Port of Luanda shipping covers Angola's main gateway for containers and general cargo: the port handles about 76% of the country's volumes in those trades. Three container operators work there today (Sogester, DP World and AD Ports Group's Noatum Ports), alongside general cargo, oil and gas, and passenger terminals. Every sea shipment into Luanda needs an ARCCLA loading certificate number on the bill of lading, and goods are cleared by the AGT, Angola's tax and customs authority. We ship both ways: from Dubai to Luanda, and from Luanda to Dubai with UAE clearance on arrival.
Port of Luanda at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official name | Porto de Luanda, run by the public company Porto de Luanda E.P. |
| UN/LOCODE | AOLAD |
| Location | Luanda Bay, sheltered from the Atlantic by Luanda Island, in the capital |
| Share of national trade | About 76% of Angola's container and general cargo volumes |
| Container operators | Sogester (APM Terminals 51%), DP World Luanda, Noatum Ports Luanda Terminal (AD Ports Group) |
| Deepest container berth | 16 m alongside at the AD Ports Group terminal, for ships up to 14,000 TEU |
| Other terminals | General cargo (Multiterminais), oil and gas logistics (Sonils), passengers |
| Anchorage | Bay of Luanda, depths of 15 to 30 m |
| Pilotage | Mandatory for vessels over 500 gross tonnes, by EPIBAL |
| Customs | AGT; Documento Unico filed in ASYCUDA World |
| Key pre-shipment document | ARCCLA loading certificate, number on the B/L and manifest |
| Alternative Angolan port | Lobito, run for containers by Africa Global Logistics |
| Luanda to Dubai | Export declaration (regime EX1) lodged with the AGT by the exporter or its despachante oficial; UAE duty 5% of CIF for most goods plus 5% import VAT |
What is the Port of Luanda and who runs it?
The Port of Luanda is Angola's largest port and its main import gateway. It sits on Luanda Bay, connected to the city centre, and is owned by the state. The public company Porto de Luanda E.P. administers the port and leases the cargo and passenger terminals to private operators.
That model matters to you as a shipper. The port authority sets the rules and collects port use fees, but your container is handled, stored and released by the terminal operator your carrier calls at. Charges, free time and gate procedures differ by terminal, so always ask which terminal your vessel will use.
Luanda belongs to a group of major Angolan ports with Lobito, Namibe, Soyo and Cabinda. It is the outlet for the Luanda railway, which carries cargo from Malanje, and for the EN-100 highway.
Which terminals does the Port of Luanda have?
The port authority lists six leased terminals. The figures below are from its own operations page.
| Terminal | Operator | Quay length | Main use |
|---|---|---|---|
| General cargo | Multiterminais | 900 m | Breakbulk, steel, project cargo |
| Polyvalent | Unicargas | 536 m | Mixed cargo |
| Container | Sogester | 550 m | Containers |
| Multipurpose | DP World | 610 m (being extended) | Containers and general cargo |
| Oil and gas extraction support | Sonils | Not clearly published | Offshore oil and gas logistics |
| Passenger | IMPA | Small berth | Passenger ferries |
Since that list was published, AD Ports Group has started operating at the port with Unicargas and Multiparques as partners, so expect operator names to change. Check the terminal on your booking confirmation.
DP World Luanda multipurpose terminal
DP World started operating the multipurpose terminal in 2021. In October 2026 it received a 10-year concession extension to 2051 and announced a further US$90 million investment over two years. The plan extends the quay from 610 m to 830 m, adds 10 hectares, and raises design capacity from 500,000 to 1.2 million TEU. Throughput grew from 177,000 TEU to over 350,000 TEU over five years. The terminal has eight mobile harbour cranes, and three ship-to-shore cranes and 12 RTG cranes are planned, so it can work two post-Panamax vessels at the same time.
Sogester container terminal
Sogester is a joint venture of APM Terminals (51%) and Angola's Gestor de Fundos, and it has run its Luanda container terminal since 2007. In December 2021 it received two Liebherr MHC 800 mobile harbour cranes, which reach 23 rows of containers, against 15 or 16 at other Angolan facilities.
The AD Ports Group terminal (Noatum Ports)
AD Ports Group began operations on 30 January 2025 under a 20-year concession signed with the port authority in April 2024. The terminal covers 192,000 square metres and handles containers, general cargo and ro-ro. It is the only terminal in the port with 16 m of depth alongside and can take ships up to 14,000 TEU. Container capacity is planned to rise from 25,000 TEU to 350,000 TEU, with ro-ro volumes above 40,000 vehicles, and new container equipment is due by the third quarter of 2026.
