Commercial freight for businesses & traders
If you're moving goods for resale, supplying a business, or sourcing stock, this is the trade-focused service. We ship full container loads (FCL — 20ft and 40ft) for volume, groupage/LCL when you don't fill a container, and air freight for time-sensitive or high-value commercial cargo. Typical traffic includes building materials, machinery and parts, electronics, packaged foods, textiles and general merchandise — both exported from the UK to Africa and imported from Africa to the UK.
Customs documentation — done properly
Commercial cargo lives or dies on paperwork. Depending on the corridor we prepare or coordinate:
- Nigeria: Form M (opened via a Nigerian bank before shipping), PAAR, and SONCAP/NAFDAC for regulated goods
- Ghana: ICUMS (UNIPASS) declaration with a UCR
- Francophone & Central Africa: the ECTN/BSC/BESC/FERI cargo tracking note, validated in the UK before the vessel sails
- All corridors: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading/air waybill, HS classification and certificates of origin
Getting the HS codes, valuation and certificates right at origin is what prevents holds, reclassification and penalties at the African end.
FCL containers & all-in pricing
Container shipments (FCL) and commercial volumes are quoted POA — price on application — because rate depends on route, volume and the goods. Air freight on commercial parcels follows the £5.90/kg + £20 handling structure; smaller sea consignments start from £70 per bag. Everything is quoted all-in, in GBP, so you can cost a shipment before you commit.
Why trade with Rolats
HMRC Customs Authorised and EORI registered, established 2007, with a Dagenham depot and pan-African reach across around 45 countries. We combine the freight and the customs knowledge in one accountable forwarder — so importers and exporters aren't left chasing paperwork across two continents.