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Africa · sea freight from Guangzhou

Shipping from Guangzhou to Alexandria

Guangzhou to Alexandria

South China Sea · Malacca Strait · Indian Ocean · Gulf of Aden · Bab-el-Mandeb · Red Sea · Suez Canal · Mediterranean Sea

Sea corridor illustration: Guangzhou to Alexandria, Egypt Simplified map with a curved corridor from Guangzhou via South China Sea, Malacca Strait, Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden, Bab-el-Mandeb, Red Sea, Suez Canal, Mediterranean Sea to Alexandria. Illustration only; not a vessel track or schedule. CHINAINDIAARABIAN PENINSULA Singapore / MalaccaSouth of Sri LankaGulf of AdenBab-el-MandebSuez Canal GuangzhouCHINA ORIGIN AlexandriaEGYPT GuangzhouSOUTH CHINA SEAGUANGDONGDEPARTURE AREA
  1. GuangzhouChina origin
  2. South China Sea
  3. Malacca Strait
  4. Indian Ocean
  5. Gulf of Aden
  6. Bab-el-Mandeb
  7. Red Sea
  8. Suez Canal
  9. Mediterranean Sea
  10. AlexandriaEgypt
Geographic corridor illustration only, not a vessel track, port-call list or sailing schedule. The loading terminal, carrier, transshipment and dates are confirmed per shipment.

Lithium batteries for Alexandria go out of Nansha, at the mouth of the Pearl River. On the way they face a Bab el-Mandeb and Suez passage into the Mediterranean, and they arrive at Alexandria, where the DG manifest is due 48 hours before berthing.

On the Egyptian side the ACI system needs the exporter on CargoX and the documents uploaded before the ship arrives. Below are 5 route-specific points to plan for, what we do about each, and the documents to have ready before booking.

What we need to start

  • Nansha export
  • Dongguan–Nansha one-box
  • Exporter verified on CargoX
  • Importers Register entry (GOEIC)
  • DG manifest 48 h before berthing
Ask about this route Egypt ports from Guangzhou

Route profile

The Guangzhou → Alexandria route in brief

Sea corridor

Asia – Mediterranean via Suez

Mediterranean services are the ones most likely to use Suez again (57% in September 2026), which puts the cargo back through Bab el-Mandeb, rated a SUBSTANTIAL threat.

Destination port

Alexandria and El Dekheila

A DG manifest 48 hours before berthing, Civil Protection approval to discharge, and at most 7 days in port for dangerous-goods containers.

Elevated section of the Nansha Port Railway on concrete piers in Guangzhou's Nansha district
A cargo ship at anchor in calm water under a clear sky

Where this route gets difficult

Where Guangzhou → Alexandria shipments get held up: 5 points

Loading port first, then the sea leg, then Alexandria and the Egypt market.

  1. Origin port

    Nansha MSA's state-of-charge advice for energy storage

    At a July 2024 meeting on energy-storage carriage, Nansha MSA recommended shipping ESS batteries at a state of charge of around 25% and preventing accidental activation. It is a recommendation rather than a fixed rule, but it is the figure the local authority has put on record.

    What Anxin does: For ESS cargo leaving Nansha we ask the manufacturer to state the shipping state of charge and the anti-activation measures in writing, and put both in the documents the carrier sees.

  2. Origin port

    Customs and MSA now compare packaging certificates

    In September 2026 Dongguan Customs and Dongguan MSA started sharing dangerous-goods packaging certificate data, described as a first in China, together with joint action against concealed and false declarations; Huangpu Customs also runs a joint 'lithium batteries going overseas' service against misdeclaration. A packaging certificate that does not match the MSA filing is now visible to both agencies.

    What Anxin does: We check that the UN number, packaging code and quantities on the packaging certificate are exactly those on the MSA cargo report before either is submitted.

  3. Sea corridor

    Suez itself is working normally

    The JMIC's September 2026 update rated the northern Red Sea and Suez Canal MODERATE, with the canal operating in both directions and container lines returning selectively, and the Eastern Mediterranean LOW. The risk on this corridor is concentrated at the southern entrance of the Red Sea rather than at the canal.

    What Anxin does: We check before each booking whether the service has changed routing since the last quote.

  4. Destination port

    IMDG labels visible, and a manifest sticker on mixed boxes

    The Alexandria regulation requires IMDG warning labels and classification marks to be displayed prominently on dangerous-goods containers, and a container holding several different goods has to carry a sticker showing its cargo manifest for the port authorities. A consolidated box of different battery types needs that sticker.

    What Anxin does: We check the class 9 placards on all four sides in the sealed-container photos and, for mixed loads, attach the manifest sticker before the box leaves Guangzhou.

