RegulatoryHigh urgency
Kenya's mandatory Advance Cargo Declaration enters carrier-enforcement phase from 1 September 2026
The Kenya Revenue Authority launched a mandatory Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD) platform for all containerized cargo destined for Kenyan ports, effective 3 August 2026. A 15-digit ACD Reference Number must be obtained before cargo loading and endorsed on the Bill of Lading, generated after uploading a draft Bill of Lading, commercial invoice, freight invoice and export declaration to acd.kra.go.ke. Maersk's revised advisory states that from 1 September 2026 vessel carriers will be required to validate the ACD Reference Number prior to loading and load containers only when a valid number has been obtained. The requirement applies to containerized sea cargo, not air freight.
ITG interpretation: This shifts compliance upstream to the point of loading in Türkiye and China, meaning suppliers and forwarders — not just Kenyan importers — must be registered and ready, or containers risk being blocked at origin from September. EXW/FOB buyers are especially exposed if their supplier fails to generate the code.
Sources: Maersk – Revised ACD Update for Imports into Kenya · Kenya Revenue Authority – ACD Platform Public Notice · ONE – Mandatory ACD Reference Number for Imports into Kenya
Regulatory
AfCFTA Secretariat signs US$3.1bn, 20-year continental customs modernisation concession
The AfCFTA Secretariat signed a 20-year, US$3.1 billion customs modernisation concession with Bergmans Security Consultants and Supplies Limited in Abuja on 6 August 2026, covering about 50 countries. Bergmans finances the full amount, with the Secretariat stating member states take on no additional financial obligation. The project covers non-intrusive inspection technology, integrated data centres and multilingual customs portals, with deployment planned in at least six countries first before wider expansion.
ITG interpretation: If executed, standardized inspection tech and continental customs portals could gradually cut clearance friction and informal costs at African borders, but the single-vendor, 20-year structure and phased rollout mean benefits will be uneven and slow to reach ITG's core corridors. Early-adopter countries are where import-clearance improvements will surface first.
Sources: Rio Times – AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Concession
RegulatoryHigh urgency
Kenya mandates Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD) reference code for all containerized imports from 3 August 2026
The Kenya Revenue Authority launched a mandatory Advance Cargo Declaration platform (acd.kra.go.ke) requiring a 15-digit ACD reference code for all containerized cargo destined for Kenyan ports, effective 3 August 2026. Exporters or their agents must upload a draft bill of lading, commercial invoice, freight invoice and export declaration to generate the code, which must be endorsed on the bill of lading before cargo is loaded at origin. From 1 September 2026, vessel carriers must validate the ACD reference number prior to loading and only load containers that hold a valid code. The Shippers Council of Eastern Africa requested a postponement to October 2026, but KRA proceeded with the August rollout.
ITG interpretation: Compliance responsibility shifts upstream to suppliers and forwarders at origin in Türkiye and China, so any ITG shipment loaded without a valid code risks rollovers, delays and penalties. Contracts on EXW/FOB terms are especially exposed, since the Kenyan buyer may not control the origin-side declaration.
Sources: KRA – Public Notice: Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD) Platform · Maersk – Revised Update: Mandatory ACD Reference Number for Imports into Kenya · ONE – Notice of Mandatory ACD Reference Number for Imports into Kenya
RegulatoryHigh urgency
Kenya's mandatory Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD) platform now live; carrier validation enforced from 1 September
The Kenya Revenue Authority launched a mandatory Advance Cargo Declaration platform for all containerised cargo destined for Kenyan ports, effective 3 August 2026. Shippers/exporters must obtain an ACD reference code at the port of loading before cargo is loaded, by uploading a draft Bill of Lading, commercial invoice, freight invoice and export declaration, and endorse the code on the Bill of Lading. The requirement is tied to the Bill of Lading issue date: a B/L issued before 3 August is exempt, while one issued on or after that date is subject to the rule. Maersk advised that from 1 September 2026 vessel carriers must validate the ACD reference number before loading, and only containers with a valid number will be eligible for loading.
ITG interpretation: This shifts documentation work upstream to origin (China and Türkiye load ports), so any gap in ITG's pre-loading paperwork now risks cargo rollovers rather than post-arrival delays. The 1 September carrier-enforcement date is the hard deadline — after that, non-compliant containers simply will not board.
Sources: Kenya Revenue Authority — Public Notice · Maersk — Revised Update on Kenya ACD · Pulse Kenya
RegulatoryHigh urgency
Kenya's KRA Advance Cargo Declaration system goes live for all containerized imports (3 Aug 2026)
The Kenya Revenue Authority announced on 14 July the rollout of a new digital Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD) system for all containerized cargo, scheduled to go live on 3 August 2026. The system requires all containerized cargo destined for Kenya to obtain a reference code through the ACD platform prior to vessel loading.
ITG interpretation: Any China- or Türkiye-origin container bound for Mombasa now needs a pre-loading ACD reference code, so missing this step risks loading refusals or clearance penalties on the Mombasa gateway that also serves landlocked East African markets. This is a hard operational gate that must be embedded into booking SOPs immediately.
Sources: AMS Ports & Logistics
RegulatoryHigh urgency
Kenya mandates Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD) reference before loading for all containerized imports
The Kenya Revenue Authority launched a mandatory Advance Cargo Declaration platform (acd.kra.go.ke) for all containerized cargo destined for Kenyan ports, effective 3 August 2026. A 15-digit ACD reference code must be obtained before cargo loading and endorsed on the Bill of Lading, generated by uploading a draft Bill of Lading, commercial invoice, freight invoice and export declaration. From 1 September 2026, vessel carriers must validate the ACD reference number prior to loading, and only containers with a valid ACD number will be eligible for loading. The Shippers Council of Eastern Africa requested a postponement to October 2026, but KRA proceeded with the August rollout.
ITG interpretation: This shifts customs compliance upstream to ITG's suppliers and forwarders in Türkiye and China, meaning any documentation gap at origin can now block loading entirely rather than causing a delay at destination. For EXW/FOB orders, ITG must confirm in writing that every origin supplier is ACD-registered before the 1 September carrier-enforcement date.
Sources: Kenya Revenue Authority – Public Notice · Maersk – Revised ACD Update · ONE – ACD Notice · Streamline Feed