JLog is a Cape Town-based specialist logistics company that ships furniture internationally from South Africa for designers, manufacturers, and private clients. From bespoke dining tables by Cape Town’s top furniture makers to mid-century vintage pieces heading to collectors in London, we handle the entire process — custom crating, export clearance, international courier or sea freight, destination customs, and final delivery.South African furniture is in demand worldwide. The combination of exceptional craftsmanship, unique indigenous timbers, and competitive pricing makes South African pieces attractive to international buyers. But getting a dining table from Woodstock to Notting Hill — or a set of handmade chairs from Stellenbosch to Manhattan — involves more complexity than most people expect.This guide covers everything you need to know, whether you’re a furniture maker shipping your first international order or a private client relocating a cherished piece overseas.

Shipping a one-off designer or commissioned piece, an upholstered showroom commission, or a multi-piece collection for an international gallery or private collector? See the dedicated designer furniture export page for the white-glove crating, brand chain of custody, and HS 9403 specifics.

Importing Furniture INTO South Africa

Buying furniture overseas — a designer piece from an Italian or Danish maker, a vintage find from a UK dealer, a flat-pack consolidation from a US e-commerce brand — and bringing it into South Africa? JLog handles the inbound side end to end: international collection from the overseas seller, ocean or air freight into Cape Town, SARS customs clearance under one job number, duty and VAT settlement on your behalf, and door delivery to your address anywhere in South Africa.

What you’ll pay on entry

Two charges apply on import into South Africa: customs duty (the rate depends on the piece’s HS classification — wooden furniture sits under HS 9403, with rates that vary by material and use) plus 15% VAT calculated on the landed value (CIF — cost plus insurance plus freight — plus duty). Where the consignment qualifies under a preferential trade agreement (EU-SADC EPA for EU origin, AGOA on the US side, SACU within the customs union), the duty rate may be reduced or zero with a valid certificate of origin from the overseas seller. JLog identifies the right tariff line at quote stage and lodges the certificate-of-origin claim on the SARS SAD500 declaration.

Documents and timing

For a clean import we need the commercial invoice with declared value in the export currency, the packing list per piece, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where preferential trade applies, and proof of payment to the overseas seller. ISPM-15 stamping on every plywood crate is mandatory at port — non-stamped crates are refused or fumigated at the importer’s cost. Sea freight from Europe runs roughly 28 to 35 days to Cape Town; from the US East Coast roughly 25 to 30 days; from the UAE roughly 18 to 22 days. Air freight is 3 to 6 working days door-to-door for parcel-class pieces and 5 to 9 working days for crated freight via Cape Town International.

What JLog does that a forwarder doesn’t

JLog prepares and files the SARS SAD500 as part of the job — no hand-offs. We collect from the overseas seller via our FedEx and DHL direct accounts (or a vetted forwarder for sea LCL / FCL), settle duty and VAT on your behalf where you ask us to, and deliver door-to-door with white-glove unpack at your address. For high-value or fragile pieces — antiques, designer commissions, marble or stone elements, fragile finishes — we apply the same custom-crating and condition-report discipline we use on the export side. No contracts, no monthly minimums; pay per consignment.

Exporting Furniture FROM South Africa

The rest of this guide walks the export side end to end — custom plywood crating to ISPM-15 specification, air freight via FedEx Express and DHL Express on our direct shipper accounts, sea LCL for larger consolidations, declared-value transit insurance lodged on the air waybill (we do not ship at the carrier statutory cap), SARS SAD500 export declaration, certificate of origin where preferential trade applies, and door-to-door delivery to the international buyer. The sections below cover packing, freight choice, destination-specific notes, insurance, and customs.

Packaging and Crating: The Foundation of Safe Delivery

Furniture is one of the hardest categories to ship safely. Unlike a painting (flat, rigid, relatively light), furniture has legs, glass components, moving parts, delicate finishes, and significant weight. Every protruding element is a potential damage point.For international shipping, custom wooden crating is not optional — it’s essential. Blanket wrap and cardboard protection work for domestic moves where you control the handling, but international freight involves multiple handlers, conveyor systems, forklift loading, and potentially rough cargo holds. Without a crate, damage rates on international furniture shipments exceed 30%.

