Sending a parcel to Mozambique: Customs, VAT and delivery time
From Germany to Maputo, Beira or Nampula: Prepare business shipments safely
Mozambique lies on the southeastern coast of Africa and has direct access to the Indian Ocean. For German companies, the country is particularly attractive for machinery, spare parts, energy, construction and mining technology, as well as industrial equipment.
- Shipping from Germany to Mozambique
- Parcel, express and freight solutions
- Shipping to Maputo, Beira and Nampula
- Prepare customs and goods data digitally
- 16% VAT included
- Check customs duty rate according to HS code
- Clarify conformity requirements before shipping
- Calculate import costs transparently
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In Mozambique, customs clearance begins even before shipment.
For a smooth import process, the goods description, customs tariff number, value of goods and origin should be determined before collection.
For regulated products, it must also be checked whether a conformity assessment or pre-shipment inspection is required.
Calculate 16% VAT
The standard VAT rate in Mozambique is 16 percent and is generally also levied on imported goods.
Check customs duty rate individually
Import duties range from 0 to 25 percent, depending on the goods. Therefore, a flat-rate calculation is not very practical for genuine business shipments.
Check for conformity before collection
Certain regulated goods require a Certificate of Conformity before export to Mozambique. This inspection should not begin only after the shipment is already en route.
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Important information about customs and import duties
DAP or DDP to Mozambique: Determine import costs in advance
When making a business shipment to Mozambique, it should be clarified before booking who will handle the import clearance and the associated costs.
For DAP The seller organizes the transport to the agreed destination.
Import clearance and the agreed import costs are generally the responsibility of the recipient.
This can include:
- Import duty
- 16% VAT
- Possibly excise or special taxes
- Compliance and inspection costs
- Customs broker fees
- Carrier handling fees
For DDP In contrast, the seller assumes the agreed import costs and further obligations, provided that the carrier used and the specific import situation allow this.
DDP should not be calculated solely based on the transport price for Mozambique.
Before making an offer, at least the following should be checked:
- HS code
- Customs value
- regular customs duty
- possible preference
- 16% VAT
- Origin
- Conformity requirements
- permits
- Carrier and customs agent costs
Especially with larger B2B deliveries, it makes sense to calculate the total costs up to the recipient in advance.
You can find out more at guaranteed Landed Costs in international trade.
What is the import duty in Mozambique?
The import duty depends on the type of goods.
Current trade information indicates customs tariffs for Mozambique between:
0 and 25 percent.
Consumer goods are often labelled with approximately:
20 percent
burdened.
However, this does not mean that this sentence automatically applies to a specific machine, spare part or electronic device.
The decisive factors are:
- Customs tariff number
- Type of goods
- cart value
- Country of origin
- possible preferential arrangements
The trade-weighted average tariff rate is significantly lower than the maximum rate.
However, for a true cost calculation, one should never work with a national average.
The EU-SADC agreement can enable customs benefits.
Mozambique is one of the states of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Southern African Development Community, or in short:
EU-SADC EPA.
Mozambique has been applying this agreement since 2018.
The agreement provides for a gradual opening of the market for certain goods with corresponding preferential origin.
For German exporters, this means:
Depending on the goods and their origin, a lower preferential tariff may apply.
But here too, the following applies:
Shipments from Germany do not automatically imply EU preferential origin.
A product manufactured in China does not become an EU-origin product simply because it has been stored in a German warehouse for a few months. Customs law would otherwise be alarmingly simple.
Therefore, before claiming a preference, the rules of origin and the required proof should be checked.
What is the value added tax rate in Mozambique?
Value added tax (VAT) is known in Mozambique as:
Imposto sobre o Valor Acrescentado, IVA for short
or internationally known as VAT.
The current standard tax rate is:
16%.
The tax generally also applies to imported goods.
In addition, reduced tax rates or tax exemptions exist for certain goods and transactions.
In addition to VAT, the following may also apply to a normal commercial import:
- Import duty
- Excise taxes, if applicable
- Compliance costs
- Customs broker fees
- Carrier handling fees
Therefore, customs duties and VAT should always be considered separately.
A possible customs preference due to the EU-SADC agreement does not automatically mean that the 16 percent VAT is also waived.
