International Shipping Services: Everything You Need to Know
Discover international shipping services for Africa, including air and sea freight, customs clearance, parcel forwarding and door-to-door delivery with Aquantuo.
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International shipping companies transport parcels, cargo and online purchases across borders, making transportation, documentation, customs clearance and final delivery as part of the process.
For individuals and businesses shipping goods to Africa, choosing the right shipping service affects the cost, speed and how smoothly a shipment arrives.
This guide explains how international shipping services work and what options exist. It also shows how to avoid the mistakes that cause delays.
What Are International Shipping Services?
International shipping services cover the full journey of goods from one country to another.
A complete service typically has:
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Pickup or receiving of your goods.
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Transport by air, sea or land.
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Export and import documentation.
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Customs clearance and payment of applicable duties.
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Delivery to the final address.
Some companies may only handle one step.
An end-to-end provider operates the entire chain, so you have one team instead of many.
Types of International Shipping Services
Air Freight
Air freight is good for quick, high value or lightweight shipments.
Goods are shipped by plane so it is generally faster and usually more expensive per kg than sea freight.
Sea Freight
Heavy, bulky or large volume shipping is a cheap option.
Shipments are carried out in containers, usually 20ft or 40ft, and companies often do so for commercial stock.
Land Transport
Land transport connects port and airport sites and helps travel between neighbouring countries and to the final destination and is important for regional trade in Africa.
Personal shopping and Parcel Forwarding
Online stores do not ship to Africa's markets.
Parcel forwarding solves this by providing you with an address in the store's country.
You buy and the store delivers to that address, then your forwarder ships the parcel to you.
Fulfilment and Warehousing
Businesses selling products online can store their inventory with a logistics partner and they can pick the order up, pack it and ship it as it comes in.
Aquantuo's International Shipping Services
Aquantuo ships from the US, UK, Dubai, China, Canada and South Korea to Africa for individuals, small businesses and large businesses.
Its services are:
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Ship For Me: Order from your favourite online stores, ship to your Aquantuo address and receive delivery at your door.
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Buy For Me: Tell Aquantuo what you want and it buys the items for you, online or in a physical store, for a small fee.
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Door To Door: Aquantuo picks up packages in the US, UK and Canada, and delivers to Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Zambia, DRC and Tanzania. It also ships packages from Ghana to the US.
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Sea and Air Freight: Options for cargo of different sizes and urgency.
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Customs Brokerage: Help with clearance and documentation.
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Fulfilment and Warehousing: Storage, pick-and-pack and on-demand order fulfilment.
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Local Delivery: Pickup and delivery within a country.
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E-Commerce and Intra Africa Trade: Solutions for cross-border selling and regional trade.
Customers who use the USA address also enjoy free sales tax on US shipping.
How to Ship Internationally: A Step-by-Step Checklist
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Choose your service. Decide whether you need personal shopping, door-to-door pickup, freight or fulfilment.
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Check prohibited items. Confirm your goods are allowed before you ship. Restricted items can be held or returned.
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Get your shipping address. For online purchases, register and use your provider's overseas address at checkout.
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Estimate your cost. Use Aquantuo's Price Estimator, and check volumetric weight, since carriers may charge on package size rather than actual weight.
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Pack securely. Use sturdy boxes and protective material suited to long journeys.
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Ship and pay. Send your goods to the warehouse or book a pickup, then pay for your shipping.
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Track your shipment. Follow progress through online tracking or the Aquantuo mobile app.
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Receive your delivery. Your goods arrive at your business or residential address.
Common Mistakes When Using International Shipping Services
- Ignoring volumetric weight. A large, light box can cost more than expected because carriers charge for the space it occupies.Measure before you ship.
- Shipping restricted goods. Every country has rules on what can enter.Always look at the prohibited items list first.
- Choosing on price alone. The cheapest quote can hide extra fees for customs, handling or delivery. Look for transparent rates and a provider that manages clearance for you.
- Skipping tracking. Without visibility, you cannot plan for arrival and spot problems early. Select a reliable provider for tracking.
- Using the wrong mode. Sending bulky, non-urgent cargo by air wastes money and sending urgent goods by sea causes unnecessary delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which countries does Aquantuo ship from?
Aquantuo ships from the US, UK, Dubai, China, Canada and South Korea to Africa.
2. Can I shop from stores that don't ship to Africa?
Yes. Use Ship For Me to get an overseas address, or use Buy For Me to let Aquantuo purchase the items for you.
3. Does Aquantuo handle customs clearance?
Yes. Aquantuo handles customs clearance and applicable taxes, so you do not manage the process yourself.
4. Can I track my shipment?
Yes. Aquantuo provides tracking details on your packages, plus a mobile app for iOS and Android.
Ship With Aquantuo Today.
Whether you need to send a single parcel, buy from an overseas store or move commercial cargo, Aquantuo’s team is ready to help you. Contact Aquantuo today through the website or the country chat option to get a quote, choose the right service, and start shipping with confidence.
