Container Shipping from Vietnam to Mauritania by Sea (Port of Nouakchott)
Container shipping from Vietnam to Mauritania costs include ocean freight, carrier surcharges, local charges at both ends and clearance fees at the destination port. Cargo from Vietnam is mainly discharged at the Port of Nouakchott and always moves via transshipment; based on schedules checked on 02/11/2026, sea transit takes about 31–49 days from Ho Chi Minh City and 40–52 days from Hai Phong on the faster services.
Table of contents:
I. What does container shipping from Vietnam to Mauritania cost, and what is included?
II. What drives costs and freight rate fluctuations on the Mauritania route?
III. Which port do shipments to Mauritania arrive at? Port of Nouakchott and connecting schedules
IV. Route bottlenecks and operational risks to watch in Mauritania
V. What to check when preparing export documents and the bill of lading for Mauritania
VI. What documents and customs procedures apply to imports into Mauritania?
VII. Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
VIII. Conclusion
I. What does container shipping from Vietnam to Mauritania cost, and what is included?
The cost of moving a container from Vietnam to the Port of Nouakchott (Mauritania) is made up of 4 main groups of charges:
Cost group | Details | Nature & responsibility |
1. Ocean freight (O/F) | Main-leg freight from the Vietnamese port of loading (HCM / HPH / DAD) to the port of discharge Nouakchott (MRNKC). | Paid to the carrier; includes the bunker adjustment factor (BAF) and peak season surcharge (PSS). |
2. Local charges in Vietnam (POL) | THC, Seal, B/L, Telex Release, VGM, Manifest and export customs clearance fees at the port of loading. | Paid directly to the carrier and terminal operator in Vietnam according to their published tariffs. |
3. Local charges at the port of Nouakchott (POD charges) | Destination THC, temporary storage and wharfage charged by the Nouakchott port operator. | Paid by the consignee to the carrier and the Nouakchott Port Authority (PANPA). |
4. Customs declaration & inland clearance services | Electronic customs declaration, inspection fees and trucking to the warehouse. | A licensed customs broker in Nouakchott acts for the cargo owner in line with the rules of the General Directorate of Customs (DGD). |
Note: Import duty and value added tax (TVA 16%) in Mauritania are declared and paid by the importer.
II. What drives costs and freight rate fluctuations on the Mauritania route?
Because all Vietnam – Mauritania shipments transship via Northwest African hubs, cost and transit time depend on 3 main factors:
Large differences between transshipment services:
Schedules checked on 02/11/2026 show clear differences in sea transit between services. From Ho Chi Minh City, Hapag-Lloyd's VNF service takes about 31 days and Maersk about 40 days, while MSC takes about 68 days and CMA CGM services 69–82 days. From Hai Phong, Hapag-Lloyd's VS1 service takes about 40 days, and CMA CGM 52 days or up to 76 days on some sailings. Choosing the right service code at booking reduces capital tied up in transit and limits the risk of contract delays.
Desert winds and coastal sandstorms:
Nouakchott lies on the edge of the Sahara Desert, facing the Atlantic Ocean. Harmattan winds bringing sandstorms or heavy swell can reduce visibility and restrict pilotage into the port, causing vessels to wait at anchorage.
Commodity type and storage requirements:
Mauritania imports large volumes of tea, rice, textiles, household electrical appliances and construction materials. Agricultural and food products on long voyages need humidity control inside the container to prevent mould caused by temperature changes.
Get an optimized shipping plan and have your export documents checked:
Related articles:
- Container shipping from Vietnam to Liberia by sea (Port of Monrovia)
- Container shipping from Vietnam to Sierra Leone by sea (Port of Freetown)III. Which port do shipments to Mauritania arrive at? Port of Nouakchott and connecting schedules
Sea containers from Vietnam to Mauritania are mainly discharged at the Port of Nouakchott, the country's main general commercial port:
1. Autonomous Port of Nouakchott (PANPA - MRNKC)
The Autonomous Port of Nouakchott (Port Autonome de Nouakchott dit "Port de l'Amitié" - PANPA) is the main gateway for containerized imports into Mauritania, handling feeder and mainline vessels from Northwest African hubs. The port serves most consumer goods, food, construction materials and machinery for the capital Nouakchott and inland mining projects. The Port of Nouadhibou in the north mainly handles iron ore and seafood exports.
2. Vessel schedules and actual transit times from Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong
According to Big Schedules data checked on 02/11/2026, sea transit from Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong to the Port of Nouakchott is as follows:
Port of loading | Carrier | Service code (at time of check) | Sea transit (reference) |
Ho Chi Minh City | Hapag-Lloyd | VNF (feeder to mainline) | About 31 days |
Ho Chi Minh City | Maersk | IA3, SV1 | 40 – 49 days (some sailings up to 70 days) |
Ho Chi Minh City | MSC | OCHNA | About 68 days |
Ho Chi Minh City | CMA CGM | SGSCNC, SGS2CNC, PEX2 | 69 – 71 days (74 – 82 days via PEX2) |
Hai Phong | Hapag-Lloyd | VS1 | About 40 days |
Hai Phong | CMA CGM | HSI1CNC | 52 days (some sailings 72 – 76 days) |
All of the above services transship via intermediate ports. Schedules and transit times change weekly; confirm with the carrier at booking.