Regular VAT: 16%
TradeNet, import license and CoC: Mozambique's imports have their own requirements
Mozambique has the following:
Janela Única Electrónica, JUE for short
via an electronic single-window system for foreign trade.
An important part of this is:
TradeNet system by MCNet.
Among other things, the following can be edited:
- electronic customs declarations
- Cargo manifests
- Payments
- Lizenzen und Genehmigungen
- Arrival notifications
- Shipment and freight information
For commercial imports, the importer must also be registered as a foreign trade operator.
Therefore, for B2B deliveries, it should be clarified before collection whether the recipient meets the requirements for proper importation.
Certificate of Conformity for regulated products
Since 2025, Mozambique has had extended compliance requirements.
Certain regulated goods must be inspected in the exporting country.
For such goods, a:
Certificate of Conformity, or CoC for short
are required for operation.
The document confirms that the goods meet the technical or recognized international standards applicable in Mozambique.
Depending on the current product list, various products may be affected, for example:
- Electrical products
- Technical Devices
- Consumer Goods
- Construction materials
- other regulated product groups
Therefore, it should be checked before shipping whether the specific goods fall under the program.
A subsequent inspection after the goods are already in Maputo falls more into the category of "unnecessarily expensive hobby".
Sending a package to Mozambique: What companies should know beforehand
Mozambique stretches for more than 2.000 kilometers along the coast of the Indian Ocean.
As a result, transport routes and transit times within the country sometimes differ considerably.
The most important economic and logistics locations include:
- Maputo
- groggy
- Beira
- Nampula
- nacala
- Pemba
- Tete
For smaller shipments of goods, international parcel and express services are available.
For machinery, pallets and larger quantities of goods, however, air and sea freight play an important role.
What documents do I need for Mozambique?
For a commercial delivery, the following information and/or documents should typically be prepared:
- Commercial invoice
- precise product description
- cart value
- Customs tariff number
- Country of origin
- Quantity and weight
- Transport document
- packing list (if applicable)
- Proof of origin, if applicable
- Import permit (if applicable)
- Certificate of Conformity (if applicable)
A commercial invoice is used for a normal sale of goods.
For free samples, warranty replacements, or other goods movements without a traditional sale, a pro forma invoice may be useful, depending on the transaction.
For more information, please visit How to correctly use a pro forma invoice at customs.
Does the recipient need an import registration?
Commercial foreign trade companies must be registered in Mozambique and possess a corresponding Foreign Trade Operator License.
For larger B2B deliveries, it should therefore be checked before shipping whether the recipient can import the goods himself or uses a customs agent or import partner.
This is particularly important for DDP.
A perfectly calculated shipping cost is of little use if, in the end, no one can legally act as the importer.
How long does it take for a package to Mozambique to arrive?
DHL Parcel currently states a delivery time estimate of:
12 to 18 working days.
Express shipments can be transported much faster.
DHL Express generally quotes delivery times of a few working days for international express shipments. The specific delivery time to Maputo or other regions should be checked based on the actual recipient's address.
Additional time can be gained through:
- Customs clearance
- conformity assessment
- missing import documents
- remote recipient regions
- necessary permits
What language should the customs declaration be in?
DHL currently accepts the following for Mozambique:
- English
- French
- portugiesisch
Since Portuguese is the official language of Mozambique, a Portuguese product description can be helpful when providing additional local documents.
English is also well suited for international carrier processes.
However, the product description should always be specific.
Not:
"Spare Parts"
but for example:
“Stainless steel impeller for industrial water pump”
This makes the material, product, and intended use much easier to identify.
Write the correct address for Mozambique
DHL requires Latin letters and Arabic numerals.
One possible address format is:
JOSÉ MATOLA
AV. MÁRTIRES DA MACHAVA 252
5° ANDAR, FLAT 3
1100 MAPUTO
MOZAMBIQUE
Additionally, the recipient's telephone number and email address should be provided.
Especially when it comes to import and delivery issues, complete contact details significantly facilitate communication.
Automate recurring product data
Machine spare parts and technical components are often shipped to Mozambique repeatedly.
Data such as:
- item Description
- HS code
- Origin
- Weight
- cart value
They should therefore be maintained centrally in the ERP system whenever possible.
Over a SAP shipping interface This information can be more effectively integrated into the shipping process.
