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Cost of Shipping a Container to São Tomé and Príncipe

Published by Chris Townsend

Cost of Shipping a Container to São Tomé and Príncipe

How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Container To Sao Tome and Principe?

Sao Tome and Principe Container Shipping Cost

If you need to ship a container to São Tomé and Príncipe, or practically anywhere else in the world, Three Movers is the company you need. We will help you navigate the complicated processes involved in international shipments. We can take care of the documentation, transport, loading of goods, and everything you need for a successful shipping project.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Shipping to São Tomé and Príncipe

When shipping a container to another country, you’ll need to consider the following:

The volume or weight of the items to be shipped: Which of these is more important will depend on whether you ship by air or sea shipping services. Sea shipments care more about volume, while air shipments are focused on weight.

The type of transportation used: Transportation of cargo by air is faster, but the cost will be higher in comparison to shipping by sea. A third option is land freight transportation (truck or train)

Distance: Distance is an unavoidable factor. A higher distance between the two locations means more fuel costs.

The destination port: The destination port affects the cost of shipping cargo because sea ports fees can vary. The main shipping port of São Tomé and Príncipe is the Port Sao Tome.

The peak period for shipping items to São Tomé and Príncipe is between August and October. Shipping during this period affects ocean freight shipping rates and the cost of shipping generally

Which Size of Shipping Container Works Best for Me?

There are around 16 different options for cargo shipping. However, most people will choose between a 20ft or 40ft container. The contents of a three-bedroom house can fit into a 20ft shipping container. Another way to visualize this is that it can fit around 100 washing machines. For anything bigger, go with a 40ft option.

Furthermore, you’ll have to choose between two types of load modes. If you are using the full size of the container, as most customers do, you’ll go with a Full Container Load option (FCL). Alternatively, if you don’t need the full size of the container you can opt for the Less Than Container Load option (LCL). In this mode, the container size is shared by multiple customers which can help reduce the costs.

Instant Rates For Shipping Containers To Sao Tome and Principe

Average Container Shipping Rates Estimates

Full Container Load (FCL) Shipping Rates

FCL shipping is best for transporting lots of boxes, pallets and anything which will require a full container shipping to Sao Tome and Principe of up to 45,000lbs.

Full Container Load (FCL) Shipping Rates

20 ft Container$1445
40 ft Container$1660
Less Than Container (LCL) Shipping Rates

LCL shipping is more affordable way to transport less than container load shipments to Sao Tome and Principe.

Less Than Container (LCL) Shipping Rates

LCL$70/CBM
Personal Effects$745
Household Goods$845
International House Moving Costs

International house moving to Sao Tome and Principe services - quick, easy and cheap.

International House Moving Costs

Partial House (2000Lbs & Less)$500
1 Bedroom (3850 Lbs)$1613
2 Bedroom (4500 Lbs)$2415
3+ Bedroom (8750 Lbs)$3415
Container Car Shipping

International auto transport services to Sao Tome and Principe via RoRo and container ships. Ship cars, trucks, suvs, atv's, boats, RV's, heavy equipment and more.

Container Car Shipping

Sedan (Container)$1060
SUV (Container)$1130
Sedan via RORO$1785
SUV via RORO$1860

Understanding the Different Types of Freight Transportation

São Tomé and Príncipe only has access to two forms of freight transportation. You can opt to ship by sea or air. The one to select will depend on what is more important to you: time or cost.

If time is of the essence and the total price isn’t your biggest concern, opt for air freight transportation. This method is significantly faster, but around 5 times more expensive than shipping by sea.

Sea freight transportation might be slower, but it has less of a concern with weight. You can carry heavy items without much worry, but their total volume will factor into the price. One drawback of this option is the duration, as it takes significantly longer than shipping via cargo plane.

Additional Shipping Costs

There are usually additional shipping costs when shipping a container anywhere. The ones to expect are:

● Insurance: Insuring your cargo is of the essence when it comes to international shipments. Insurance is rated based on the total value of your items, not the quantity or weight.

● Custom fees: São Tomé and Príncipe has different customs categories for items. There’s a 5% import tariff for the first category (e.g., basic products), 10% for the second one (e.g., raw materials), and 20% for the third category (e.g., most foods and cosmetics).

● Inspection: You might be charged for inspection of the shipped items. This will add to the overall cost.

● General Rate Increase (GRI): This is an adjustment of freight rates across specific trade routes. If the demand for shipping on a route increases, shipping costs might also increase.

● Delivery Times: The delivery times can add to shipping costs. If a client requires express shipping, it will cost extra.

What’s Next?

Now that you know the basics of container shipping the next step is contacting Three Movers for a free quote. You can fill the web form or call us at (888) 202-0036.

Find Cargo Containers For Freight Transport & Relocation

Frequently Asked Questions

Chris Townsend is a moving professional and relocation expert that has more than 10 years of experience in the moving industry. With a background that includes working in virtually every aspect of the company, he has distinguished himself as an integral part of our operations with expertise in all things related to moving. Chris has a keen eye for detail and brings intelligence and passion to every project he’s involved with.

While getting his degree in communications from Santa Clara University, Chris started out with the company working in the field as part of our team of professional moving associates. Following graduation, he was promoted to our main office, where he has thrived in a role that involves increasing responsibility and requires him to wear many different hats. Some days, you may find him answering the phone and providing moving estimates, others he may be writing for our moving blog, and another day he may be coordinating a large corporate moving job or helping us with our marketing efforts. Chris has authored many of our in-depth moving guides, as well as provided our clients with information and advice to handle the complexities of their upcoming moving plans. Simply put, there’s nothing he can’t do and we wouldn’t be where we are today without him.

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Customer Testimonials

Stephanie Williams
Smooth Move to Sao Tome – Highly Recommended!
★★★★★

I recently used Three Movers to ship a container to Sao Tome, the capital of Sao Tome and Príncipe, and I am happy with their service. The team was professional, punctual, and handled everything with care. They made the process stress-free, from packing advice to ensuring my items arrived safely. Sao Tome is a bustling hub, and I was worried about potential delays, but Three Movers delivered on time as promised. I would recommend them to anyone moving to or from this beautiful island.

Erika Stickney
Exceptional Service for My Move to Santo Antonio!
★★★★★

Three Movers exceeded my expectations during my recent relocation to Santo Antonio, the second-most populated city in Sao Tome and Príncipe. Their customer service team was responsive, helping me navigate international shipping logistics with ease. My container arrived in perfect condition, and the entire process was seamless. Moving to Santo Antonio, known for its charming atmosphere and rich history, was made so much easier thanks to Three Movers. If you're looking for a reliable moving company, this is the one to choose!

4.8/5 average star rating

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