Shipping to South Africa: Fast, affordable and easy with ParcelParcel

Does international shipping feel like a maze of hidden costs, customs rules and unreliable couriers? Many businesses still spend hours comparing options and navigating paperwork themselves. But it doesn’t have to be this way. ParcelParcel makes shipping to South Africa simple, cost-effective and completely transparent.

Chantal van Thiel

Chantal has been writing about logistics topics for almost two decades and has worked for major international carriers.

Whether you’re sending a small package to Johannesburg or booking container shipping to South Africa, ParcelParcel helps you find the best solution—without the hassle. With no contracts, no hidden fees and full customs support, we take the complexity out of your logistics.

Why choose ParcelParcel for shipping to South Africa?

ParcelParcel is more than just a price comparison site. We partner with top international couriers like DHL, FedEx and UPS to offer you real-time rates, all in one place. Here’s why companies choose us:

Save time & money: Instantly compare prices and delivery times
No contracts: Book shipments as needed, with no obligations
Personal support: Our team is always here to help
Full customs assistance: We guide you through paperwork and duties
Flexible options: From envelopes to full container shipping to South Africa

Tools that make a difference

Use our free Shipping Calculator to get an instant quote. For large or complex shipments, our Customs Tool ensures you submit the correct documents the first time.

Cheap shipping to South Africa

If you’re looking for cheap shipping to South Africa without sacrificing reliability, ParcelParcel has you covered. Our platform helps you:

Choose the cheapest courier for your route
Avoid hidden costs with transparent pricing
Track your shipment with real-time updates

And thanks to our high-volume shipping rates, you benefit from discounts usually reserved for large companies.

Container shipping to South Africa

Need to send larger volumes or pallets? Our pallet shipping to South Africa offers a flexible and secure solution for bulk goods. Whether you’re importing machinery or exporting retail stock, we coordinate the entire process:

Pick-up and drop-off logistics
Customs clearance
Insurance options

Simply provide your shipment details and our team will assist you with a tailored plan.

Business or personal shipping: We’re here to help

ParcelParcel supports SMEs, e-commerce stores and private individuals alike. Whether you’re sending samples to a supplier or a care package to a friend, our smart logistics engine and personal advice help you make the best choice.

Start shipping smarter today

ParcelParcel simplifies the way you ship outside the EU. Compare top couriers, save time and money, and enjoy full support every step of the way. Ready to send a parcel or container to South Africa? Try ParcelParcel today and ship with confidence.

What questions did other senders have?

The cheapest way depends on your package size and speed needs. ParcelParcel compares all couriers in real time to find the best rate—no markup, no hidden fees.

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Shipping to South Africa typically takes 3–7 business days with express services. Economy and freight options may take longer. You can always check delivery times in our calculator.

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No, but we offer pallet shipping to South Africa for machinery, tools and more. Our team helps with pick-up, customs and insurance.

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Customs requirements vary, but typically include a commercial invoice and packing list. Our Customs Tool (inside my.parcelparcel web-app) ensures you include everything correctly.

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Absolutely. We offer optional insurance for added peace of mind, whether you’re sending a single box or an entire pallet.

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You can instantly check the shipping costs through our rate calculator. Enter the weight, dimensions, and destination country of your shipment, and you will see all available shipping options along with their respective delivery times. The calculator can be used to compare shipping rates for both export and import shipments.

If you need help calculating a shipping rate, watch the video below. Click on the button to play the video and the Play video fullscreen icon to view the video in fullscreen.

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Shipping costs are calculated based on dimensions (LxWxH in cm), weight (in kg), and the destination country. Both the actual weight (as shown on the scale) and the volumetric weight are considered.

The volumetric weight is the weight calculated based on the space your shipment occupies in the plane. The higher of the two weights (volumetric or actual weight) is used to calculate the shipping rate. You don't need to calculate this yourself; our calculator does it for you.

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You can use the discount code PP10 for 10% discount on the transportation costs of your first shipment. You can apply the discount code during the checkout process (instructions).

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Whether additional costs apply depends on whether your shipment stays within the European Union or is sent to/from a country outside the European Union. Below, you can see the additional costs for each situation.

Within the European Union
If, for example, you send a shipment from the Netherlands to Italy (within the EU), there will be an additional 21% VAT on the shipping costs.

Furthermore, if your shipment stays within the European Union, you won't have to deal with any import duties or customs clearance fees because your shipment doesn't go through customs. Please note that the European Union is not the same as Europe.

View here all the countries that are part of the European Union. For example, Switzerland is part of Europe but not part of the European Union.

Outside the European Union
If, for example, you send a shipment from the Netherlands to the United States, there will be no VAT (0%) applied to the displayed shipping rates.

However, there might be import duties levied by customs in the destination country if you send a shipment to/from a country outside the European Union. Typically, customs costs are charged to the recipient. This is known as Delivered At Place (DAP) in logistics terminology.

Customs is a government agency that levies import duties in certain cases to protect the local market. As a company, you can also ship using Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), which means any customs costs will be charged to you as the sender.

