Container Shipping from New York to Ghana

Container shipping from New York to Ghana, every week

The most common complaint we hear from people shipping containers to Ghana is not price. It is waiting: an agent who keeps saying there are no containers this week. We book through a contract with MSC, so there is a container and a sailing to Tema every week. Some sailings run direct to Ghana. We confirm your vessel and estimated arrival in writing when your container is booked.

• Origin: loading sites in New York City and New Jersey, shipped from the Port of New York and New Jersey
• Destination port: Tema, Ghana
• Container sizes: 20ft, 40ft and 40ft high cube
• Price, door to port: from $5,450 for a 20ft and $6,250 for a 40ft. Every job gets a written quote, valid 30 days and subject to carrier surcharges.
• Free time: 8 days with the container at the U.S. end and 21 days at Tema, in writing on your quote

Request a container quote or call +1 (551) 800-2125.

Choose your container service

Door to port (our standard service): 20ft from $5,450, 40ft from $6,250

We deliver the empty container to your loading site in New York City or New Jersey, allow up to 2 hours of live loading, and truck the sealed container back to the port. We prepare the export documents, file with U.S. Customs and book the ocean freight to Tema. If you need more than 2 hours to load, we quote a drop-and-pick option instead.

Port to port

You arrange your own trucking to the port. We book the container, handle the export paperwork and the ocean freight to Tema.

Door to door in Ghana

Door to port plus clearance at Tema and delivery to your address in Ghana through our clearing partner. Ghana import duty is assessed by customs on each shipment, so we quote it per shipment once we know exactly what is inside.

Shared container for businesses

Not enough cargo for a full container? Our Business Desk can combine several business shipments in one 40ft container. Space is quoted per job. For smaller personal shipments, our barrel and box service is usually the better value.

20ft or 40ft: which container do you need?

Container	Inside space (approx.)	Typical load
20ft standard	33 cubic meters (about 1,170 cu ft)	A 2 to 3 bedroom household, a car plus personal effects, a small shop restock
40ft standard	67 cubic meters (about 2,390 cu ft)	A full home move, 2 to 4 cars, business inventory, building materials
40ft high cube	76 cubic meters (about 2,690 cu ft)	Bulky, light cargo such as furniture, mattresses and stacked boxes

For any sizeable load, look hard at the 40ft. It costs only a little more than a 20ft for about twice the space, so the cost per cubic foot drops sharply. See what fits in a 20ft container and how to ship a 40ft container from the USA to Ghana.

What your container quote includes

• Empty container delivered to your loading site and the loaded container trucked back to the port (door to port)
• Up to 2 hours of live loading at your site
• Ocean freight from New York to Tema on a weekly MSC sailing
• U.S. export documentation and U.S. Customs filing, including vehicle titles
• 8 free days with the container in the U.S. and 21 free days at Tema
• Photos of the loading and of the container seal number
• WhatsApp updates at each step: booked, container delivered, loaded and sealed, sailed, arrived, cleared, delivered
• A written quote with a quote number, the service, your free days, the charges and the terms, valid 30 days

What is not included

These are listed on every quote so nothing surprises you at Tema:

• Ghana customs clearance, import duties and taxes (available through our clearing partner on door-to-door quotes; duty is quoted per shipment)
• Terminal handling charges at Tema, which MSC bills at destination
• Container stripping, inspections, storage and port holds
• Detention and demurrage beyond the free days
• Insurance, which is optional and available on request

Containers cannot carry hazardous cargo. Peak-season surcharges announced by the carrier are passed through at cost, which is why every quote states a validity date.

Loading site requirements

A container truck needs room to park and turn. A commercial site with a loading dock, ramp or forklift is best. Residential street loading is possible only where it is legal and safe. You load, position and secure your cargo, and we can supervise. Tell us about your site when you request a quote and we will confirm it works before you pay.

