Q: Do you work with small food producers or only large manufacturers?

We work with food producers of all sizes â from family-run artisan producers making their first international shipment to established manufacturers expanding into new regions. Our services are fully scalable: we can manage a single container trial shipment or an ongoing multi-country distribution programme.

Q: Sea freight or air freight â which is better for food export?

Sea freight is the right choice for most food exports â it is significantly more cost-effective for bulk volumes and suits shelf-stable products like grains, canned goods, nuts, and beverages. Air freight is the better option for perishable or time-sensitive products (fresh produce, seafood, premium meats) where speed outweighs cost.

Question 1

What does a food export company actually do?

Accepted Answer

A food export company manages the entire process of moving food products from a producer in one country to buyers in another. This includes finding qualified buyers, arranging freight and customs clearance, preparing all required documentation, ensuring regulatory compliance, and coordinating delivery.

Question 2

Which countries can you export my food products to?

Accepted Answer

We primarily export to markets across Africa and the Middle East â including Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. We also handle shipments to other regions on request. Our strongest trade corridors are West Africa, North Africa, and the Gulf states, where we have established buyer networks and regulatory knowledge.

Question 3

Is my food product suitable for export to Africa or the Middle East?

Accepted Answer

Most packaged, preserved, and shelf-stable food products are suitable for export to African and Middle Eastern markets. Key factors we assess include shelf life (minimum 6 months remaining at point of export is standard), packaging durability for long-distance transit, halal certification requirements for the destination market, and applicable import regulations.

Question 4

How do I start exporting food products internationally?

Accepted Answer

Starting food export involves five key steps: (1) identifying a viable target market with demand for your product, (2) understanding that market's import regulations and certification requirements, (3) finding qualified, vetted buyers or distributors, (4) arranging compliant logistics and documentation, and (5) managing customs clearance at both origin and destination.

Question 5

Do you work with small food producers or only large manufacturers?

Accepted Answer

We work with food producers of all sizes â from family-run artisan producers making their first international shipment to established manufacturers expanding into new regions. Our services are fully scalable: we can manage a single container trial shipment or an ongoing multi-country distribution programme.

Question 6

How long does international food shipping take?

Accepted Answer

Delivery time depends on the shipping method and destination. Sea freight to West Africa typically takes 10â21 days from a European port; East Africa and the Middle East 14â28 days. Air freight is significantly faster at 2â7 days door-to-door but is more expensive and suited to perishable or urgent shipments

Question 7

How much does it cost to export food internationally?

Accepted Answer

Export costs vary based on product type, volume, destination, and shipping method. The main cost components are: freight (sea or air), export packaging, documentation and certification fees, customs clearance charges at origin and destination, cargo insurance, and our service fee.

Question 8

Do you handle cold chain logistics for frozen or perishable food?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We manage cold chain and temperature-controlled logistics for frozen fish, meat, poultry, and other perishable food products. This includes refrigerated container (reefer) booking, temperature monitoring throughout transit, cold storage coordination at port, and ensuring the cold chain is not broken at any point from production facility to destination

Question 9

Sea freight or air freight â which is better for food export?

Accepted Answer

Sea freight is the right choice for most food exports â it is significantly more cost-effective for bulk volumes and suits shelf-stable products like grains, canned goods, nuts, and beverages. Air freight is the better option for perishable or time-sensitive products (fresh produce, seafood, premium meats) where speed outweighs cost.

Question 10

Can you ship small volumes or do you only handle full containers?

Accepted Answer

We handle both full container loads (FCL) and less-than-container loads (LCL). LCL consolidation is ideal for smaller volumes â your goods share a container with other compatible cargo, reducing cost significantly. This makes international export accessible for producers who are not yet shipping at full-container volumes.

Question 11

What documents are required for food export?

Accepted Answer

The standard documents required for international food export include: Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading (sea) or Airway Bill (air), Certificate of Origin, Health Certificate (for animal-based products), Phytosanitary Certificate (for plant-based products), Certificate of Conformity, and destination-specific import permits.

Question 12

Do you handle customs clearance at the destination country?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We coordinate customs clearance both at the EU export point and at the destination country's port of entry. We work with a network of licensed customs agents in our key markets who handle the import declaration, duty payment, and port release process on your behalf.

Question 13

What are Incoterms and which one should I use?

Accepted Answer

Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) are standardised codes that define who bears cost and risk at each stage of an international shipment. The most common for food exporters are: FOB (Free On Board â seller delivers to port, buyer handles freight and import), CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight â seller covers shipping and insurance to buyer's port), and DDP (Delivered Duty Paid â seller handles everything to buyer's door).

Question 14

What happens if my shipment is held at customs?

Accepted Answer

Shipment holds at customs are usually caused by incomplete or incorrect documentation, labelling non-compliance, or missing certificates. When we manage your export, our pre-shipment documentation audit is specifically designed to prevent this.

