Amazon's Delivery Service: Angola's Accessibility

Amazon is a popular choice for online shoppers in Angola, but the American company does not ship all products to the country. While a select few items can be shipped to Angola, around two-thirds of third-party sellers on Amazon do not ship internationally. This is mainly due to the time and money required to get products through Angola Customs, which can be a poor customer experience for many stores. Additionally, selling internationally adds complexity to the process, as some products need to comply with Angola's regulations, and issues like international warranties, returns, packaging materials, and after-sale support become more complicated.

However, there are ways to get around these restrictions and receive Amazon products in Angola. One option is to use a freight forwarder like MyUS.com, which provides a US address for customers to ship their Amazon purchases to and then forwards them to Angola. Another option is to use a shipping service like ColisExpat, which connects European sellers like Amazon with countries that they don't deliver to.

Amazon's international shipping options

Amazon does ship products internationally, but this depends on the item in question. The company has an international section that only displays items available to ship outside of the US. However, around two-thirds of third-party sellers on Amazon do not ship internationally at all.

If you are shopping on Amazon and want to ship to an international address, you can set up a "1-Click address" for your country. Amazon will then only display items that can be shipped to that destination.

If you want to ship an item from Amazon to a country that is not listed as one of their eligible international destinations, you will need a freight forwarder. This is a company that provides a US/UK address so that you can ship any product to them, and then have them ship it to your address.

One such company is MyUS.com, which offers a free 30-day trial and has the lowest rates, according to one source. MyUS also offers a free estimate on the cost of shipping before you purchase items from Amazon.

Another option is ColisExpat, which receives your Amazon purchases and forwards them to your house in Angola. They offer competitive rates and a premium subscription with reduced rates.

Freight forwarders

While Amazon does ship some products to Angola, the process is not straightforward due to customs complications, high shipping costs, and long delivery times. This is where freight forwarders come in.

• Sign up for an international shipping forwarder with a company such as MyUS.com, ColisExpat, or Global Shopaholics.
• Set up a US/UK shipping address with the freight forwarder.
• Shop on Amazon USA or UK and use the US/UK shipping address provided by the freight forwarder.
• Once your purchase is received by the freight forwarder, they will notify you and you can select your preferred shipping method and pay for the shipping charges.
• The freight forwarder will then ship the package to your Angola address.

Benefits of using freight forwarders:

• You can access a wider range of products that Amazon does not directly ship to Angola.
• Freight forwarders can consolidate multiple packages into a single shipment, reducing shipping costs.
• Some freight forwarders offer discounted shipping rates for members or frequent users.
• You can track your shipment using a tracking number provided by the freight forwarder.

Considerations when using freight forwarders:

• You are responsible for export/import compliance for orders that you or your freight forwarder export/import.
• Amazon will not accept returns or issue refunds for lost or damaged items that you or your freight forwarder export.
• Additional customs fees may apply when using freight forwarders.

Shipping costs to Angola

MyUS

MyUS is a popular shipping forwarder that offers international shipping from Amazon to Angola. MyUS offers a free 30-day trial and provides a US shipping address to which Amazon products can be delivered. MyUS then forwards the packages to Angola. MyUS has long-term partnerships with major global carriers, including Aramex, DHL, FedEx, and UPS, and offers exclusive low rates and fast delivery times. They also provide door-to-door tracking and package consolidation services, which can reduce international shipping rates by up to 80%.

MyUS calculates shipping costs based on package weight only, rather than using dimensional weight calculations. They offer a shipping calculator to estimate costs, with rates starting at US$32.75 for shipping to Angola.

ColisExpat

ColisExpat is another shipping forwarder that allows customers to receive products from Amazon and other European websites at their door in Angola. They provide a P.O. Box for free and forward packages to Angola. ColisExpat offers competitive rates and reduced rates for premium members. They also provide a repackaging option to reduce the volume of the parcel, which can result in savings. However, specific details about their pricing structure are not readily available.

Easyship

Easyship is a platform that provides pre-negotiated shipping rates from various courier services to Angola. They offer a wide range of couriers, including Fedex - International Priority, Hong Kong Post - Speedpost, and DirectLink - MMP. Easyship also provides shipping documentation and guidance on Angola customs and regulations. While they do not provide specific pricing information, they claim to offer discounts of up to 91% off standard rates.