What cargo can you ship through Luanda?
| Cargo type | Where it is handled | What to plan |
|---|---|---|
| Containers (FCL and LCL) | Sogester, DP World, Noatum Ports | Terminal on the booking, free time, clearing agent ready on arrival |
| Reefer containers | Container terminals with reefer plugs | DP World is adding plugs (630 to 700); food goes through laboratory testing |
| Breakbulk and project cargo | Multiterminais general cargo terminal, multipurpose terminals | Drawings, lifting points, lashing plan, port road access |
| Vehicles and ro-ro | Noatum Ports Luanda Terminal | Vehicle import rules confirmed with the consignee's agent |
| Dangerous goods | Container terminals, subject to carrier and terminal acceptance | IMDG documents and acceptance for every transfer port |
| Oil and gas equipment | Sonils base | Usually arranged with the oil and gas operator's logistics team |
Shipping from Dubai to Luanda: FCL, LCL and transit
Containers for Luanda usually load at Jebel Ali. Our Jebel Ali port shipping guide covers the export side. The lane is transshipped, so the carrier's hub and connection decide the transit time more than the distance.
Fluent Cargo's schedule data lists its quickest ocean option from Khor Fakkan to Luanda at 45 days 23 hours with one transfer, and a Jebel Ali to Luanda option at 57 days 1 hour with two transfers. Use the schedule on your booking, not a generic figure, when you agree a delivery date.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers we book from Jebel Ali to Luanda, the hub they transship at, which Luanda terminal they call and our real port-to-port days in 2026]
For a few pallets, LCL is cheaper per shipment, but the box is unpacked in Luanda and your release can wait on other shippers' paperwork. For urgent or high-value cargo, FCL usually clears faster. Our guide to FCL vs LCL costs explains the trade-off, and our sea freight service page shows what we book.
Breakbulk and dangerous goods at Luanda
Breakbulk, heavy-lift and project cargo
Luanda's general cargo terminal has the longest quay in the port at 900 m, and the multipurpose terminals also take non-containerised cargo. For a heavy piece, confirm the berth, the crane or ship's gear that will discharge it, and the truck route out of the port before you fix the vessel. Luanda's road network is congested, so oversized moves need permits and timing planned with the consignee. Our break bulk and project cargo team collects the drawings, weights and lifting points and agrees lashing with the carrier.
Dangerous goods
DG cargo to Luanda must follow the IMDG Code, with a correct UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group, safety data sheet and signed DG declaration. On a transshipment lane, each transfer port must accept the class too. Our dangerous goods shipping team gets acceptance for the full route before you commit to a sailing.
Customs clearance at the Port of Luanda
Customs at Luanda is run by the AGT (Administracao Geral Tributaria). The importer or an AGT-approved customs agent files the Documento Unico (DU) in ASYCUDA World, with the import licence number where the goods need one.
Which documents does Luanda customs need?
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice and packing list | Parties, goods, weights, prices and origin in full |
| Bill of lading | Shows the ARCCLA certificate number |
| ARCCLA loading certificate | Mandatory for sea freight to Angolan ports |
| Customs value declaration | Filed with the DU |
| Transport insurance certificate | Listed among the DU attachments |
| Certificate of origin | Where required, for example for animal products |
| Import licence | For goods that need one, such as food, medical devices and pharmaceuticals |
| Product certificates | Phytosanitary, veterinary or analysis certificates for controlled goods |
What is the ARCCLA certificate?
It is Angola's loading certificate (Certificado de Embarque), issued under ARCCLA, the national cargo certification agency set up by Presidential Decree 326/20. Germany's trade agency GTAI states it is mandatory for sea freight and that its number must appear on the bill of lading and the manifest. Older guides call it the CNCA certificate. Apply as soon as the booking is confirmed, because fixing a missing certificate after sailing is slow and costly.
How much is duty and VAT on imports through Luanda?
Duty is set by the Pauta Aduaneira approved by Presidential Legislative Decree 1/24, which follows the 2022 Harmonized System. The rate depends on the HS code. VAT is 14% at the general rate and 5% for basic basket goods and agricultural inputs, charged on the customs value plus duty, taxes and ancillary costs. The US Commercial Service also lists a 2% general customs fee and 1% stamp duty.
Who can clear goods at Luanda?
