Shipping vehicles and machinery to Toamasina (Tamatave)
Madagascar’s principal port, on the east coast, serving Antananarivo and the whole island. Services are usually transhipped, which is why transit times are longer than the distance suggests.
Indian OceanUN/LOCODE MGTMMContainer · RoRo · Breakbulk
Options
Methods available on this trade
| Method | Available to Toamasina (Tamatave) |
|---|---|
| Container | Yes — the standard method |
| RoRo | Limited availability — most vehicle cargo moves in boxes |
| Breakbulk | Yes — for machinery and out-of-gauge units |
Confirm method availability at the time of booking. RoRo coverage in particular depends on which services are calling the port that month.
Timing
Transit time
| From | To | Indicative transit | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tianjin / Qingdao | Toamasina (Tamatave) | 35–50 days indicative — confirmed at booking | Port to port, excluding destination clearance |
| Shanghai / Nansha / Yantian / Shekou | Toamasina (Tamatave) | 35–50 days (via southern ports) indicative — confirmed at booking | Port to port |
Transit is port to port and excludes destination clearance, inland delivery and any transhipment delay. We give the current figure in writing with the quotation.
Operational notes
What to watch out for on this route
- Most services tranship; a direct-sounding transit time is usually wrong. We quote the through time, not the first-leg time.
- Cyclone season affects East Coast calls — ask about seasonal cut-offs.
On the ground
Customs clearance in Madagascar
We can arrange destination clearance in Madagascar — import declaration, duty assessment, inspection coordination and release — through the clearing agents we work with in the country. One party is accountable from the supplier in China through to the vehicle released at destination, and there is no gap at the port where nobody is responsible.
Paperwork
Documents required
- Commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading
- Cargo tracking formalities as required by the destination
- Certificate of origin where required
- Import declaration prepared by the consignee’s broker
Documentary requirements change and vary by commodity and consignee. This list is a starting point, not a compliance guarantee — the consignee’s licensed broker confirms what applies.
Book a shipment to Toamasina (Tamatave)
Send vehicle details, dimensions and weight and the origin city. We come back with methods, cost and the next sailing.
Request a QuoteQuestions we get asked often
How long does shipping to Toamasina (Tamatave) take?
We quote the current port-to-port transit in writing with the quotation. Published figures go stale quickly; ours are confirmed against the service being booked.
Is RoRo available to Toamasina (Tamatave)?
It depends on which services are calling. Ask us and we will check the current rotation before you commit to container rates.
Can you handle destination clearance?
Yes. In Madagascar we arrange the destination clearance ourselves through the clearing agents we work with in the country — import declaration, duty assessment, inspection coordination and release.
Can you ship machinery as well as vehicles to Toamasina (Tamatave)?
Yes — construction and mining machinery moves on the same services, by container, breakbulk or on flat racks depending on size and weight.