Amazon International Shopping Portal

Amazon has an international shopping portal that displays items available for international shipping. After setting up an account and adding a 1-click Angola address, Amazon will show only the products that can be shipped to Angola. This option provides direct access to Amazon's international shipping options, but it may be limited in terms of product availability and shipping rates.

In summary, there are several options for shipping costs to Angola, each with its own advantages and features. MyUS and ColisExpat are popular shipping forwarders that provide US addresses and forwarding services to Angola, while Easyship offers discounted rates from multiple couriers. Additionally, Amazon's international shopping portal allows for direct shipping to Angola, but product availability may be more restricted.

Angola Customs

Import Requirements and Documentation:

The process of importing goods into Angola involves significant paperwork and bureaucracy. Foreign exporters must provide the following documents:

• Original Air Way Bill (AWB) or Bill of Lading (BL).
• Original Commercial Invoice with HTS codes for each item.
• Angolan Loading Certificate issued in the country of shipment.
• Import License or phytosanitary certificate for certain products.
• Shipments to Angolan ports require a Loading Certificate from the National Council of Angolan Shippers (CNCA).

Customs Duties and Taxes:

Import taxes and fees in Angola are calculated based on the CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) value of the goods. Here are the key customs duties and taxes:

• Import Duty: Varies from 2% to 50%, with an average of 10.9%. The highest import duties are on products like coffee (50%), beverages (43.7%), fruits and vegetables (43.3%), and fish (25.3%).
• General Customs Fee: A flat rate of 2%.
• Brokerage Fee: Ranges from 0.5% to 2%, with an average of 2%.
• Port Fees: USD 90 for a 20' container and USD 153 for a 40' container.
• Terminal Handling Port Fees: Up to USD 278 per 20' container or USD 473 per 40' container.
• Stamp Duty: A flat rate of 1%.

Customs Regulations and Compliance:

• Prohibited and restricted imports: Certain goods are prohibited or restricted from being imported into Angola. It is important to refer to the official Customs regulations for details.
• Labeling and Marking Requirements: Products must comply with specific labeling and marking standards.
• U.S. Export Controls: U.S. exporters should be aware of any export controls or restrictions when shipping to Angola.
• Packaging and Shipping Requirements: Angola has specific requirements for packaging and shipping, including the use of Angolan Loading Certificates.

Challenges and Delays:

The Angola Customs process can be challenging due to factors such as heavy bureaucracy, corruption, and long delays in customs control of goods. Foreign exporters should carefully select distributors with experience in importing and knowledge of customs broker capacities to minimize potential delays and problems.

In summary, Angola Customs presents a complex and time-consuming process for foreign exporters. Understanding the import requirements, documentation, duties, taxes, and regulations is essential for successfully navigating the challenges of importing goods into Angola.

Amazon Prime in Angola

Amazon does deliver to Angola, but there are some complications. Firstly, only a select few products on Amazon can be shipped to Angola, and around two-thirds of third-party sellers do not ship internationally at all.

The main reason for this is the Angolan Customs process, which is time-consuming and costly. Products from Amazon are likely to be held up, inspected, and subject to import duty. This can create a poor customer experience, which Amazon seeks to avoid. Additionally, there is the complexity of selling internationally, with regulations, international warranties, returns, packaging materials, and after-sale support to consider.

The actual shipping process is also challenging. The seller is responsible for completing itemized customs documents, validating the Angolan address, calculating the higher shipping cost, offering detailed tracking, and supporting longer delivery times.

However, there are ways to get around these issues. One option is to use a freight forwarder like MyUS.com, which provides a US/UK address so that you can ship products to the forwarder, who then ships them to your Angolan address. This option tends to be more expensive but makes buying from Amazon possible.

Another option is to use a service like ColisExpat, which connects European sellers like Amazon with countries that they don't deliver to. ColisExpat provides a transit address, receives your packages, and forwards them to your house in Angola.

Regarding Amazon Prime, as of October 2021, Prime membership is available in the following countries: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the UK, and the US. Angola is not on this list, so it seems that Amazon Prime is not available in Angola. However, Amazon Prime Video, the streaming service, is available in over 200 countries, so it may be accessible in Angola.

Frequently asked questions