IV. Route bottlenecks and operational risks to watch in Mauritania
When exporting containers to Mauritania, businesses should proactively manage the following operational risks:
Risk of missed connections at Northwest African transshipment hubs:
Cargo to Nouakchott usually transships at hubs such as Tanger Med (Morocco), Algeciras (Spain), Las Palmas (Canary Islands) or Dakar (Senegal). If the mother vessel is delayed, the container may have to wait at the transshipment port for the next feeder.
Container overtime charges (Demurrage & Detention):
Document checks, HS code determination and inspection by Mauritanian customs can take several days. Carriers' default free time is usually short, so negotiate combined free time (Combined D&D) of about 14–21 days at destination if the shipment needs more time for clearance.
Inland transport to mining regions:
For materials and equipment going to mining areas deep in the desert (such as Zouérat or Akjoujt), roads are long, the climate is harsh and infrastructure is limited, so trucks experienced on desert routes are needed.
V. What to check when preparing export documents and the bill of lading for Mauritania
H-Cargo highlights 2 document issues shippers should clarify from the start:
1. Cargo tracking note (ECTN/BESC): confirm at booking
There is currently no consistent official source on whether Mauritania requires an electronic cargo tracking note (ECTN/BESC). Common compiled lists do not include Mauritania among requiring countries, while some forwarders still state that it is needed.
Therefore, at booking, confirm with the carrier or the agent in Nouakchott whether the shipment needs a cargo tracking note, to avoid additional requests after the vessel has sailed.
2. Commercial documents in French or Arabic
Arabic is the official language of Mauritania, and French is widely used in trade and administration. The Commercial Invoice, Packing List and contract should be issued in French or bilingual English – French, with an Arabic version if the buyer requests it.
Documents in the right language with clear cargo descriptions help customs match HS codes quickly and reduce the risk of translation requests or physical inspection.
VI. What documents and customs procedures apply to imports into Mauritania?
Import customs clearance in Mauritania is managed by the General Directorate of Customs (Direction Générale des Douanes):
1. Mandatory documents for the shipment
Commercial Invoice: In French or bilingual English – French, stating the Incoterms, HS code, unit price and CIF value.
Packing List: Consistent with the invoice on number of packages, packing type, net weight and gross weight.
Bill of Lading: Showing the full cargo description, container number and seal number.
Certificate of Origin (C/O form B): Issued by VCCI when required by the buyer.
Cargo tracking note: Prepare only when the carrier or the destination agent confirms the shipment needs one.
2. Customs declaration and tax policy in Mauritania
Customs declaration: The import declaration (Déclaration en Douane) is filed electronically by a licensed customs broker in Nouakchott for risk channel assignment.
Value added tax (TVA): The standard rate on imports into Mauritania is 16%, calculated on the CIF value plus import duty; check again at the time of clearance.
Import duty (Droit de Douane): Mauritania's import duty ranges from about 0–35% depending on the product group (per trade.gov), calculated on the CIF value; check the specific rate by HS code before quoting. Vietnam and Mauritania have no free trade agreement (FTA), so imports are subject to standard rates.
VII. Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Do shipments to Mauritania need a BESC/ECTN certificate?
There is currently no consistent official source. Common ECTN lists do not include Mauritania among requiring countries, but some forwarders still state that it is needed. The safe approach is to confirm with the carrier or the agent in Nouakchott at booking.
2. How long does container shipping from Vietnam to the Port of Nouakchott take?
Based on schedules checked on 02/11/2026, sea transit is about 31–49 days on the faster services from Ho Chi Minh City and 40–52 days from Hai Phong. Services transshipping via several intermediate ports can take 68–82 days.
3. Which language should commercial documents for Mauritania be in?
Arabic is the official language, and French is widely used in trade and customs. Issuing the Commercial Invoice and Packing List in French (or bilingual English – French) makes customs checks easier and avoids translation requests at the destination port.
4. Which carriers have the shortest sea transit to Mauritania?
Based on schedules checked on 02/11/2026, Hapag-Lloyd services had the shortest sea transit in the data checked (about 31 days from Ho Chi Minh City and 40 days from Hai Phong), followed by Maersk at about 40 days from Ho Chi Minh City. Schedules change weekly, so confirm again at booking.
VIII. Conclusion
All Vietnam – Mauritania shipments transship via Northwest African hubs, and sea transit varies widely between services. Cost risks lie mainly in documents: document language, inconsistent cargo tracking note requirements and free time at destination. Three things to do before booking:
Choose the carrier and service code based on schedules at the time of booking, balancing transit time against cost.
Confirm with the carrier or the agent in Nouakchott whether the shipment needs a cargo tracking note.
Prepare documents in French and negotiate free time that matches the expected clearance time.
H-Cargo helps check documents, advises on routing and ships containers from Cat Lai, Cai Mep, Hai Phong and Da Nang to the Port of Nouakchott. Learn more about H-Cargo's international sea freight services.
Author: Navy Ngo - Marketing Specialist
Contact us for a free consultation:
H-Cargo International Logistics
· 113-115 Ung Van Khiem St., Ward Thanh My Tay, Ho Chi Minh City
· Tel: +84 888 909 186
· Email: jack.tran@hcargovn.com
· Web: www.hcargovn.com
Sources cited: Big Schedules vessel schedules for VNSGN - MRNKC and VNHPH - MRNKC (Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM), checked 02/11/2026; U.S. International Trade Administration (trade.gov) - Mauritania Import Tariffs; Wikipedia and GoFreight - lists of countries requiring ECTN; Port Autonome de Nouakchott (PANPA). Accessed 03/11/2026. For reference only, not a quotation. Check that regulations and tax policies are in force at the time of application.
Comments