Only the importer itself or a customs agent approved by the AGT. The importer must be registered in the Register of Exporters and Importers for the product category. Agent fees are regulated and capped at 2% of the CIF value. GTAI reports a filing deadline of 60 days from arrival for sea freight, but storage and detention start long before that, so file early.
Is there a pre-shipment inspection or laboratory test?
Pre-shipment inspection has not been mandatory since Presidential Decree 63/13 of 2013, though traders may use one for green channel treatment or a letter of credit. Food and pharmaceutical imports are tested by laboratories at the port of entry under Decree 140/16, so add time for that.
How to ship to the Port of Luanda from Dubai: step by step
- Confirm the Angolan buyer's REI registration and import licence for the goods.
- Agree the Incoterm, including who arranges the ARCCLA certificate and who clears in Luanda.
- Send us the cargo details: goods, HS codes, weight, volume, packing and the delivery address.
- We compare carriers and terminals for Luanda and book space from Jebel Ali or another UAE port.
- The ARCCLA certificate is applied for and its number goes on the bill of lading.
- We check the invoice and packing list and arrange the certificate of origin and product certificates.
- We arrange trucking, the UAE export declaration and loading at the port.
- We send the documents and arrival notice to the consignee's clearing agent in Luanda.
- The agent files the DU, duty and VAT are paid, and the terminal releases the cargo.
How to ship from the Port of Luanda to Dubai
We also handle the other direction: shipping from Luanda to Dubai, with arrival at Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah port. We book the space with the carrier and run the UAE side. The Angolan export formalities stay with the shipper or its despachante in Angola.
The Angola export side
- Registration. The AGT taxpayer guide says traders must register in the Registo de Exportadores e Importadores (REI), valid for 5 years, which gives access to the SICOEX licensing platform.
- Export declaration. It is lodged with customs by the exporter or its representative with powers to act. Licensed despachantes oficiais act for third parties in exports, and the definitive export regime code is EX1.
- System. On 5 January 2026 the AGT launched ASY5, the new ASYCUDA generation, and the first export declaration in it was filed by a despachante oficial.
- Duty. The AGT guide says definitive exports of goods produced and certified in Angola are exempt from export duty and general customs fees, except in the oil and mining sectors. Re-exported imported goods pay export duty, so check the origin of what you ship.
- Pickup. The shipper or its trucker delivers the box to the Luanda terminal named on the booking, inside the carrier's cut-off.
The UAE import side
On arrival in Dubai, the declaration goes to Dubai Customs with the commercial invoice, the packing list, a certificate of origin and any permit for restricted goods. The carrier releases the cargo against the bill of lading. Customs duty in Dubai is 5% of the CIF value for most goods, with 50% on alcohol and 100% on cigarettes. Import VAT is 5%, and a VAT-registered importer accounts for it on its VAT return under the reverse charge.
- Send us the shipper's details in Angola, the cargo, the HS code and the UAE delivery address.
- We book space from Luanda and send the booking, terminal and cut-offs to the shipper.
- The shipper or its trucker collects the empty, loads it and delivers it to the terminal.
- The shipper or its despachante lodges the export declaration with the AGT.
- We check the draft bill of lading against the invoice and packing list.
- We file the UAE declaration before the vessel arrives.
- We arrange payment of the duty and VAT and collect the delivery order.
- We truck the box to your site and return the empty inside free time.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers and transshipment hubs we actually use from Luanda to Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah, and our real port-to-port transit days in this direction]
Checklist before you ship to Luanda
- Importer registered in the REI and licensed for the goods.
- ARCCLA certificate number on the draft bill of lading.
- HS code checked in the 2024 Pauta Aduaneira.
- Discharge terminal known from the booking.
- Laboratory test time planned for food or medicines.
- DG acceptance confirmed for every transfer port.
- Clearing agent in Luanda named and holding copies of all documents before arrival.
- Free time at the terminal known and clearance planned within it.
Common mistakes with Luanda shipments
| Mistake | What happens | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| No ARCCLA number on the B/L | Problems and extra cost at discharge | Apply with the booking |
| Assuming all Luanda terminals work the same way | Wrong charges and gate procedures | Check the terminal on the booking and its rules |
| Importer without a licence | The DU cannot be filed; storage builds up | Confirm registration and licence before shipping |
| Late documents to the clearing agent | Free time runs out before filing | Send the full set before the vessel arrives |
| Wrong origin on re-exported goods | Wrong duty and possible penalties | Declare the real country of manufacture |
Storage and box charges add up fast on a port with slow clearance. Our note on demurrage and detention shows how they build.
Luanda or Lobito: which Angolan port fits your cargo?
