Car Shipping to Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), South Africa

About Port of Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)

The port of Gqeberha handles dry bulk, liquid bulk, breakbulk and vehicles, with 18 berths managed by Transnet National Ports Authority. Most of the Eastern Cape's container traffic now goes through the newer deep-water Port of Ngqura across Algoa Bay. Its car terminal is the export gateway for the Volkswagen plant at Kariega, and the Polo made up 88 per cent of vehicles exported through the port in 2024.

Area served: The port serves Nelson Mandela Bay and the wider Eastern Cape, including the region's vehicle manufacturing industry.

How Vehicles Are Handled at Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)

Vehicles are handled at the Port Elizabeth Car Terminal, an open-area terminal on Charl Malan Quay operated by Transnet Port Terminals. In 2022 it had 5,000 parking bays, and an expansion due to finish that September was adding 3,000 more, to 8,000 bays, to raise throughput from 150,000 to 280,000 units a year. In the first seven months of the 2024/25 financial year it handled 114,041 vehicles, and in November 2024 it took the 9,100-car Höegh Aurora on its first call in Africa.

Port authority

Transnet National Ports Authority

Vehicle terminal

Port Elizabeth Car Terminal (Transnet Port Terminals), Charl Malan Quay

Vehicle capacity

8,000 bays and 280,000 units a year planned after the 2022 expansion

Vehicles handled

114,041 units (April to October 2024)

Entrance channel depth

14.5 m below chart datum

Shipping a Car from the UK to Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)

We handle the whole UK side of an export to Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha): sourcing the vehicle, tax-free supply from the selling dealer where the car qualifies, collection from any UK address, UK customs clearance and export documentation, and loading onto the ship by RoRo or container. Current carrier schedules show 2-5 weeks port to port, sailing from London Gateway, Southampton, Bristol and Newcastle. Lines on the route include MSC, Sallaum Lines and Höegh Autoliners.

Any import duty and taxes are paid by the importer, whoever clears the car. We can arrange customs clearance, registration and delivery to your door through a local agent, quoted separately, or work with an agent of your choice. For costs, the full sailing schedule and everything else about exporting to South Africa, see our South Africa shipping guide.

Upcoming Sailings to Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)

Dates are carrier estimates and must be reconfirmed before booking.

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