freight.
How we help keep freight down
When we quote, we calculate the expected load for your species and sizes, so you can see the freight per cubic metre before you order. We suggest container size, propose mixed loads where they make sense and, on request, quote CIF to your port using current rates from our forwarders. We also record weights on the packing list so your broker and trucker can plan delivery without surprises. For regular buyers, we schedule shipments to avoid peak-season surcharges where possible.
Freight for small orders
If you need less than a container, you can join a consolidated shipment, share a container with another buyer, or combine several species and products in one load. Less-than-container shipments cost more per cubic metre and involve extra handling, so for regular needs it is usually cheaper to order a full container less often. For very small, high-value items such as ebony blanks, air freight can make sense. Tell us your annual volume and we will suggest the most economical way to ship.
Our honest advice
Always compare landed cost per cubic metre, not FOB price alone. A cheaper but heavier species can end up costing more delivered than a slightly more expensive lighter one. Fill your containers, mix species smartly, insure your cargo and get local costs from your broker before you commit. Those simple habits make the biggest difference to your total timber shipping cost.
Common mistakes
- Calculating freight per m³ by volume only: dense species are weight-limited.
- Forgetting surcharges and port fees: ask for an all-in rate.
- Ignoring inland transport: it can be significant for heavy containers.
- Leaving containers at the port: demurrage adds up quickly.
- Skipping insurance: a single loss can wipe out years of savings.
Sources
Related guides
- How much timber fits in a 40ft container
- FOB vs CIF timber
- African hardwood prices per m³
- Our export process
- Timber buying FAQ
Frequently asked questions about timber shipping cost
Is timber freight charged per cubic metre?
No. Sea freight is usually charged per container, so the more you load, the lower the cost per m³.
Why does heavy timber cost more to ship?
Dense species reach the container weight limit with fewer cubic metres, so freight per m³ is higher.
Who pays freight under FOB?
The buyer pays sea freight and insurance under FOB. Under CIF, the seller pays them to the destination port.
How long does shipping from Africa take?
Typically 3–7 weeks at sea, depending on the destination and transshipment.
Get a delivered price
Send your species, volume and destination through our quote form. We will reply with the FOB price, the expected container load and, on request, a CIF price to your port.