How container shipping with Guldstreet works

1. Quote. Tell us what you are shipping, the container size, your loading address and whether you need clearance and delivery in Ghana. You get a written quote.
2. Sign and pay. You sign the Shipping Agreement online and pay in full 1 to 14 business days before the container is requested. No payment, no container.
3. Book. We book your container and confirm the vessel, the cutoff date and your free days.
4. Get ready. Your cargo is packed and your documents are in hand before we order the empty container, so you do not run into detention charges.
5. Load. The empty container arrives and is loaded. We photograph the loading and the seal.
6. Sail. The sealed container goes back to the port and sails to Tema. You get the bill of lading.
7. Arrive and clear. The container is cleared at Tema within the 21 free days.
8. Deliver. Delivery to your address in Ghana if you booked door to door, then a final statement.

What we need from you

• Shipper's full legal name, ID, phone and email
• Receiver's (consignee's) name, ID and phone in Ghana
• Original titles for any vehicles. U.S. Customs needs title documents at least 72 hours before export.
• A summary of the contents. We keep a detailed list and photos for your protection.
• Your signed Shipping Agreement and full payment before we request the container

Shipping cars in a container

A 40ft container can carry several cars with household goods packed around them, which can work out cheaper per vehicle than shipping each car on its own. Read how to ship multiple cars in one container to Ghana and our car shipping to Ghana service. Check Ghana's current vehicle age rules before you buy.

Ghana import requirements for commercial cargo

Commercial goods entering Ghana are assessed for duty by the Ghana Revenue Authority at commercial rates. Check these before you load:

• Ghana Standards Authority (GSA): many consumer goods, including electronics, food, cosmetics and building materials, must meet mandatory standards. Non-compliant goods can be held at the port.
• Food and Drugs Authority (FDA): food, beverages, medicines and cosmetics need FDA registration.
• Phytosanitary certificates: agricultural products, seeds and plant materials need a USDA/APHIS certificate before export.
• ICUMS pre-arrival declaration: the Ghana Revenue Authority requires pre-arrival declarations on ICUMS for commercial shipments.

We tell you what applies to your cargo before you book, so your container is not held at Tema.

Container shipping FAQs

How much does it cost to ship a container from New York to Ghana?

Door to port from New York City or New Jersey to Tema starts at $5,450 for a 20ft container and $6,250 for a 40ft. That includes trucking the empty container to your site, 2 hours of live loading, U.S. export paperwork and ocean freight. Your written quote depends on the container size, whether you need door pickup or port to port, the loading site, whether you want clearance and delivery in Ghana, and any carrier surcharges in force that week. Ghana duty depends on what is inside. See what drives the cost of shipping a container to Ghana, then request your quote.

How often do containers sail from New York to Ghana?

Every week. We book on MSC's weekly service to Tema, and some sailings run direct.

How long does a container take to reach Tema?

It depends on the vessel and the routing that week. We confirm your vessel and estimated arrival in writing when the container is booked.

How many free days do I get?

8 days with the container at the U.S. end and 21 days at Tema. After that, the carrier's detention and demurrage charges apply. We plan loading within 2 to 3 days so you stay well inside your free time.

Can I load the container at my home?

Only where street loading is legal and safe for a container truck. A business address with a dock, ramp or forklift is better. We confirm your site before you pay.

Do you ship containers to Takoradi?

Our containers sail to Tema. From Tema we can arrange delivery anywhere in Ghana, including the Western Region.

Do you offer shared container space (LCL)?

For businesses, our Business Desk combines several shipments in one container and quotes space per job. For personal shipments, barrels and boxes are usually cheaper.

How do I pay?

By PayPal (card) or Cash App, in full, 1 to 14 business days before the container is requested, after you sign the Shipping Agreement online. We do not take cash for containers.

Ready to ship a container to Ghana? Request a container quote, call or WhatsApp +1 (551) 800 2125, or email hello@guldstreetshipping.com.