Question 15

Do African countries have specific labelling requirements for imported food?

Accepted Answer

Yes â and they vary significantly by country. Common requirements include: local language translation on packaging (French for West Africa, Arabic for North Africa and Middle East), specific date formatting for best-before and production dates, minimum font size requirements, country-of-origin declarations, and nutritional information in the correct local format. Labelling non-compliance is one of the top causes of customs rejection in African markets.

Question 16

Is halal certification required for food export to Africa and the Middle East?

Accepted Answer

Halal certification is mandatory for all meat, poultry, and animal-derived products exported to Muslim-majority markets â which includes most of West Africa, North Africa, and the entire Middle East. For plant-based products and beverages, halal certification may be required depending on ingredients (particularly additives and flavourings).

Question 17

Can you help me get halal certification for my products?

Accepted Answer

We can guide you through the halal certification process and connect you with accredited certification bodies recognised in your target market. Certification must be obtained from an authority recognised by the importing country's halal regulatory body â and these vary between Saudi Arabia, UAE, Nigeria, Egypt, and other markets.

Question 18

Do you handle organic or specialty certified food exports?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We handle food exports with a range of certifications including organic (EU Organic, USDA, etc.), Fair Trade, non-GMO, and various national quality marks. Specialty certifications can be a strong commercial advantage in premium African and Middle Eastern retail markets, where demand for certified quality products is growing

Question 19

What shelf life is required for food export to Africa?

Accepted Answer

Most African and Middle Eastern import markets require a minimum of 50â75% of the product's total shelf life remaining at the time of arrival at the destination port. In practical terms, this means a product with a 12-month shelf life should have at least 6â9 months remaining when it arrives.

Question 20

Are there food products that cannot be exported to certain markets?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Import restrictions vary significantly by country and product. Alcohol and pork products are prohibited in most Muslim-majority markets. Some countries restrict genetically modified (GMO) foods. Certain additives and preservatives approved in the EU are banned in specific African or Middle Eastern markets. Country-of-origin restrictions also apply in some cases â for example, some markets restrict imports from countries with active animal disease outbreaks.

Question 21

How do I start working with Global Trade Solution?

Accepted Answer

Getting started is simple. Contact us via our contact form, email, or WhatsApp with a brief description of your product, your target market, and your approximate volumes. We will arrange a free initial consultation â by video call, phone, or in person if you are near Hamburg or Cairo â to understand your situation fully and explain how we can help. There is no obligation and no cost for this first conversation.

Question 22

Do you offer all three services together or can I use just one?

Accepted Answer

Both options are available. Many clients use our full end-to-end service â trade solutions, logistics, and quality control together. Others engage us for a specific need: for example, a producer who already has a buyer may only need our logistics and compliance services. We are flexible and build each engagement around what you actually need. We will be transparent about where our involvement adds the most value and where you may not need us.

Question 23

Where are your offices and which languages do you work in?

Accepted Answer

We have two offices: our head office in Hamburg, Germany (20249) and a regional office in Cairo, Egypt. Our team works in English, German, and Arabic â which gives us a practical communication advantage when coordinating between European producers and African or Middle Eastern buyers. We are comfortable conducting business in any of these languages and can prepare documentation in the format required by your destination market.

Question 24

How long does a typical food export project take from start to first delivery?

Accepted Answer

For a new export relationship to a market we are active in, a realistic timeline from initial consultation to first delivered shipment is 6â12 weeks. This covers: buyer identification and vetting (2â4 weeks), contract and documentation preparation (1â2 weeks), production and packaging (varies), freight booking and departure (1â2 weeks), and transit and customs clearance (2â4 weeks depending on destination). We provide a detailed project timeline at the start of every engagement so you can plan your production and cash flow accordingly.

Question 25

What makes Global Trade Solution different from other food export companies?

Accepted Answer

Three things set us apart. First, we are genuinely specialised in food â not a general freight forwarder that also handles food. Every service we offer is built around the specific requirements of food trade. Second, we have real roots in the markets we serve â our Cairo office and founding team give us authentic relationships and cultural understanding in African and Middle Eastern markets that most European trade companies simply do not have. Third, we are founder-led and personally accountable â you will always deal directly with the people who own and run this business, not a junior account manager. That personal commitment is at the heart of everything we do.

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Quality Assurance Systems in Food Export

Food Export Market Entry Strategy Guide

Reducing Delays in Food Export Shipping

Choosing Reliable Buyers in Global Food Trade

Export Packaging Standards for Food Products

Food Export Documentation Compliance Guide

Strategic Buyer Relationship Management

Export Documentation Mastery Guide

Scaling Food Exports Sustainably

Food Export Risk Management Framework

Reducing Operational Risk in Multi-Country Food Exporting

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Global Trade Solution is a leading food export and logistics company, providing international trade services, customs clearance, and supply chain solutions for businesses expanding into Africa and the Middle East.

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