Services

Four services. Six kinds of goods.

Use us for one step or for all four. Most businesses hand us the whole job, from finding the supplier to signing for the delivery, into South Africa and out of it.

Part one

The process

What we do for your shipment, step by step, whether it is coming into South Africa or going out.

Service 01

Sourcing

You know what you need. We find who sells it and check that they are real before any money leaves your account.

We work with suppliers anywhere in the world, and with South African suppliers when you are exporting. For second-hand goods we ask for photos, condition reports and serial numbers, and arrange an inspection when the value justifies it.

What we do

Find suppliers and compare prices

Check company details and trading history

Request samples and product specifications

Arrange pre-shipment inspection on request

What you give us

A description, photo or link of the item

The quantity and your budget

When and where you need it

Service 02

Shipping

Sea and air freight into South Africa and out of it.

Sea freight suits heavy and bulky goods. Air freight suits small or urgent items. We book full containers, shared container space, roll-on roll-off for vehicles and flat racks for machinery that does not fit in a box. You get a WhatsApp message when your goods load, sail and arrive.

Aerial view of a container port with cranes, stacked containers and ships at sea

Freight options

Full container load (FCL)

Shared container load (LCL)

Air freight

Roll-on roll-off and flat rack

Also included

Collection from the supplier

Cargo insurance on request

Progress updates on WhatsApp

Service 03

Customs clearance and documentation

Declared to SARS correctly, so your goods do not sit at the port.

CrownXpress is registered with SARS Customs as an importer and exporter. Every import is declared and the duties and VAT are paid before release. Most delays come from the wrong tariff code, missing permits or paperwork that does not match the goods, so we check your documents before the goods leave the origin port, not after they land.

Customs and shipping documents on a desk overlooking a port at sunrise

Imports

Tariff classification and duty estimate

Customs declaration to SARS

Import permits where needed

Handling inspections and SARS queries

Exports

Export declarations

Certificates of origin

Transit documents for cross-border loads

Service 04

Delivery

From the port or airport to your gate, and from your gate to the port.

Once SARS releases your goods, we collect them from the port or airport and deliver them to your business, warehouse, site or home anywhere in South Africa. Export loads go the other way: we collect from you and deliver to the ship, the airport or across the border by road.

A CrownXpress team member with a clipboard in a warehouse, a forklift moving wrapped pallets and a container truck at the loading door

What we do

Port and airport collection

Short-term storage while your site is ready

Delivery by truck, flatbed or lowbed

Cross-border road freight to neighbouring countries

Part two

The goods

Six categories, imported and exported, new or second hand. Each has its own rules at customs, so here is what we move and what to know first.

Goods 01

Building materials

For construction companies, developers, contractors and hardware suppliers, and for people building their own homes. We quote per pallet or per container and time each delivery to your site programme.

Structural and reinforcing steel

Roofing sheets, roof tiles and insulation

Tiles, sanitaryware and taps

Doors, windows and aluminium frames

Electrical and plumbing fittings

Good to know

Some steel products carry extra anti-dumping duty. We check the tariff before you order.

Steel pipes, rebar, cement bags, bricks and roofing sheets in a building materials yard

Goods 02

Vehicles

New vehicles for dealers, fleets and transport operators, and vehicles in transit to buyers in neighbouring countries. Used vehicle imports into South Africa are tightly controlled: permits go mainly to returning residents, immigrants with permanent residency and owners of vintage vehicles, and are not issued for resale.

New cars, bakkies and SUVs for dealers and fleets

Trucks and buses for transport operators

Vehicles in transit to neighbouring countries

Returning resident and immigrant vehicle imports

Vehicle exports out of South Africa

Talk to us before you buy

We confirm whether a permit is possible for your situation before you pay a seller.

A car-carrier truck loaded with SUVs and bakkies at a port

Goods 03

Machinery

Construction, farming and factory machinery for contractors, plant hire companies, farms and manufacturers, from a single generator to a fleet of earthmoving equipment. Used machinery can need an import permit, so we check before we book.

Excavators, TLBs, loaders and graders

Rollers, dozers and other earthmoving plant

Tractors and farm equipment

Generators, compressors and lighting towers

Forklifts, production and warehouse equipment

Good to know

Oversized machinery may need an abnormal load permit for the road trip from the port. We plan it with the transport.

A yard of excavators, loaders, tractors, trucks, forklifts and generators at a port

Goods 04

Automotive parts

New and used parts for dealerships, workshops, fleet operators and parts shops, and for owners keeping a vehicle on the road. We can combine orders from several suppliers into one shipment.

Engines and gearboxes

Body panels and lights

Suspension and brakes

Filters, belts and service kits

Tyres and rims

Good to know

Used parts must be declared as used. Some, like used tyres, are restricted.

A crated engine, gearboxes, brake discs and callipers, shock absorbers, headlights, tyres, rims and shrink-wrapped body panels on pallets in an automotive parts warehouse at sunset

Goods 05

Electronics and appliances

For retailers, resellers, installers and offices, and for households. We make sure the compliance paperwork is in place so your stock can be sold legally once it lands.

TVs and monitors

Laptops, phones and tablets

Fridges, washing machines and stoves

Solar panels, inverters and batteries

Small kitchen appliances

Good to know

Many electrical goods need an NRCS letter of authority before they can be sold. Phones and routers also need ICASA approval.

TVs, laptops, fridges, washing machines, solar panels and cameras in front of a port

Goods 06

General consumer goods

Wholesale and retail stock for distributors, traders and shops, and one-off purchases for individuals. If it is legal to import or export, we can usually move it.

Furniture and homeware

Clothing and footwear

Tools and hardware

Toys and baby products

Bags and cosmetics

Good to know

Mixed shipments are fine. We split the invoice by tariff line so each item is charged the right duty.

A warehouse stocked with pallets of mixed consumer goods

Not sure which service you need?

Tell us what you are moving and where. We will work out the rest.

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