Landed cost guide · 2026-10-15

Import duty from South Africa to the European Union

For a typical commercial shipment of cotton T-shirts from South Africa to the European Union worth 10,000.00 EUR, duties, taxes and fees come to about 3,610.88 EUR, or 36.11% of the goods value, before any EU–SADC EPA preference. Use the calculator below with your own figures.

Quick estimate: what are you shipping from South Africa?

What are you buying or shipping? Write it the way you would say it. We search everyday words and the official tariff.

Where is it coming from? Where is it going?

Your currency Price of the item () Shipping cost ()

Who is it for?

Pick a product and enter the price to see the result here.

Duty is charged on: CIF value at the EU border
Duty-free threshold: None since 1 July 2026. B2C parcels up to €150 pay a flat €3 per item type until July 2028; larger shipments pay the normal tariff.
VAT / sales tax: Import VAT at the member state's rate (17–27%) on CIF + duty.
Trade agreement: EU–SADC EPA: qualifying goods can enter at 0% with proof of origin.
Extra tariffs on goods from South Africa: No country-specific additional duty beyond the normal tariff.
Other fees: National handling fees; an EU-wide handling fee of about €2 is under discussion.

Detailed calculator: South Africa to European Union

1Route

Country of origin Destination

2Shipment type

3Values

Goods value (invoice) Freight Insurance Units

4Product and rates

Product group Duty rate %A typical rate is filled in; change it to match your HS code.

I have preferential origin proof

China Section 301 list Distinct item types in parcel Extra duty % (anti-dumping, Section 232, retaliation)Any product-specific extra duty.

Typical duty rates

Product	MFN	EU–SADC EPA
Apparel – cotton knit (HS 6109)	12%	0%*
Leather footwear (HS 6403)	8%	0%*
Towels / home textiles (HS 6302)	12%	0%*
Computers / phones (HS 8471, 8517)	0%	0%*

Typical rates for common tariff lines, for orientation only. The rate for your goods depends on the full HS code; look it up in the EU TARIC. *0% applies only to goods that meet the agreement's rules of origin; agricultural goods may be excluded.

Worked example: 10,000.00 EUR of cotton T-shirts by sea

Goods 10,000.00, freight 800.00, insurance 50.00 EUR; commercial import; duty rate 12%; VAT at Germany's 19%.

Line	EUR
Customs duty 12% × 10,850.00 CIF	1,302.00
Import VAT 19% × 12,152.00	2,308.88
Total duties and fees	3,610.88
Landed cost (CIF + duties)	14,460.88

With EU–SADC EPA proof of origin the same shipment would cost 2,061.50 EUR in duties and taxes.

Small parcel: 80.00 EUR online order

A consumer ordering goods worth 80.00 EUR plus 12.00 shipping by post would pay about 21.05 EUR in import charges.

Line	EUR
Customs duty €3 × 1 item types	3.00
Import VAT 19% × 95.00	18.05
Total duties and fees	21.05
Landed cost (CIF + duties)	113.05

Frequently asked questions

How much is import duty from South Africa to the European Union?

It depends on the product's tariff code. As an example, cotton T-shirts worth 10,000.00 EUR shipped commercially by sea pay about 3,610.88 EUR in duties, taxes and fees (36.11% of the goods value). No country-specific additional duty beyond the normal tariff.

Is there a duty-free limit for parcels to European Union?

None since 1 July 2026. B2C parcels up to €150 pay a flat €3 per item type until July 2028; larger shipments pay the normal tariff.

Does South Africa have a trade agreement with European Union?

Yes. Under EU–SADC EPA, goods that meet the rules of origin can enter at reduced or zero duty with proof of origin.

How is import VAT calculated in European Union?

Import VAT at the member state's rate (17–27%) on CIF + duty.