  5. Import country

    The broker needs a registered power of attorney or a Nafeza authorisation

    Under Customs Law No. 207 of 2020 and its Executive Regulations, a broker can only clear a private-sector shipment in Egypt with an official power of attorney through the Real Estate Registry or an electronic authorisation on Nafeza. Without it the broker at Alexandria cannot act for the importer, however complete the ACI file is.

    What Anxin does: We ask the importer which broker will clear the container and whether its Nafeza authorisation is in place before the ship arrives.

Locator map of Alexandria, EgyptAlexandria
Locator map in the same projection as the corridor map; the dot marks the listed port position (31.17°N, 29.83°E).
Container stacks and cranes at the Port of Mombasa

Documents & compliance

What to have ready: Guangzhou to Alexandria

Test reports, safety data sheets and import certificates come from the shipper, factory and importer, not from Anxin; our part is to review them before booking.

At the Guangzhou end

  • Packaging certificate and MSA cargo report cross-checked line by line (UN number, packaging code, quantity)
  • For ESS: written shipping state of charge and anti-activation measures from the manufacturer
  • Load plan showing even weight distribution (no more than 60% of the cargo weight in either half of the container length)
  • Class 9 placards on all sides; manifest sticker for mixed loads
  • ACID number from the importer, printed on B/L draft, invoice and packing list

For the carrier and the voyage

  • Routing (Red Sea or Cape) and any war-risk surcharge stated on the booking
  • Dangerous goods declaration with UN number (3480 / 3481 / 3090 / 3091), proper shipping name and packing instruction (P903, or P908/P911 for damaged)
  • Lithium battery mark (SP188 cargo) or class 9 labels and placards

For import into Egypt

  • Broker's power of attorney or Nafeza e-authorisation
  • Clearance and haulage lined up to leave the port within 7 days
  • Importers Register status (GOEIC)
An electric bicycle with its battery mounted on the frame
Before you book

Send the file once, complete

Most delays on this route start with a document that exists but does not match: a UN number, a model name or a package count that differs between the Guangzhou filings, the carrier booking and the Egypt import file. We check the three against each other before the booking is confirmed.

Carriers we book with

Our booking panel; availability on this lane and acceptance of the declared UN numbers are confirmed for each booking. It does not mean that a listed carrier runs a direct service on this route. Carrier choice depends on the trade lane, cargo classification and each carrier's dangerous-goods acceptance at booking. The final carrier is confirmed on the booking.

Risk & mitigation

Risk table for Guangzhou → Alexandria

RiskWhereMitigationWho acts
Mismatch between packaging certificate and MSA filing flagged by shared dataDongguan / NanshaLine-by-line check before submissionAnxin with the declarant

Questions

Common questions on the Guangzhou → Alexandria route

Under Decision No. 2171/2020 the Civil Protection Administration may allow dangerous-goods containers to stay no more than 7 days before transfer to an external facility.

Often: in September 2026, 57% of Asia–Mediterranean services used the Red Sea routing. Bab el-Mandeb was rated a SUBSTANTIAL threat by the JMIC on 24 September 2026, so we confirm each service's routing before booking.

Nansha MSA has recommended around 25% for ESS batteries and measures against accidental activation. Treat it as the local authority's recommendation; the carrier's own acceptance conditions also apply.

References

Official sources for this page

  1. ACI: frequently asked questions (Egyptian Customs Authority)
  2. JMIC Update 099 to Advisory Note (Joint Maritime Information Center (via UKMTO))
  3. Nansha MSA meeting on the safe carriage of energy-storage batteries (Guangzhou Nansha District Government)
  4. Export dangerous goods packaging inspection: service guide (Chinese) (General Administration of Customs of China (Lanzhou Customs service guide))

Next step

From enquiry to import

  1. 1EnquiryCargo, origin, destination
  2. 2Documents checkUN 38.3, SDS, packing
  3. 3BookingAfter carrier acceptance
  4. 4HandoverAt Guangzhou
  5. 5ImportClearance at Alexandria
Each step is confirmed in writing; an enquiry does not create a booking.

Ask about Guangzhou → Alexandria

Origin and destination are filled in; add the cargo facts you have.

Sending this form starts a review; it does not confirm carriage. Full enquiry form

After you send it

We check carrier acceptance for Guangzhou → Alexandria before any booking, and ask for missing battery documents first.

All destinations from Guangzhou · Egypt ports

Trailers backed up to the loading docks of a warehouse

Need Guangzhou → Alexandria reviewed?

Share the cargo facts; we review the route in writing.

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