Port of Douala shipping covers most of Cameroon's sea trade and much of the cargo for Chad and the Central African Republic. The port sits on the Wouri river estuary, about 50 km up a dredged channel, and is run by the Port Autonome de Douala (PAD). This guide covers the terminals, the depth limits that shape which ships can call, the BESC and customs rules, Kribi as the deep-sea alternative, and how to ship to Douala from Dubai. We ship both from Dubai to Douala and from Douala to Dubai.
Port of Douala at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official name | Port de Douala-Bonaberi |
| Port authority | Port Autonome de Douala (PAD) |
| UN/LOCODE | CMDLA |
| Location | Banks of the Wouri river, in the city of Douala |
| Access channel | 50 km long; the inner 25 km is dredged all the time |
| Channel depth | Kept at -7.00 m chart datum, for drafts of about 9.00 m on a favourable tide |
| Berths | 17 berths, 3,100 m of quay in total |
| Port area | About 1,000 ha, of which about 600 ha developed |
| Container terminal | 3 berths (14 to 16, with 17 coming), 660 m of quay, 25,000 TEU yard capacity, open 24/7 |
| Total traffic 2024 | 12,920,299 tonnes |
| Full containers 2024 | 277,439 full TEU (262,111 boxes) |
| Rail link | 20 km of port track joined to the Transcameroon railway to Ngaoundere |
| Customs | Cameroon Customs, declarations in CAMCIS through the GUCE single window |
| Cargo tracking note | BESC from the CNCC, needed for cargo into the port |
| Douala to Dubai | Shipper or its agent handles export formalities through the GUCE; UAE duty 5% of CIF for most goods plus 5% import VAT |
Where is the Port of Douala and what limits ship size?
Douala is a river port. Ships enter from the Gulf of Guinea and sail about 50 km up the Wouri channel to the quays. The PAD dredges the inner 25 km of the channel without a break, and keeps it at -7.00 m chart datum. That allows ships with a draft of about 9.00 m when the tide is right. Channel data is passed to ships regularly.
This draft limit is the most useful fact for a shipper. The largest container ships draw more water than Douala allows, so they call at deeper ports and Douala cargo arrives on smaller vessels. The quickest UAE to Douala routing in Fluent Cargo's schedule data has two transfers. Our sister guide to Khalifa Port shipping and the Jebel Ali port guide show the UAE end of these routings.
The port is also the start of the main land corridors. Its 20 km of rail track joins the Transcameroon railway to Ngaoundere in the north, with road links on to Chad and the Central African Republic. The port authority says two thirds of the trade of the inland countries passes through Douala.
Which terminals does the Port of Douala have?
The PAD organises the port into specialised terminals. The table lists the ones that matter for cargo from the UAE, using the figures the port authority publishes.
| Terminal | What it handles | Key figures |
|---|---|---|
| Container terminal | Containers and imported vehicles, stuffing and stripping, transshipment | Berths 14 to 16, 660 m quay plus 250 m under construction, 25 ha yard, run by PAD through RTC SA |
| General cargo terminal | Conventional cargo, heavy packages, pallets, bags, multi-traffic | Berths 3 to 11, covered warehouses and open storage |
| Timber terminal | Logs and sawn timber for export | Run by TBPD, an AGL subsidiary, on a 15-year concession signed in 2022; 210 m multipurpose quay since March 2023 |
| Mixed fruit terminal | Fruit and conventional cargo | Berth 12, 220 m quay, renovated and reopened on 17 May 2022 |
| Mineral terminal | Alumina imports and aluminium exports | Rail and road dispatch |
| Oil terminal | Petroleum products | Mooring dolphin about 200 m off the left bank |
| Mixed bulk terminal | Dry bulk and general cargo | Under construction since 2025 at Bonaberi: 900 m of quays, 36 ha, 60,000 t of silos |
Container terminal equipment
The container terminal has three ship-to-shore gantry cranes. Two IHI cranes lift 40 tonnes, and a ZPMC crane bought in 2017 lifts 60 tonnes under hook and 45 under spreader. Two Konecranes Gottwald mobile harbour cranes add 121 tonnes under hook each, with a 51 m reach and up to 25 moves an hour in twin-lift. Twelve rubber-tyred gantries stack boxes up to five high in the yard.
Storage and services in the port
- 13 common-use bonded warehouses, being modernised.
- Two long-stay storage zones.
- A dedicated park for dangerous goods.
- Weighbridges for trucks and trains.
- 20,000 m2 of truck parking.
- Reception capacity of 7.5 million tonnes and storage capacity of 12 million tonnes.
What cargo moves through Douala?
