Shippers Council of Eastern Africa

Name

Shippers Council of Eastern Africa

Legal name

Shippers Council of Eastern Africa

Website

https://shipperscouncilea.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Shippers Council of Eastern Africa (SCEA) is a Nairobi-based, private-sector membership organization founded in 2006 that advocates for trade facilitation and logistics efficiency on behalf of importers, exporters, and logistics stakeholders across seven Eastern African countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: SCEA generates revenue through membership subscriptions from importers, exporters, freight forwarders, logistics service providers, and other stakeholders in the supply chain across Eastern Africa.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SCEA is a private-sector membership-based business organization that represents importers, exporters, and other logistics stakeholders in Kenya and the broader Eastern Africa region. Its core offerings include policy advocacy on trade facilitation, regulatory reform engagement with government bodies and port authorities, capacity building through training and workshops, knowledge dissemination via publications and surveys, and networking through industry events and forums. Membership is open to registered businesses involved in import/export operations across Eastern Africa.

Product overview

The Shippers Council of Eastern Africa (SCEA) is a business membership organization, not a technology product company. SCEA's offerings consist of advocacy services, knowledge resources, and industry events rather than software products or platforms. The core offerings include: research publications (Logistics Performance Survey, Logistics Spotlight Magazine, SCEA Publications), strategic planning resources (Strategic Plan 2022-2025), governance documents (Members Code of Ethics), service partnerships (Viaservice Container Solution for container deposit alternatives), and industry events (annual conferences and forums). SCEA represents importers and exporters across Eastern Africa, advocating for trade facilitation, regulatory reform, and reduced logistics costs. The organization operates digital platforms for member communications, publications distribution, and stakeholder engagement, but these are operational tools rather than distinct product offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Logistics Performance Survey Annual research publication surveying logistics efficiency, costs, and performance indicators across Eastern Africa's transport corridors, covering metrics such as customs efficiency, infrastructure quality, and cargo tracking capabilities. Made available to members and stakeholders.
• Logistics Spotlight Magazine
• SCEA Publications
• SCEA Strategic Plan 2022-2025
• East Africa Logistics, Warehousing & E-Commerce Conference & Expo Annual industry conference co-organized by SCEA with Nation Media Group and KIFWA, bringing together logistics leaders to discuss regional trade, supply chains, and digital commerce in Eastern Africa.
• Members Code of Ethics
• Viaservice Container Solution (VCS) Membership Benefit Member-only benefit providing discounted access to the Viaservice Container Solution, an alternative to container deposits at the Port of Mombasa, through SCEA's partnership with Viaservice Kenya Limited.
• SCEA Membership Subscription-based membership in the Shippers Council of Eastern Africa, open to all registered businesses in the region involved in import/export operations, including manufacturers, importers, exporters, logistics service providers, trade facilitation agencies, financial institutions, and consulting firms. Provides access to advocacy, publications, events, networking, and capacity building.

Quantifiable outcome

• SCEA has helped reduce cargo dwell time in Nairobi from 4.5 to 3.5 days through advocacy and stakeholder engagement.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Viaservice Kenya LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 August 2024SCEA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Viaservice Kenya Limited, a subsidiary of Swiss-based Viatrans SA, to address container deposit challenges at the Port of Mombasa. The collaboration facilitates deployment of Viaservice Container Solution (VCS), an alternative to container deposits. SCEA members receive discounted rates on VCS services. This partnership aims to unlock over $1.5 billion in working capital currently tied up in container deposits across East Africa.
• FEAFFA (East African Freight Forwarders Association)minorOthersListed as a related link and partner organization on SCEA's website. Both organizations work in the trade and logistics ecosystem in Eastern Africa.
• KenTrade (Kenya Trade Network Agency)coreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic partner providing the National Electronic Single Window System that facilitates digital permit processing and cargo clearance. SCEA engages with KenTrade to advocate for improvements in trade facilitation systems.
• Kenya Ports Authority (KPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey stakeholder partner. SCEA engages with KPA through structured engagements and port tours to address operational issues, advocate for efficiency improvements, and monitor port performance. The partnership focuses on improving cargo flow, reducing dwell times, and enhancing competitiveness of the Port of Mombasa.
• Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCritical regulatory partner for customs and trade policy. SCEA advocates with KRA on issues including certificate of origin requirements, marine cargo insurance mandates, and system improvements for cargo clearance.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman development agency listed as a related partner. GIZ supports trade facilitation and logistics development programs in the East African region.
• Trademark AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrade development organization that supports trade facilitation initiatives in Africa. Listed as a related partner organization on SCEA's website.
• Nation Media Group (NMG)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSCEA is partnering with NMG to co-organize the East Africa Logistics, Warehousing & E-Commerce Conference & Expo 2026, scheduled for July 30-31, 2026 in Nairobi.
• KIFWA (Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSCEA is co-organizing the East Africa Logistics, Warehousing & E-Commerce Conference & Expo 2026 with KIFWA, combining their industry networks to advance trade and logistics interests.
• Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCEA has engaged in structured consultations with KNRA regarding mandatory cargo screening requirements. SCEA advocated for deferred implementation and risk-based screening approaches to avoid trade disruptions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tanzania Shippers Council: Tanzanian shippers' association serving importers and exporters with a virtually identical mandate to SCEA, operating in an adjacent market along the Northern Corridor.
• Nigeria Shippers' Council: Federal government-backed shippers' council serving Nigerian cargo owners across import/export, freight, and port operations — the closest large-scale analogue of SCEA's mandate and business model in Africa.
• Cameroon Shippers' Council: National shippers' council operating in Cameroon as the representative body of importers and exporters, with the same advocacy mandate for trade facilitation and logistics efficiency that SCEA fulfills for Eastern Africa.
• Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (KIFWA): Kenyan trade and logistics association listed by SCEA as a co-organizing partner on industry events. Operates in the same Nairobi ecosystem and serves some overlapping members, making it a directly relevant peer for SCEA.
• Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA): Regional federation for freight forwarders across East Africa. Although FEAFFA represents forwarders rather than cargo owners (SCEA's constituency), both organizations operate as competing/overlapping membership bodies in the same regional trade and logistics advocacy space.
• Ghana Shippers' Authority: Statutory body promoting and protecting the interests of shippers in Ghana, providing advocacy, capacity building, and research in West Africa — closely parallels SCEA's role for East African cargo owners.

Broad incumbents

• International Chamber of Shipping: Principal international trade association for merchant shipping operators worldwide. Engages on regulatory and trade-facilitation issues that overlap with SCEA's mandate, though from a carrier-side rather than cargo-owner perspective.
• International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA): Global peak body for the freight forwarding industry, operating at a much wider geographic and policy scope. Serves as an incumbent umbrella whose priorities and standards shape the environment in which SCEA operates.
• World Shipping Council: Global trade association representing ocean carriers, whose policy advocacy on port efficiency and trade facilitation intersects directly with SCEA's mandate and stakeholder set.

Emerging players

• Trademark Africa: African trade and development organization funded to drive trade facilitation reforms across the continent. Overlaps with SCEA's mandate in East Africa and increasingly competes for the same donor and government mindshare.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/shipperscouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shippers-council-of-eastern-africa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shippers Council of Eastern Africa