How JLog Crates Furniture

Every furniture crate we build follows the same principles: ISPM-15 heat-treated timber (required for international shipments to prevent pest transmission), closed-cell foam lining on all interior surfaces, and custom internal bracing that holds the piece rigid without putting pressure on delicate surfaces.For a typical dining table, the process looks like this:

1. Disassembly — Remove legs, leaf extensions, and any glass components. Each piece is wrapped and packed separately.
2. Surface protection — The tabletop is wrapped in acid-free tissue (to protect the finish), then layered in foam sheeting. Foam corner protectors go on every edge.
3. Crate construction — A crate is built to the exact dimensions of the wrapped tabletop, plus 75mm clearance on all sides for foam. The crate base includes skid runners for forklift handling.
4. Internal bracing — Foam blocks and wooden braces secure the tabletop inside the crate so it cannot shift in any direction.
5. Legs and components — Wrapped separately and secured in their own compartment within the crate, or in a separate smaller crate.
6. Sealing and marking — The crate is screwed shut (not nailed — screws allow easy inspection and re-closing), stencilled with handling instructions, and weighed.

Air Freight vs. Sea Freight: Which to Choose

The two main options for shipping furniture from South Africa are air shipping (FedEx or DHL express courier for parcels, international airline cargo for larger consignments) and sea freight (via container shipping). The right choice depends on the size, urgency, and budget.

Air Freight (international airlines; FedEx/DHL for smaller parcels)

Air freight is faster and more reliable, but significantly more expensive per kilogram. It’s the right choice for single pieces, high-value items where the client needs fast delivery, and items where the shipping cost is a small percentage of the item’s value.Air freight is charged on chargeable weight — the greater of actual weight or volumetric weight. For furniture, volumetric weight almost always exceeds actual weight because furniture takes up a lot of space relative to its mass. FedEx calculates volumetric weight as Length x Width x Height (cm) ÷ 5,000.

Sea Freight

Sea freight makes sense for larger shipments — multiple pieces, full room sets, or trade orders. It’s charged by volume (per cubic metre for shared containers, or a flat rate for full containers) and is typically 60-80% cheaper than air freight per cubic metre.The trade-off is time: ocean transit from Cape Town takes 18-22 days to the UK and Europe, 25-30 days to the US East Coast, and 21-28 days to the Middle East. Add crating time, port handling, and destination clearance, and you’re looking at 4-8 weeks total.

Shipping to Specific Destinations

Shipping Furniture to the United Kingdom

The UK is the single most popular destination for South African furniture exports. Cape Town design studios, vintage dealers, and bespoke makers ship to the UK market regularly.Customs: Under the UK-SACUM Economic Partnership Agreement, most South African furniture enters the UK at 0% import duty — provided you have a Certificate of Origin. Without the certificate, standard duty is 2.7%. UK VAT at 20% applies on the CIF value plus any duty, regardless. For a table worth R80,000 CIF, that’s approximately £3,200 in VAT (at R20/£1) with no duty if you have the certificate.Delivery: JLog partners with UK-based delivery agents for final mile. Standard delivery to a London address costs £80-£200 depending on the size. White-glove delivery (room of choice, unpacking, assembly, packaging removal) costs £150-£400.

Shipping Furniture to the USA

The US market is growing for South African furniture, particularly in the interior design and hospitality sectors. New York, Los Angeles, and Miami are the most common destinations.Customs: US import duties on wooden furniture (HS 9403.50) are 0% under Most Favoured Nation (MFN) rates — no trade agreement certificate needed. Upholstered furniture (HS 9401) may attract 0-6.5% duty depending on the specific classification. There is no federal VAT/sales tax on imports, but state sales tax may apply depending on the destination state.Compliance: The USA requires a customs bond for imports valued over $2,500. JLog’s US customs agent arranges this as part of the service. Wooden crates must be ISPM-15 certified — which all JLog crates are.

Shipping Furniture to Europe

Under the SA-EU Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA), South African furniture enters the European Union at preferential duty rates — 0% for most wooden furniture categories with a valid EUR.1 Certificate of Origin. Without it, the standard EU rate is 2.7%.EU VAT rates vary by country: Germany 19%, France 20%, Netherlands 21%, Italy 22%, Sweden 25%. VAT is charged on the CIF value plus any duty. For commercial shipments, your EU-based customer may be able to defer or reclaim the VAT through their local tax system.

