It will be enforced from August 3. Maersk urgently notifies: If the code is not obtained, the goods may not be shipped.
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Following the implementation of pre-declaration systems such as Egypt's ACID and the UAE's Advance Manifest, Africa's import supervision is facing new regulations.
The Kenya Revenue Authority announced thatStarting from August 3, 2026, all imported container goods shipped to Kenyan ports must complete advance cargo declaration before shipment, obtain an ACD reference number and mark it on the bill of lading. Otherwise, they will face risks such as failure to ship normally, delays in customs clearance and even additional costs.
Maersk has issued an emergency notice to customers around the world, reminding shippers, exporters and freight forwarding companies to prepare for compliance as soon as possible.
Kenya officially implements ACD advance cargo declaration system
Maersk announced that according to the latest regulatory requirements of the Kenya Revenue Authority, starting from August 3, 2026, all container imports whose destination port is a Kenyan port must implement a new advance cargo declaration system.
Specific regulations include: ACD declaration must be completed before the goods are shipped; an ACD reference code must be obtained after successful declaration; the code must be marked on the official bill of lading; goods that have not obtained an ACD code or the bill of lading does not correctly display the code will not meet regulatory requirements.
Maersk reminds: Apply in advance to avoid delays and additional costs
Maersk stated that the ACD reference code is a mandatory compliance requirement for future import business in Kenya. the companyIt is recommended that customers arrange the declaration work in advance to ensure that the export information is complete and consistent, the ACD code is obtained in a timely manner, and the bill of lading accurately displays the code, so as to avoid cargo delays, relocations, additional operating costs, or customs clearance obstructions due to document discrepancies.
Introduction to the ACD system
ACD (Advance Cargo Declaration) is a pre-shipment electronic declaration mechanism that requires export goods to submit cargo information to Kenya Customs in advance before loading at the port of departure, so that regulatory authorities can conduct risk analysis and import review, thereby improving customs clearance efficiency and strengthening trade supervision. The new platform applies to all containerized cargo destined for Kenyan ports.
ACD reference encoding format
According to the example published by Maersk, the ACD code uses a 15-digit alphanumeric combination and the format is "ACDKE2026004324". Among them, "ACDKE" is a 5-digit fixed prefix (ACD plus Kenya country code), "2026" is a 4-digit year, and "004324" is a 6-digit sequential serial number. This code is mandatory information that must be obtained before the bill of lading is issued.
ACD application process
According to the operational guidelines published by Maersk, shippers, exporters or freight forwarders must follow the following steps: log in to the official Kenya ACD platform to complete registration; upload relevant documents to generate an ACD draft; pass the review and pay the fee to obtain the final valid ACD certificate and reference code; confirm that the 15-digit ACD reference code has been correctly displayed on the final bill of lading before arranging the export of the goods. Documents such as draft bill of lading, commercial invoice, freight invoice and export declaration form must be uploaded when applying.
Impact on Chinese export companies and freight forwarders
With the official implementation of Kenya's ACD system, relevant parties involved in Kenyan business need to adjust their operating procedures.
The industry recommends focusing on the following aspects: booking time must be reserved in advance for the ACD application cycle; document consistency requirements have been improved, and commercial invoices, draft bills of lading, and export declaration information must be consistent; freight forwarders must remind customers in advance to apply for ACD to avoid missing information that affects shipments; shipping companies must confirm that the ACD reference code has been correctly entered before issuing a bill of lading; for companies that have long-term exports to the East African market, it is recommended to incorporate ACD into the standard export operation process as soon as possible to reduce subsequent compliance risks.
Industry insiders believe that Kenya’s launch of the ACD platform marks the further advancement of digital supervision of imported goods in East Africa. For exporters, freight forwarders and shipping companies, completing pre-shipment declarations and improving document management in advance will become an important part of ensuring the smooth operation of the supply chain.
