The barrels-and-boxes way to ship home
Barrels and boxes are the traditional, trusted way to send belongings to Africa: durable, stackable and easy to consolidate at our Dagenham depot. Whether it's a single barrel of provisions and clothes or a stack of boxes for the family, sea freight from £70 per bag keeps bulk affordable. We handle the consolidation and the paperwork so you just pack and hand over.
What goes in a barrel?
Clothing and shoes, bedding and linen, kitchenware, dried and packaged food, toiletries, small appliances and the everyday household items families send home. Pack densely and securely. We'll advise on weight and flag anything restricted in your destination country before you seal the barrel.
Sea from £70 a bag, or air for speed
Sea freight from £70 per bag is the economical choice for barrels and boxes where timing is flexible — typically a few weeks in transit. When you need items there quickly, air at £5.90/kg plus £20 handling reaches most African capitals in days. Many families combine the two under one all-in GBP quote.
Customs and clearance
Used personal effects in barrels usually clear straightforwardly, though customs may inspect and some countries apply duty thresholds. As an HMRC Customs Authorised, EORI-registered forwarder we prepare the UK-side inventory so your barrels aren't held or charged as new commercial goods.
Door-to-door from Dagenham
We collect from any UK address into our Dagenham depot, ship, clear customs and deliver to the recipient's door across around 45 African countries. Pan-African specialists since 2007, all-in GBP, no surprise charges at the African end. Popular corridors include Nigeria, Ghana and Zimbabwe.