Electrical cables and wires
Low and medium-voltage power cables, control cables, building wires and cables. State the cross-sections, drum lengths and the standard required.
Electrical cables Power and control cables Building wires and cables
MARKETS · DJIBOUTI
Importing into Djibouti from Tunisia: ECTN, COMESA preference and the port of Doraleh
MWB TRADING offers importers, distributors and contractors in Djibouti products from Tunisia for buildings, power networks and water supply: cables and wires, transformers and substations, pipes and fittings, cement and plaster, tiles and sanitaryware, and lighting. Goods leave from Radès (Tunis) or Sfax, and our offers are made delivered to the port of Djibouti, on CFR or CIF terms.
This guide sets out the verified points for importing into Djibouti: the electronic cargo tracking note (ECTN) required for containers discharged in the country, the 0% customs duty set by the 2025 Finance Law for goods originating in the COMESA or AfCFTA free trade areas, the Doraleh terminals and the route to Ethiopia, and what to state in your enquiry.
- Doraleh
- container terminal operated by SGTD and multipurpose port opened in 2017, at the core of Djibouti’s port system
- ECTN
- electronic cargo tracking note required since 15 June 2023 for containers discharged in Djibouti; its number appears on the bill of lading
- 0% COMESA · AfCFTA
- customs duty set by the 2025 Finance Law for goods originating in these free trade areas, with proof of origin
- Gateway to Ethiopia
- almost 97% of Ethiopia’s external freight went through Djibouti in the 2025-2026 fiscal year
- Radès · Sfax
- our departure ports in Tunisia
- CFR · CIF
- offers made delivered to the port of Djibouti, or FOB departure on request
Sources: Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority and the official CTN Djibouti platform (ECTN, 2023 and 2025); Djibouti 2025 Finance Law; WTO Trade Policy Review of Djibouti (2022) and regional press (September 2026) for customs; report of the Ethiopian Ministry of Transport and Logistics (August 2026); specialist press (2025). Checked in October 2026; to be confirmed with your freight forwarder before each shipment.
PRODUCT RANGES
The ranges we offer for Djibouti
These ranges from the MWB catalogue are offered from Tunisia for delivery to the port of Djibouti. References, required standards and quantities are confirmed in each offer; several product families can be grouped in the same container.
Transformers, substations and protection
MV/LV distribution transformers, packaged substations and surge arresters. State the rating, the voltages and the type of installation.
Transformers and network equipment MV/LV distribution transformers Prefabricated MV/LV substations Surge and lightning protectionPipes and fittings for water
HDPE and PVC pressure pipes for water supply, PVC drainage pipes, PPR pipes and fittings for plumbing. State the diameters, pressure ratings and lengths.
HDPE pipes and fittings PVC pressure pipes PVC drainage pipes and fittings PPR pipes and fittingsCement and plaster
Bagged grey and white cement, building and casting plasters, in 20-foot containers, on their own or grouped with other site supplies.
Grey and Portland cement White cement Plaster and casting fibresTiles, adhesives and sanitaryware
Floor and wall tiles, tile adhesives, sanitaryware and taps for housing, offices and hotels. State the formats, finishes and areas.
Floor and wall tiles Tile adhesives Taps and sanitaryware Taps and valvesLighting and street lighting
LED luminaires for buildings and warehouses, street lights for roads and logistics areas, with the technical data sheet of each model.
Lighting and luminaires Street lightingLOGISTICS AND DOCUMENTS
Importing through the port of Djibouti
Ports and routes
Containers leave from Radès (Tunis) or Sfax, with transhipment depending on the shipping line, for the port of Djibouti. The port of Djibouti, the Doraleh container terminal, operated by SGTD, and the Doraleh multipurpose port, opened in 2017, form the core of the port system. Djibouti is also Ethiopia’s main gateway: goods continue by road or on the electrified Addis Ababa–Djibouti railway, in commercial service since 2018.
Import documents
Since 15 June 2023, containers discharged in Djibouti, including those bound for the free zone, must be covered by an ECTN. The shipper or its freight forwarder obtains it at loading through the platform approved by the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority, on presentation of the bill of lading, the commercial invoice and the freight invoice; its number appears on the bill of lading. Cargo arriving without one may face clearance difficulties and penalties. Customs declarations are electronic, in the ASYCUDA World system, with the bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin; an electronic single window was being prepared in September 2026.
Inspection and conformity
Djibouti adopted a legal framework for standardisation in 2019, and the Djibouti Agency for Standardization and Quality was created by a 2022 decree. The sources consulted do not mention any pre-shipment inspection programme: have this confirmed by your freight forwarder. For cables, electrical equipment and cement, we attach the technical data sheets to our offer; state the standards required for your project (IEC, EN or other).
What to specify
References and quantities, required standards or specifications, packaging, preferred language for labels and instructions (French or Arabic), the freight forwarder handling the ECTN, the delivery point in Djibouti or the final destination for transit to Ethiopia, and the Incoterm: CFR or CIF Djibouti, or FOB.
Availability, transport, lead times and documents are confirmed in each offer.
YOUR ENQUIRY FOR DJIBOUTI
Let’s prepare your offer for Djibouti.
State your products, quantities and delivery point. Djibouti is already selected; you can change it.
Chat on WhatsAppYOUR QUESTIONS
Your questions about importing into Djibouti from Tunisia
Which cargo tracking document is needed for Djibouti?
An electronic cargo tracking note (ECTN), required since 15 June 2023 for containers discharged in Djibouti, including those bound for the free zone. It is obtained at loading through the approved platform, and its number appears on the bill of lading. Goods in direct transit to Ethiopia are exempt if the bill of lading says so.
Can Tunisian goods enter at zero customs duty?
Djibouti’s 2025 Finance Law sets a 0% customs duty for goods originating in the COMESA or AfCFTA free trade areas; for COMESA, customs require the electronic certificate of origin. The COMESA free trade area has applied to Tunisia since 2020, subject to reciprocity. We prepare the certificate of origin: have your freight forwarder confirm that the certificate issued in Tunisia is accepted. The zero rate covers customs duties; other import taxes, such as VAT, should be checked with your forwarder.
Can the goods continue to Ethiopia?
Djibouti is Ethiopia’s main gateway: almost 97% of Ethiopia’s external freight went through it in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Goods continue by road or on the Addis Ababa–Djibouti railway. In direct transit, Djibouti’s ECTN is not required if the bill of lading states the transit; formalities are then handled with Ethiopian customs, to be prepared with your freight forwarder.
Can you group several products or ship small quantities?
Yes. Several product families, such as cables, pipes and tiles, can be grouped in the same 20 or 40-foot container. Small volumes travel as groupage, and urgent small quantities can be sent by air from Tunis-Carthage on request.
On which Incoterm are your offers made?
On CFR or CIF terms, delivered to the port of Djibouti, from Radès or Sfax; FOB departure is possible on request. We prepare the commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and technical data sheets for the shipment.
