Reinforcing steel export to Africa

Metalfac has exported to African markets for many years, in close cooperation with importers and logistics partners on the ground. That cooperation is built around repeat shipments, with experience from earlier deliveries carried into the next.

For a new importer that means: we know the common requirements for documentation and packing towards African ports, even though these differ by country and by port.

Under FOB delivery, we load the shipment at the Belgian port of departure and the buyer arranges the ocean freight and further handling. Under C&F, we include the ocean freight to the destination port in the price, which simplifies planning on the buyer's side.

The choice between the two often depends on existing agreements with a local forwarder; we support both without preference.

Not every African destination port has the same unloading capacity. Bundle weight, marking and packing are matched to what's feasible on the ground, so unloading isn't delayed by overly heavy or unmanageable bundles.

For destinations with more limited infrastructure, smaller, manageable bundles are often chosen instead of maximum bundle weights.

Invoices, packing lists and the documents required by the destination country are prepared alongside the shipment. Incomplete documentation is one of the most common causes of delay at customs clearance in African ports, and this is taken into account when preparing shipments.

Specific requirements of a country — such as a pre-shipment inspection — are discussed in advance so planning can be matched accordingly.

For a quote we need diameters, grades, tonnage, the desired Incoterm (FOB or C&F) and the destination port. Based on that we prepare a price and an indicative shipping date.

For first shipments to a new destination, we take extra time to confirm the documentation requirements for that country.