CEMAC Import Ledger

China to Central African Republic: landed cost calculator

Customs duty, 19% VAT, freight and your real resale margin — worked out before you commit capital. Entry via Douala (transit).

Landed cost / unit — Central African Republic

3 187 FCFA

$5.59

Cleared

Margin at your resale price

1 813 FCFA(36.3%)

Break even at 3 187 FCFA · total order 637 331 FCFA

Where your money goes

Goods 54%Freight 16%Duty 14%VAT 16%Levies 0%
$

Electronics, fashion, beauty, home goods (most resale items)

$
FCFA
%
%
%

Luxury goods & vehicles only

$

Clearing agent, transport

VAT for Central African Republic: Standard VAT rate of 19%. Changing the destination country resets VAT to that country's standard rate.

Goods value (FOB)$600.00
Freight$180.00
Insurance (0.5%)$3.00
CIF — customs valuation basis$783.00
Customs duty (20%)Category III — Consumer goods$156.60
VAT (19%)charged on duty-inclusive value$178.52
Total landed cost$1118.12
Per unit3 187 FCFA

Duty and VAT for Central African Republic are accurate, but we haven't itemised that country's national customs fees the way we have for Cameroon. Add them under “Other fees” if your clearing agent has quoted them.

20% margin

3 983 FCFA

30% margin

4 552 FCFA

40% margin

5 311 FCFA

50% margin

6 373 FCFA

Margin here is on the selling price, not markup on cost. A 40% margin means 40% of what the customer pays is yours before your own selling costs.

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Importing into Central African Republic: what to know

VAT: Standard VAT rate of 19% — currently 19%. Because VAT is assessed on the duty-inclusive value rather than the goods value, the effective bite is larger than the headline rate suggests.

Port of entry: Landlocked — freight typically clears at Douala then travels the Douala–Bangui corridor.

Duty: As a CEMAC member, Central African Republic applies the same common external tariff as the other five member states. If you already know your product's duty band for Cameroon, it is the same band here — only VAT and national fees change.

We itemise Cameroon's national customs levies (computer fee, community integration tax, African integration contribution, SGS inspection) because those are published and verifiable. For Central African Republic we apply duty and VAT accurately but do not guess at national fee line items — add anything your clearing agent quotes under “Other fees” in the calculator.

Common questions

What is the import VAT rate in Central African Republic?

Central African Republic applies a VAT rate of 19% on imports. Standard VAT rate of 19%. VAT is charged on the duty-inclusive value, meaning the CIF value plus customs duty and applicable levies — not on the goods value alone.

What customs duty applies to imports into Central African Republic?

Central African Republic is a CEMAC member and applies the CEMAC common external tariff: 5% on essentials, 10% on raw materials and industrial equipment, 20% on consumer goods, and 30% on non-essential and luxury goods. Most resale merchandise falls in the 20% band.

Which port serves Central African Republic?

Douala (transit). Landlocked — freight typically clears at Douala then travels the Douala–Bangui corridor.

Other CEMAC destinations

All six CEMAC states share the same customs duty brackets — VAT and local fees differ.

Calculate by product category

Same calculator, pre-loaded with realistic numbers and the import gotchas for each category.

Cameroon import duty & tax guide

Every levy explained — duty brackets, VAT, SGS inspection, community taxes.

The CEMAC common external tariff

5%

Category I — Essentials

Medicines, books, agricultural inputs

10%

Category II — Raw & industrial

Raw materials, industrial equipment

20%

Category III — Consumer goods

Electronics, fashion, beauty, home goods (most resale items)

30%

Category IV — Non-essential

Perfumes, vehicles, premium/luxury goods