These errors are delaying shipments to Mozambique
When dealing with Mozambique, it's not enough to simply check if there's an invoice attached to the outside of the package.
The crucial factor is whether the import was prepared in its entirety.
Typical problems include:
- The product description is too general.
- HS code is missing or incorrect
- The value of the goods cannot be verified.
- Country of origin missing
- The importer is not properly registered.
- The necessary import permit is missing.
- The CoC requirement was not checked.
- Invoice and electronic customs data differ
- The recipient's phone number or email address is missing.
- Import costs were not clarified beforehand.
An incorrect HS code can cause several problems.
Besides an incorrect customs rate, it can lead to approval or conformity requirements being overlooked.
You can find out more at Identify and avoid typical HS code errors.
Complete and accurate customs data can also reduce the likelihood of a shipment getting stuck due to queries.
Further information can be found at Improve delivery rates with complete customs data.
What goods are shipped from Germany to Mozambique?
Mozambique's economy is heavily influenced by raw materials, energy projects, agriculture, infrastructure, and international investments.
This creates a particular demand for technical and industrial products.
For German companies, the following goods, for example, may be of interest:
- Machines and production facilities
- Machine spare parts
- Mining and Conveyor Technology
- Pumps and water technology
- Electrical Engineering
- Measurement and testing technology
- Tools and workshop equipment
- Vehicle and commercial vehicle parts
- IT and communication technology
- Solar and energy technology
- medical devices and accessories
Computers and other electronic devices can also be sent to Mozambique.
For sensitive electronics, in addition to customs duties, packaging and any included batteries also play a role.
You can find information on this under Securely ship laptops & PCs internationally.
If a device contains a lithium-ion battery or if a battery is shipped separately, additional special transport regulations apply.
You can find out more at How to properly ship lithium-ion batteries.
Shipping information: Mozambique
Standard, express or freight to Mozambique?
Different modes of transport are available for shipments to Mozambique, depending on size and urgency.
Standard package
For smaller and less time-critical goods, an international parcel service can be used.
DHL Parcel currently states:
12 to 18 working days.
Express Shipping
For urgently needed spare parts, electronics, or production materials, express shipping may be the better choice.
Before booking, the delivery time for the specific destination address should be checked.
Freight shipping
Air freight and especially sea freight play an important role for machinery, pallets and larger quantities of goods.
Mozambique's long coastline and several large seaports offer diverse transport options.
Maputo, Beira and Nacala are important transport hubs
Mozambique has several strategically important seaports.
The three most important ones are:
Maputo, Beira and Nacala.
The port of Maputo is located in the south of the country and is particularly interesting for trade flows to the capital region and southern Africa.
Beira is centrally located and serves as an important gateway for regions in the interior as well as for neighboring countries.
Nacala has a natural deep-water port and is an important logistics hub in northern Mozambique.
For larger quantities of goods, a different port may therefore be more suitable depending on the recipient region.
For parcel and express shipments, the main international journey is often made by air freight.
Subsequent delivery within Mozambique may take additional time depending on the region.
Therefore, the following should be taken into account when selecting the transport route:
- Recipient region
- Product weight
- Volume
- Delivery time
- Type of goods
- necessary customs and conformity procedures
What import costs might arise in Mozambique?
An import can consist of several cost components.
Depending on the product, the following may be included:
- 0 to 25% import duty
- 16% VAT
- Possibly additional import taxes
- Excise taxes, if applicable
- Conformity or inspection costs
- Customs broker fees
- Carrier handling fees
Not every shipment is subject to all of the costs mentioned.
Any potential preferential tariff under the EU-SADC agreement must also be examined for the specific goods.
Therefore, import costs should be calculated based on the actual HS code and origin of the goods.
How much does a parcel to Mozambique cost?
The transport price depends in particular on:
- Weight
- Dimensions
- Volumetric weight
- Carrier
- Standard or express shipping
- destination
- Type of goods
- Additional Services
The recipient region also plays an important role.
A shipment to Maputo can be assessed differently from a logistical perspective than a delivery to a remote region in the north of the country.
For retailers and business customers, it is therefore worthwhile to compare several shipping providers.
Online trade to Mozambique: Don't just show the package price
Sales to customers in Mozambique constitute international shipping to a third country.