Lobito, in Benguela province, is Angola's second main gateway. Africa Global Logistics signed the concession for its multipurpose and container terminal on 11 December 2023, with operations from 2024 and an investment of nearly EUR 100 million. AGL lists 1,200 m of quay for the multipurpose terminal, a 14 m deep quay and storage for 12,000 TEU. AGL calls Lobito the first Atlantic gateway to the Copperbelt, as rail projects link it with the DR Congo and Zambia.
| Factor | Luanda | Lobito |
|---|---|---|
| Consignee location | Luanda, Bengo, the north and centre | Benguela, Huambo, the central plateau |
| Container operators | Three | One (AGL) |
| Inland transit | Mostly by road | Rail corridor towards the DR Congo and Zambia |
| Carrier choice | Wider | Narrower; check services from the UAE |
A decision rule: if the consignee is within trucking range of Luanda, ship to Luanda. If the cargo is going to the central or southern plateau or across the border to the Copperbelt, price Lobito as well.
Frequently asked questions
Who operates the port of Luanda?
The port is state-owned and administered by Porto de Luanda E.P., which leases its terminals. Containers are handled by Sogester, DP World and AD Ports Group's Noatum Ports Luanda Terminal.
What is the port code for Luanda?
The UN/LOCODE for the Port of Luanda is AOLAD. The main cargo airport, Quatro de Fevereiro International, uses the code LAD.
How deep are the berths at Luanda port?
The AD Ports Group terminal has 16 m of depth alongside, the only one in the port with that depth, and can take ships up to 14,000 TEU. The anchorage in the Bay of Luanda has depths of 15 to 30 m.
Do I need an ARCCLA certificate to ship to Luanda?
Yes, for sea freight. The ARCCLA loading certificate is mandatory for shipments to Angolan ports, and its number must appear on the bill of lading and the cargo manifest.
How long does shipping from Dubai to Luanda take?
The lane is transshipped. Fluent Cargo lists about 46 days from Khor Fakkan with one transfer and about 57 days from Jebel Ali with two transfers. Confirm the schedule for your own booking.
What is the VAT rate on imports into Angola?
The general rate is 14%, with 5% for basic basket goods and agricultural inputs. Import VAT is charged on the customs value plus duty, other taxes and ancillary costs.
Can I clear my own cargo at Luanda?
Only if the importer is registered and files the Documento Unico itself in ASYCUDA World. Most importers use a customs agent approved by the AGT, whose fee is capped at 2% of the CIF value.
Can you handle shipping from Luanda to Dubai?
Yes. We book the space, check the bill of lading and clear the cargo in Dubai. The shipper or its despachante oficial lodges the Angolan export declaration with the AGT. In Dubai, duty is 5% of CIF for most goods, plus 5% import VAT.
Is Lobito a good alternative to Luanda?
Yes, for consignees in Benguela and the central plateau or for cargo heading to the DR Congo and Zambia. Its container terminal is run by Africa Global Logistics, with 1,200 m of quay and a 14 m deep quay.
Get a quote for Port of Luanda shipping
Send us your cargo details, the delivery address in Angola and the Incoterm, and we will come back with a routing and a price. Use our freight rate inquiry form, or contact our team to plan a breakbulk or DG shipment. You can also read more about our Dubai freight forwarding team.
Sources
- Porto de Luanda: operations and services (terminals, pilotage, anchorage)
- AD Ports Group: operations start at Luanda
- DP World: Luanda terminal concession extended to 2051
- APM Terminals: Sogester terminal Luanda new cranes
- AGL: Lobito multipurpose and container terminal concession
- Wikipedia: Port of Luanda (administration, rail and road links)
- GTAI: Angola customs declaration and loading certificate
- Presidential Decree 326/20: statute of ARCCLA
- AGT Circular 12/2024 (Presidential Legislative Decree 1/24 tariff)
- US Commercial Service: Angola import requirements and documentation
- US Commercial Service: Angola import tariffs
- Fluent Cargo: Dubai to Luanda routes
- AGT: Taxpayer guide on entry and exit of goods, January 2025 (REI, declarant, despachantes, EX1, export duty)
- AGT: Folha Tributaria no. 89, January 2026 (ASY5 launch)
- Dubai Customs: Submit customs declaration (documents)
- UAE Government portal: Customs duty (5% of CIF, alcohol 50%, cigarettes 100%)
- Federal Tax Authority: VAT guide (5% rate, import VAT, reverse charge)
Reviewed: 10 November 2026