The port handles containers, general cargo, solid and liquid bulk, farm exports, fish and industrial cargo. PAD statistics for long-haul traffic in 2024 break down like this.
| Traffic type (2024) | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Containerised goods | 4,655,422 | 36% |
| Solid bulk | 3,806,179 | 30% |
| General cargo | 2,355,255 | 18% |
| Liquid bulk | 2,056,336 | 16% |
| Total long-haul | 12,873,192 | 100% |
Imports outweigh exports. In 2024, 10.56 million tonnes were unloaded and 2.36 million tonnes loaded. Full import containers came to 179,906 TEU, against 97,533 TEU of full exports. So many containers that arrive full leave Douala empty.
FCL and LCL shipping to the container terminal at Douala
Most cargo from Dubai arrives as FCL, in 20ft, 40ft or 40ft high cube boxes. LCL works too, but Cameroon has a specific rule. Since 1 December 2024, the national shippers' council (CNCC) no longer issues one group BESC for a consolidated container. Each consignee in the box needs its own house bill of lading and its own BESC.
Plan your clearance around the time at the terminal. A slow clearance in Douala turns into storage and container detention charges, and LCL release depends on every shipment in the box being cleared. Our sea freight service page explains how we book FCL and LCL from the UAE.
Breakbulk, vehicles and dangerous goods at Douala
Breakbulk and project cargo
Heavy and oversized pieces go over the general cargo berths or the container terminal. The two 121-tonne mobile harbour cranes give the port its own lifting capacity for heavy units. Anything heavier needs ship's gear or a floating crane, so the vessel choice comes first. The draft limit applies here too: heavy-lift ships must fit the channel.
For cargo that is too wide or tall for a closed box, read our guide to flat rack, open top and breakbulk cargo. Our break bulk and project cargo service covers the drawings, lashing plan and UAE road move to the quay.
Vehicles
The container terminal at Douala is set up for imported vehicles as well as containers, and the port has ro-ro facilities. Vehicles are on Cameroon's excise list, so duty, excise and VAT all apply at clearance.
Dangerous goods
Douala has a dedicated dangerous goods park inside the port. DG cargo must be packed, marked and declared under the IMDG Code. You need the UN number, proper shipping name, class and packing group, a safety data sheet and a signed DG declaration. The feeder carrier and the transshipment hub must both accept the class. Our guide to dangerous goods classes explains the nine classes, and our dangerous goods shipping team checks acceptance before you book.
Customs clearance at the Port of Douala: documents, duty and VAT
Cameroon Customs clears goods in CAMCIS, its customs information system. The GUCE single window links customs, banks, the Treasury, the port authority and the inspection company. The US Commercial Service notes that the single window started at the port of Douala.
What is the BESC and when do you need it?
The BESC (Bordereau Electronique de Suivi des Cargaisons) is Cameroon's electronic cargo tracking note, also called the ECTN. The CNCC issues it. The importer applies on the CNCC platform, or uses a CNCC-approved intermediary. The CNCC says a BESC submitted at least two days before the vessel arrives is validated, and validation can take up to 24 hours. A late BESC is validated only after the penalty is paid. Since a CNCC notice of 15 June 2026, goods in transit to neighbouring countries no longer need a BESC.
Which documents does Cameroon Customs need?
| Document | When it applies |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | Every shipment |
| BESC | Every import by sea, validated before arrival |
| Import declaration (DI) on GUCE | FOB value of XAF 1,000,000 or more |
| Valuation and classification report (RVC) | FOB value of XAF 2,000,000 or more |
| Certificate of origin | To show the origin used for the duty rate |
| Permits or technical authorisations | Regulated goods, such as food, medicines and some equipment |
| IMEI list | Phones and tablets, checked on mpie.camcis.cm |
How much is customs duty and VAT?
Cameroon applies the Central African common external tariff. The US Commercial Service lists bands of 0%, 5%, 10%, 20% and 30%, from aviation and cultural goods up to fast-moving consumer goods. A harmonised CEEAC-CEMAC tariff was scheduled to apply from 1 January 2026, and its rollout is still under way, so confirm the rate for your goods code in the customs payment simulator (SIMPA) or with the clearing agent.
VAT is 19.25%, which is 17.5% plus 10% municipal additional centimes, collected at clearance. Excise applies on top for goods such as drinks, tobacco, cosmetics and vehicles. Phones and tablets are taxed on customs reference values for eight categories, with a single rate of 33.33%.
Who clears the cargo?
The consignee's licensed clearing agent in Douala lodges the declaration in CAMCIS, quoting the DI number, and pays duty and VAT through the bank linked to the single window. We do not clear goods in Cameroon. We send the documents and BESC data to the consignee's agent, or to a clearing agent they choose, before the ship arrives.