If you have any questions about this topic, feel free to contact us. Additionally, you can read everything about import duties, VAT, and the customs clearance process in this blog.

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A customs invoice is a form where all the goods you want to ship are specified. This invoice includes an English description of the goods, along with their corresponding value and weight.

The contents of your shipment must be specified per type of product you're sending to avoid delays at customs. A customs invoice is always prepared in quadruplicate in accordance with customs guidelines.

When is a customs invoice required?
A customs invoice is only required for shipments to/from countries outside the European Union (e.g., Netherlands - United States). If your shipment stays within the European Union (e.g., Netherlands - Italy), your shipment will not go through customs, and therefore, a customs invoice is not required.

Additionally, document shipments are not subject to customs, so if you're sending a document to a country within/outside the European Union, no customs invoice is needed.

Please note that not all goods can be shipped to every country. You can find a list of goods that cannot be sent via ParcelParcel on this page.

Do I need to create a customs invoice myself?
If you're sending a shipment to/from a country outside the European Union, it's mandatory to include a customs invoice with the shipment. We provide free support in creating a customs invoice.

You can easily generate a customs invoice through our shipping platform. The customs invoice will be automatically generated based on the content you specified during your booking.

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You can import just as easily as export via ParcelParcel.

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You can find a list of goods that cannot be shipped via ParcelParcel on this page.

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Yes, we act as a logistics intermediary, enabling us to obtain high discounted rates from the carriers. We pass these savings on to you, allowing you to ship worldwide at a cost-effective price.

In short, you benefit from our shipping rates. In nearly all cases, you will save much more by using ParcelParcel for shipping than going directly through the carrier.

For example, let's say you want to send a shipment to the United States and contact the carriers (e.g., FedEx, DHL, or TNT) directly for shipping rates. Based on the volume of your shipments, you may receive a certain discount on the shipping rate (volume discount). If you are sending only one shipment, the discount rate would be limited.

As ParcelParcel, we are a major customer of the carriers, sending thousands of shipments as an intermediary. By choosing ParcelParcel, you can save up to 70% on your shipping costs as you benefit from our discounted rates. Quite straightforward, isn't it?

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You can insure your package for 1.0% of the total value with minimum administrative costs of €19.50.

For example, if the contents of your shipment are valued at €700, the insurance administrative costs would be €19.50. So, 1% of €700 is €7, but the minimum administrative costs for insurance are €19.50.

Therefore, we charge €19.50 administrative costs for insurance. You can use our rate calculator to indicate if you want to opt for insurance.

You insure your shipment against damage, theft, and loss. We also recommend reading this article about the 5 essential points to consider when choosing insurance.

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If you submit the package before 13:30, it can often be picked up on the same working day. If it's after 13:30, you can always call to inquire if a pickup is still possible today. Unfortunately, your shipment cannot be picked up during the weekend.

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You can pay with all popular payment methods such as iDeal, PayPal, Bancontact, credit card, Apple Pay, KBC/CBC Payment Button, Belfius Direct, and SOFORT Banking through

iDeal Creditcard Apple Pay Bancontact Belfius KBC PayPal

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Yes, this is possible and is called third country shipments. A third country shipment is an international shipment where the package originates from a country that is not the country of dispatch or receipt. In other words, shipments from and to all countries in the world. This is also known as third-country transport. You can send shipments that go beyond the Netherlands. For example:

A domestic shipment in the United States
A package from France to Switzerland
A shipment from Germany to China

Do you want to send a gift to family or friends? Distribute products worldwide? Import, export; in other words, engage in trade between non-adjacent countries? You can easily and quickly arrange this with ParcelParcel. Register today for a free MyParcelParcel account or calculate shipping costs via our rate calculator.

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Use a suitable box
To send your package safely, it's important to choose a box that fits the dimensions of your package's contents. Keep in mind that smaller packaging can be relatively cheaper.

Take pictures of the inside and outside packaging (insured shipments)
To be able to prove that your package is properly packed in case of damage or loss, we recommend taking pictures during the packing process. Take pictures of at least the inside and outside packaging, showing the product you want to send. This tip only applies if you choose to insure your package.

Fill all empty spaces
Fill the package with, for example, bubble wrap, packing paper, or old newspapers. Make sure the contents of the package cannot shift during transport. This prevents damage to your package.

Seal the package properly
Seal the package with strong tape. We recommend using packaging tape, but duct tape can also be used. Make sure the box is properly sealed so it cannot open during transport.

Label the package correctly
Make sure the delivery address is clearly visible and complete. Preferably, put a label with the delivery address on different sides of the package. This ensures the address is always visible, even if the package is placed upside down during transport.

Remove old labels or stickers
If you are reusing a box, make sure to remove any old labels or stickers. This prevents confusion about the destination of your package.

Choose the right shipping method
Choose a shipping method that matches the fragility of your package's contents. For example, choose extra secure packaging if you're sending fragile items.

Choose additional insurance if needed
If the contents of your package are valuable, you can choose additional insurance for extra peace of mind. Keep in mind that insured shipments require photos of the inside and outside packaging as proof of proper packing.

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