Shipping Furniture to the Middle East

Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Doha are increasingly popular destinations for South African furniture — driven by the hospitality industry, interior design projects, and private clients.Customs: UAE import duty on furniture is 5% on CIF value. No VAT currently applies on furniture imports in most Gulf states, though the UAE charges 5% VAT. Saudi Arabia charges 15% VAT. There are no preferential trade agreements between South Africa and GCC countries.Logistics: Air freight from Cape Town to Dubai is fast — 2-3 days transit via direct flights. Sea freight takes 21-28 days. The Middle East route is well-served by both options.

Insurance: Protecting Your Shipment

Furniture is expensive to make and expensive to replace. Standard carrier liability covers roughly R200 per kilogram — meaning a 50kg table worth R80,000 would only be covered for R10,000 if it’s damaged or lost.JLog arranges comprehensive transit insurance through Alpec, typically at 1.5-3% of the declared value. This covers damage, loss, and theft from the moment we collect the item until it’s delivered at the final destination. For a R80,000 table, insurance costs around R1,600-R2,400.To make a claim, you need pre-shipping documentation: photographs of the item from multiple angles, a written condition report, and an accurate valuation. JLog photographs and documents every piece we handle — this documentation is included in our service.

Export Customs Clearance from South Africa

Exporting furniture from South Africa requires a customs declaration — but it’s simpler than importing. There are no export duties on furniture, and the documentation is straightforward: commercial invoice, packing list, and air waybill or bill of lading.The key compliance requirement is the ISPM-15 stamp on all wooden packaging. This international standard requires wooden crates and pallets to be heat-treated to 56°C for 30 minutes, killing any insects or larvae in the timber. Without this stamp, your crate may be refused entry at the destination. All JLog crates are built from ISPM-15 certified timber and carry the official stamp.If your furniture contains materials from protected species — for example, certain hardwoods like African Blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon) — you’ll need a CITES export permit. JLog can advise on whether your specific timber requires a permit and assist with the application if needed.

The Complete Process: From Workshop to Client

Here’s how the full process works when you ship furniture internationally through JLog:1. Quote. You send us the item details — description, dimensions, weight, value, photos, and destination. We send an all-inclusive quote covering collection, crating, courier or sea freight, export clearance, documentation, and insurance. Quotes go out within 2 hours during business hours.2. Collection. Our team collects the furniture from your workshop, showroom, or home. For Cape Town metro, collection is included in the quote. For items outside Cape Town, we coordinate with local transport partners.3. Crating. We build the crate at our Woodstock workshop, typically within 2-5 business days depending on complexity. We photograph the item before and during crating, and document its condition.4. Export clearance. We prepare the commercial invoice, packing list, and export declaration. For items requiring CITES or other permits, we handle the applications.5. Transit. The crated furniture ships via FedEx, DHL, or sea freight depending on the service selected. You get a tracking number and real-time updates through the JLog platform.6. Destination clearance. For most destinations, JLog coordinates with a local customs agent to clear the shipment through destination customs. We pre-prepare all required documents to minimise delays.7. Final delivery. The furniture is delivered to the final address. For FedEx/DHL express-courier shipments, delivery is to the front door. For airline air freight, delivery is typically airport-to-airport unless we add door-to-door. For sea freight or white-glove service, we can arrange room-of-choice delivery, unpacking, assembly, and packaging removal through our destination partners.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Quoting on actual weight instead of volumetric weight. Furniture is bulky relative to its mass. Air freight charges on whichever is greater — actual or volumetric weight. A sofa that weighs 40kg might have a volumetric weight of 300kg+. Always calculate volumetric weight before accepting an order or quoting a client.Using non-ISPM-15 timber for crates. If your crate timber doesn’t carry the ISPM-15 heat treatment stamp, the destination country can refuse entry, fumigate the crate (potentially damaging the furniture with chemicals), or destroy the packaging entirely. This is a hard rule in the EU, UK, USA, Australia, and most other countries.Not claiming preferential duty rates. South African furniture qualifies for 0% duty in the UK and EU under trade agreements — but only if you provide a Certificate of Origin. Without it, the client pays 2.7% duty unnecessarily. JLog prepares Certificates of Origin for every qualifying shipment.Shipping furniture without disassembly. A dining table shipped fully assembled takes up 3-4 times more volume than one with the legs removed and packed separately. That difference can mean thousands of rands in additional freight charges. JLog disassembles where possible — always with the maker’s guidance on how to do it safely.Inadequate insurance. Bespoke furniture takes weeks or months to make. If it’s damaged in transit and you only have standard carrier liability, the loss is catastrophic. Full transit insurance at 1.5-3% of value is a minor cost relative to the risk.