Port of Douala or Kribi: which suits your cargo?
Kribi is Cameroon's deep-water port, on the coast south of Douala. Its Phase II container quay opened on 9 May 2025, with 715 m of quay, 16 m of depth and a 51 ha yard. The port authority says the MSC Turkiye, a 400 m ship of nearly 24,000 TEU, berthed there. Kribi Conteneurs Terminal is owned by a group that includes Cameroonian shareholders, AGL, CMA CGM and CHEC.
| Point | Douala | Kribi |
|---|---|---|
| Depth | Channel at -7 m, drafts of about 9 m on a good tide | 16 m at the container quay |
| Container quay | 660 m, 3 berths | 715 m Phase II quay |
| Traffic | 12.9 million tonnes (2024) | About 16 million tonnes, 559 calls (2025) |
| Container profile | 277,439 full TEU (2024), mostly imports | 348,289 TEU transshipped, 110,593 TEU full imports (2025) |
| Hinterland | Rail and road to the north, Chad and CAR; most clearing agents | Closer to the south and the Yaounde area |
A simple rule: if your consignee is in Douala, the west or the north, or the cargo goes on to Chad or CAR, ship to Douala. If the consignee is in the south or the carrier's main service ends at Kribi, compare a Kribi discharge with the feeder or road cost to Douala. Since 2023, larger ships can discharge at Kribi with cargo moved on to Douala by feeder, according to the US Commercial Service.
How to ship from Dubai to the Port of Douala: step by step
- Agree the Incoterm with your buyer, so both sides know who books freight, who gets the BESC and who clears in Douala.
- Check the goods code, duty band and any permit with the consignee's clearing agent.
- The importer files the DI on GUCE if the FOB value is XAF 1,000,000 or more.
- Send us the cargo details: goods, HS codes, weight, volume and packing.
- We book space from Jebel Ali or the nearest UAE port on a service with Douala as the final discharge port.
- We prepare the invoice check, packing list, certificate of origin and bill of lading data, and send the freight details for the BESC.
- We arrange trucking to the UAE port and the export declaration, then load and seal the container.
- The BESC is validated at least two days before arrival, and the clearing agent gets the documents in advance.
- The agent files in CAMCIS, duty and VAT are paid, and the container is released from the terminal.
Fluent Cargo's schedule data lists the quickest sea option from the UAE to Douala at about 36 days 18 hours from Khor Fakkan, with two transfers.
[AMIR-FACT: our typical port-to-port days from Jebel Ali to Douala and the transshipment hubs our carriers use on this lane]
How to ship from the Port of Douala to Dubai
We also handle the other direction: shipping from Douala 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 Cameroon export side stays with the shipper or its Cameroon agent, because we have no office in Cameroon.
The Cameroon export side
- Registration. Exporters register with the Ministry of Trade and need a taxpayer card, according to the US Commercial Service.
- Single window. Export formalities run through the GUCE, which links banks, customs, the Treasury, SGS, the port authority and regulators.
- Cocoa, timber and medicinal plants. Exporters of these goods submit a declaration through SGS.
- Certificates. Container exports need a stuffing certificate, and some shipments need sanitary or phytosanitary certificates.
- Cargo tracking note. The US Commercial Service says cargo leaving Cameroonian ports must also be covered by a validated cargo tracking note, so the shipper's agent confirms this with the CNCC.
The UAE import side
The import declaration goes to Dubai Customs. A company with a Dubai Customs business code can file it, or a licensed clearing agent with the owner's authorisation. Dubai Customs asks for the commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and any permit from the authority that controls restricted goods, and the carrier's agent needs the bill of lading before it issues the delivery order. 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% of the customs value, and a VAT-registered importer accounts for it on its VAT return through the reverse charge.
- Send us the shipper's details in Cameroon, the cargo, the HS code, the Incoterm and the UAE delivery address.
- We book space from Douala to Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah and send the booking and cut-offs to the shipper.
- The shipper or its trucker collects the empty, stuffs it and delivers the box to the Douala container terminal before the cut-off.
- The shipper or its Cameroon agent completes the export formalities through the GUCE, with the stuffing certificate and any SGS or phytosanitary papers.
- We check the draft bill of lading against the invoice and packing list before the carrier issues it.
- We file the UAE import declaration before the ship arrives.
- We arrange payment of the duty and VAT.
- We collect the delivery order from the carrier's agent in the UAE.
- We truck the cargo to your site and return the empty container inside free time.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers we actually use from Douala to Jebel Ali/Khalifa/Sharjah and our real transit days in this direction]
Checklist before you ship to Douala
- Final discharge port on the booking is Douala, not Kribi, unless you chose Kribi.