In addition to the sales price and transport costs, the following may also apply:
- Import duty
- 16% VAT
- Handling fees
- Possible conformity costs
- further product-specific taxes
Online retailers should therefore not promise blanket tax or customs exemptions without having examined the specific goods.
With DAP, these costs can only be charged to the recipient during import.
This quickly leads to one of those customer experiences, especially in B2C business, which is then documented in great detail in a one-star review.
It is more transparent to take potential import costs into account at the time of purchase.
You can find out more at Display landed costs directly at checkout..
Energy, raw materials and infrastructure shape Mozambique's import needs
Mozambique has significant raw material and energy resources and is simultaneously investing in infrastructure and logistics.
Therefore, the following areas may be of particular interest for German B2B exports:
- Energy and electrical engineering
- Engineering
- Mining equipment
- Gas and process engineering
- Pumps and water treatment
- Automation systems
- Mess- und Prüfsysteme
- Workshop and maintenance technology
Another special feature is the country's large geographical area.
Maputo in the far south and the northern industrial and energy areas are far apart.
The right carrier or freight route therefore depends more on the actual recipient region than in significantly smaller markets.
Which carrier is suitable for Mozambique?
For shipments from Germany to Mozambique, various international parcel, express and freight providers are available.
Depending on the broadcast, the following can be used, for example:
- DHL
- DHL Express
- UPS
- FedEx
- international air freight partners
- Sea freight and forwarding partner
When making a comparison, the base price should not be the only factor considered.
Also important are:
- Runtime
- Customs clearance
- Tracking
- Insurance
- maximum dimensions and weights
- Target region
- Remote area surcharges
- Support with DDP or DAP
Especially in such a large and logistically diverse country, a different carrier may be more suitable for an express shipment to Maputo than for a delivery to Nampula or Pemba.
You can find more information about this approach at Multi-carrier shipping for international shipments.
faq_items
Frequently Asked Questions about Shipping
Can I send a package from Germany to Mozambique?
Yes. Parcels, express shipments, and business goods can be sent from Germany to Mozambique. Since Mozambique is outside the EU, complete customs information is required for shipments.
How long does it take for a package to Mozambique to arrive?
DHL Parcel currently estimates delivery times of 12 to 18 business days. Express shipments can be significantly faster. The actual delivery time also depends on the recipient's region and customs clearance.
What is the value added tax rate in Mozambique?
The standard VAT rate is currently 16 percent. It generally also applies to imported goods. Different rules or tax exemptions may apply to certain goods.
What is the import duty in Mozambique?
Depending on the goods, import duties range from 0 to 25 percent. Consumer goods are often subject to duties of around 20 percent. However, the specific customs tariff number is always the determining factor.
Is there a trade agreement between Mozambique and the EU?
Yes. Mozambique is a member of the EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement. Depending on the goods and preferential origin, this may result in reduced import duties. The specific tariff classification and applicable rules of origin must be checked.
Do I need a commercial invoice for Mozambique?
For regular commercial sales of goods, a commercial invoice is required. For samples, warranty replacements, or other goods movements without a traditional sale, a pro forma invoice can be used, depending on the transaction.
What is a Certificate of Conformity for Mozambique?
Mozambique requires a certificate of conformity for certain regulated products. This certificate confirms that the goods meet applicable technical or recognized international standards. It should be checked whether a specific product is affected before shipment.
Does the recipient in Mozambique need to be registered as an importer?
Commercial foreign trade companies must be registered in Mozambique and possess the necessary authorization for import and export transactions. Therefore, for B2B shipments, it should be verified who is acting as the importer before collection.
Which language can I use for the customs declaration?
DHL currently lists English, French and Portuguese as acceptable languages for the customs declaration to Mozambique.
What documents do I need for a shipment to Mozambique?
Typically, a commercial invoice, a complete description of the goods, their value, the customs tariff number, and information on their origin are required. Depending on the goods, a packing list, import permit, proof of origin, or a certificate of conformity may also be necessary.
Can I ship DDP to Mozambique?
DDP may be possible depending on the shipping provider and the specific import situation. Customs duties, 16% VAT, conformity requirements, importer status, and any handling fees should be checked beforehand.
Which ports are important for trade with Mozambique?
The most important ports include Maputo in the south, Beira in the center, and Nacala in the north. Which port is most suitable depends, among other things, on the destination and the type of goods.
