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Sending goods to Somalia is something many people in the Swedish diaspora do regularly – whether it’s to help family and friends, or to ship personal belongings ahead of a move or extended stay. Sea freight is often the most affordable and practical way to send larger volumes, and in this post, we walk you through how it actually works in practice. What should you keep in mind? How long does it take? And how safe is the transport? Here you’ll get answers to everything you need to know.

Why choose sea freight to Somalia?

Sea freight is currently the most common option for sending goods from Europe to Somalia, especially when it comes to larger items. While air freight can be faster, it’s usually significantly more expensive and comes with more restrictions on weight and volume. With sea freight, you can send everything from clothes and electronics to furniture, refrigerators, bicycles, and entire households.

Additionally, sea freight is a great option if you’re not in a hurry – most deliveries take between 4 and 8 weeks depending on departure, port, and type of cargo. With proper preparation, it’s a safe, cost-effective, and convenient way to reach recipients throughout Somalia.

How the shipping works – step by step

1. Prepare what you want to ship
Before contacting a shipping company, you should have a clear idea of what you want to send. It can be anything from a few boxes of clothes to larger pallets or containers with mixed contents. It’s a good idea to document the contents, estimate the weight, and write down approximate dimensions. The clearer the information, the more accurate the price quote the company can provide.

2. Contact a shipping company
The next step is to contact a shipping company that offers transport to Somalia. Most companies, including ours, will provide a free quote based on your needs. You will then receive information about:

• Price
• Estimated departure time
• Delivery time
• What is required from your side (e.g., packing, documentation)

3. Pickup or drop-off
You can usually choose whether you want to drop off the goods yourself at the terminal or book a pickup. Many customers appreciate the option of having their items picked up directly from home – especially if it involves heavy or bulky goods.

4. Packing and labeling
It’s important that you pack your items carefully. Keep in mind that the cargo may be exposed to movement, moisture, and temperature changes during the sea journey. We recommend that you:

• Use sturdy boxes or wooden crates
• Protect fragile items with bubble wrap or foam
• Label each package with the recipient’s name, phone number, and address

If you like, we can also assist with professional packing – something especially recommended for electronics or fragile items.

5. Departure and transport to Somalia
Once your goods are dropped off and everything is ready for export, it will be loaded onto the ship. Transport departs from a European port – often from Gothenburg, Rotterdam, or Hamburg – to various ports in Somalia. The most common destinations are Mogadishu, Bosaso, and Berbera, but other cities may be included depending on the shipping route and availability.

The sea journey can take between 4 and 6 weeks depending on the departure and route. During this time, we can often provide regular updates on the location of your shipment.

6. Receiving in Somalia
When the cargo arrives at the port in Somalia, delivery is made according to the agreement. We work with reliable local agents who handle both customs documentation and the actual handover to the recipient. It is important that the recipient can be reached by phone and has valid ID.

Sending items to Somalia is something thousands of Swedes do every year – to family, friends, or in connection with a move. Whether it’s clothing, household items, or something more valuable, it’s important to know what can actually be shipped – and what is prohibited under both Swedish export laws and Somali customs regulations. In this blog post, we go through exactly what applies when using sea freight to Somalia.

There are quite a few misunderstandings and risks around prohibited goods. A shipment containing unauthorized items can be stopped, delayed – or in the worst case, confiscated. With the right knowledge, you can avoid mistakes and feel confident that everything will arrive as expected.

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Why are there restrictions?

When you send something to another country, it is always subject to the regulations of both the sending country (in this case Sweden) and the receiving country (in this case Somalia). Both countries have laws on what can be imported and exported, often for safety, environmental, or health reasons.

That’s why it’s always important to double-check the contents before sending anything – even if your intentions are good. An innocent gift can become a problem if it happens to include something prohibited.

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✅ Common items you CAN ship by sea to Somalia

Sea freight to Somalia is primarily used for personal belongings, household items, electronics, and clothing. Here are examples of items that are allowed and commonly found in our shipments:

1. Clothing and shoes
Both new and used clothing is allowed, as long as it’s clean and properly packed. Many people send seasonal clothes, children’s clothing, or bulk items to relatives.

2. Household items
Plates, cutlery, kitchen appliances, pots – most items are fine as long as they’re safely packed. Be sure to protect porcelain and glassware from shocks during transport.

3. Electronics
TVs, phones, computers, and other consumer electronics are common in shipments. Just make sure they’re properly packed, preferably in original packaging or with extra protection.

4. Furniture and appliances
You may send items like sofas, tables, refrigerators, freezers, and washing machines. These require extra careful packing and often special handling. Ask us if you’re unsure how to prepare large items.