- BESC applicant agreed and given the bill of lading data on sailing.
- One house bill of lading and one BESC per consignee for LCL.
- DI filed on GUCE and inspection planned where the value thresholds apply.
- Duty rate checked for the goods code after the 2026 tariff changes.
- DG acceptance confirmed by the feeder carrier and the hub.
- Heavy-lift ship checked against the Douala channel draft.
- IMEI list ready for phones and tablets.
- Free time at the terminal known, with clearance planned before it ends.
Common mistakes at the Port of Douala
| Mistake | What happens | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| BESC applied for late | Cargo held until the penalty is paid | Submit at least two days before arrival |
| One BESC for an LCL box | Not accepted since 1 December 2024 | Separate BESC per consignee |
| Booking a ship too deep for Douala | Cargo discharged elsewhere and fed in later | Check the final discharge port and vessel |
| No DI before shipment | Clearance cannot start | File on GUCE before the cargo sails |
| Shipping banned frozen poultry | Seizure by customs | Check Cameroon's import bans first |
| Slow document handover | Storage and detention charges | Send documents to the clearing agent before arrival |
Frequently asked questions
Who runs the port at Douala?
The Port Autonome de Douala (PAD) manages the port. Its container terminal is run by the PAD through its subsidiary RTC SA, and the timber terminal is run by TBPD, an AGL subsidiary, on a 15-year concession.
What is the port code for Douala?
The UN/LOCODE for the Port of Douala is CMDLA. Kribi is CMKBI.
How deep is the channel to the port of Douala?
The access channel is dredged to -7.00 m chart datum, which allows ships with a draft of about 9.00 m on a favourable tide. Deeper ships call at Kribi or a hub port instead.
How much cargo does Douala handle?
PAD statistics show 12,920,299 tonnes of total traffic in 2024, with 277,439 full TEU of containers. Containerised goods made up 36% of long-haul tonnage.
Do I need a BESC to ship to Douala?
Yes, for imports by sea. The CNCC validates a BESC submitted at least two days before the vessel arrives. Late BESCs are validated only after a penalty is paid. Transit goods no longer need one since June 2026.
What is the VAT rate on imports through Douala?
VAT in Cameroon is 19.25%, which is 17.5% plus 10% municipal additional centimes. It is collected at customs clearance, on top of customs duty.
Is Kribi better than Douala?
Kribi has 16 m of water and takes much larger ships. Douala has more clearing agents and the rail and road links to the north, Chad and the Central African Republic. Pick by where the consignee is.
Can Douala handle dangerous goods?
Yes. The port has a dedicated park for dangerous goods. Cargo must follow the IMDG Code, and every carrier and hub on the route must accept the DG class.
Can you ship from Douala to Dubai?
Yes. We book space from Douala to Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah, the shipper or its Cameroon agent handles the export formalities through the GUCE, and we clear the cargo through UAE customs and deliver it. Most goods pay 5% customs duty on the CIF value plus 5% import VAT.
Get a quote for Port of Douala shipping
Send us your cargo details and the consignee's address, and we will come back with a routing to Douala or Kribi and a price. Use our freight rate inquiry form, or contact our team about heavy-lift, DG or LCL cargo. You can also read more about our Dubai freight forwarding team.
Sources
- Port Autonome de Douala: infrastructure overview
- Port Autonome de Douala: specialised terminals and equipment
- Port Autonome de Douala: channel maintenance and depth
- Port Autonome de Douala: statistics 2020-2024
- Port Autonome de Douala: port overview and hinterland
- Port Autonome de Kribi: key figures 2025
- Port Autonome de Kribi: Phase II in operation (9 May 2025)
- AGL: Kribi Conteneurs Terminal Phase II
- CNCC: BESC
- CNCC: end of the group BESC from 1 December 2024
- Cameroon Tribune: BESC for transit goods no longer required (June 2026)
- US International Trade Administration: Cameroon customs regulations
- US International Trade Administration: Cameroon import tariffs
- US International Trade Administration: Cameroon ports and distribution
- Direction Generale des Impots: VAT and excise leaflet
- Deloitte: Cameroon finance law 2026
- Cameroon Customs: phone categories and duties
- Cameroon Customs: ban on frozen poultry imports
- Cogoport: Douala (CMDLA) port information
- Fluent Cargo: Dubai to Douala schedules
- Dubai Customs: Submit customs declaration (invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, permits)
- Dubai Customs: FAQ (customs business code, clearing agents with owner authorisation)
- UAE Government portal: Customs duty (5% of CIF, alcohol 50%, cigarettes 100%)
- Federal Tax Authority: VAT guide (5% import VAT on the customs value, reverse charge)
Reviewed: 10 November 2026