A standard 40ft container from Alexandria to Jeddah Islamic Port costs approximately US$1,400 (range $1,232–$1,610) with a total sea transit of 6 days and typical door-to-door lead time of 13–17 days including port handling and customs clearance. Saudi Arabia applies 5% customs duty and 15% VAT on imported goods. GAFTA (Greater Arab Free Trade Area) removes duty on qualifying Arab-origin goods.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| 40ft container (low–high) | $1,232 – $1,610 |
| 20ft container (low–high) | $801 – $1,047 |
| Origin ports | Alexandria, Port Said, Sokhna |
| Destination ports | Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdulaziz Port, Jubail |
| Major carriers | MSC, CMA CGM, Maersk |
| Customs duty | 5% |
| VAT | 15% |
| FTA benefit | GAFTA (Greater Arab Free Trade Area) removes duty on qualifying Arab-origin goods. |
Indicative General Cargo rates; refreshed monthly by Tradloc's trade desk.
| Departure port | 40ft (USD) | 20ft (USD) | Sea transit (days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | $1,400 | $910 | 6 |
| Port Said | $1,344 | $874 | 6 |
| Sokhna | $1,372 | $892 | 6 |
Rates differ by loading port because of terminal handling and inland positioning costs in Egypt.
Indicative 40ft container freight into Saudi Arabia across the lanes importers request most often. The Egypt lane is highlighted, so you can see instantly whether switching origin would materially change your ocean freight line item. Figures are the mid-point of each lane's assessed range and exclude duty, VAT and destination clearance.
Egypt is a Red Sea neighbour origin for construction materials, fertilizers, food products and textiles, with Sokhna sitting directly on the Suez approach.
The shortest transit of any origin here, with Red Sea feeder and direct services into the lower Gulf.
Saudi Arabia is the largest consumption market in the GCC, with demand concentrated in construction materials, petrochemical feedstock, food staples and industrial equipment for Vision 2030 projects.
Run the freight estimator for Egypt → Saudi Arabia.