5. Dry goods and food
Pasta, rice, canned goods, and other packaged, long-lasting products are okay to ship. Never send perishables, meat, or dairy – they spoil easily and are often stopped by customs.

6. Bicycles, strollers, toys
Larger items like strollers and bikes are fully allowed and quite common. Just make sure they don’t have loose parts that could fall off during transit.

7. Books, school supplies, and tools
It’s fine to send textbooks, writing materials, tools, and simple machines, as long as they’re not classified as hazardous goods.

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❌ Examples of items you CANNOT send

Even though many items are allowed, there are clear limits. Below is a list of items that are prohibited or highly regulated in sea freight to Somalia. This applies regardless of whether the shipment is a gift, for personal use, or for resale.

1. Weapons and ammunition

All forms of firearms, knives, ammunition, or military items are strictly prohibited. This also includes air guns and certain types of toy weapons that could be mistaken for real ones.

2. Cash and valuables

You may not send cash, checks, securities, or real jewelry in your shipment. These must be sent via specialized services or not at all.

3. Alcohol and drugs

All types of alcohol are prohibited for shipment to Somalia. The same goes for narcotics, undocumented medicines, and unauthorized supplements.

4. Batteries and liquids

Lithium batteries, car batteries, and certain chemicals are classified as hazardous materials and cannot be shipped without special permission. This also applies to liquids, paints, spray cans, and cleaning products.

5. Explosive or flammable substances

Lighters, gas containers, fireworks, and other explosive items may never be shipped via regular sea freight.

6. Prohibited foods and animal products

Fresh meat, fish, dairy, and other perishable products are prohibited. These can spread disease and won’t survive the journey.

7. Counterfeits and copyrighted products

Do not send knockoff brand clothing, music, movies, or software. Customs may seize these items and it can lead to legal consequences.

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Shipping goods by sea to Somalia often involves large volumes, long distances, and multiple transfers. That’s why proper packing is crucial – both to protect your items during the journey and to meet the requirements of shipping companies, ports, and customs authorities. In this post, we walk you through exactly how to pack properly – step by step – whether you’re sending a box of clothes or an entire household.

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Why is packing so important for sea freight?

Sea freight differs from, for example, air mail or standard domestic parcel shipping in several ways. First, the journeys are long – often four to six weeks at sea – where your cargo is exposed to movement, vibrations, moisture, and temperature fluctuations.

Second, your cargo is handled by multiple parties: during pickup, at the terminal, when loading onto the ship, at transfer points in ports, and finally during delivery in Somalia. At every stage there is a risk of items falling, being bumped, crushed, or mixed up if the packing is not well thought out.

Good packing:

Reduces the risk of extra charges

Protects the contents from damage

Prevents loss or confusion

Makes it easier for customs and the recipient
Step 1: Choose the right boxes and packing materials

The first mistake many people make is using old, weak, or mixed boxes. We recommend sturdy moving boxes, plastic containers with lids, or wooden crates for larger or fragile items.

Tips:

• Use double-walled cardboard boxes (not thin postal boxes)
• Avoid mixing many different types and sizes – it makes loading harder
• Consider plastic bins with lids for electronics, kitchenware, and books
• For very heavy items (appliances, machines): use wooden crates or pallet frames

Packing materials:

Plastic bags inside boxes to protect against moisture

Bubble wrap

Thick paper or old sheets

Foam boards or Styrofoam

Step 2: Pack items by weight and fragility

Start by organizing your items into three categories:

1. Fragile (porcelain, glass, electronics)
2. Heavy (books, kitchen appliances, metal)
3. Soft (clothing, textiles, plastic toys)

Tips for each type:

• Fragile: Wrap each item individually in bubble wrap, use multiple layers. Fill empty space with paper. Mark the box as “FRAGILE”.
• Heavy: Distribute weight evenly. Place heavy items at the bottom, but do not mix with fragile items in the same box.
• Soft: Clothing and textiles work as padding – use them smartly around edges or to stabilize other items.

Avoid:

• Packing large boxes too heavily (max 25 kg per box if possible)
• Leaving empty spaces (can collapse when stacked)
• Mixing food and clothes in the same box

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Step 3: Label everything clearly

All cargo must be clearly labeled with the recipient’s details:

• Full name
• Phone number (preferably two)
• City and area in Somalia
• If possible, also a reference or customer number

Label each box on at least two sides – ideally all four. Use a waterproof marker or printed labels. If sending multiple packages, number them: e.g., “1 of 5,” “2 of 5,” etc.

Tips:

• Place a copy of the address information inside each box
• Optionally label the contents broadly: “CLOTHES – CHILDREN,” “ELECTRONICS – TV”
• For shipments to companies/organizations: write the organization name clearly

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