How to Import Goods from China to Nigeria: Steps, Paperwork and Landed Cost
What importing from China to Nigeria really involves
Every shipment moves through the same chain: you buy from a supplier in China, a freight forwarder moves the cargo, it lands at a Nigerian port or airport, and a licensed clearing agent moves it through customs before it reaches your shop or warehouse.
Most delays and losses happen in three places: wrong paperwork, an unverified supplier, and a landed-cost estimate that ignored duties and port charges. Get those right and the process stays manageable even on your first order.
Step 1: Confirm your product is allowed and what permits it needs
Before you contact any supplier, check two things.
Prohibited and restricted items. Nigeria Customs publishes a prohibition list. Used clothing, certain textile categories, and some weapons and chemicals are banned or restricted. Bringing them in gets your cargo seized, and you carry the loss.
Regulatory approval. Some products need clearance before shipping:
- SONCAP – Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme. Covers electronics, cables, tires, toys, building materials, gas cylinders and many other regulated goods. You need a Product Certificate (PC), then a SONCAP Certificate (SC) per shipment.
- NAFDAC – food, drinks, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices and herbal products.
- NAQS – agricultural and plant products.
The HS code of your product tells you the duty rate and whether a permit applies. Ask your supplier for the exact HS code and confirm it with your clearing agent.
Step 2: Verify suppliers before you send money
Common sourcing channels:
| Channel | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Alibaba | Verified suppliers, Trade Assurance | Higher prices than factory-direct |
| Made-in-China, Global Sources | Industrial and bulk goods | Less buyer protection |
| 1688 | Lowest prices | Chinese-only platform, needs an agent |
| Canton Fair | Meeting factories in person | Travel cost and time |
Whatever channel you use, ask for the business licence, a live factory video, and photos of the actual product. Order samples first, even if it costs you. A sample that matches the spec is worth more than a hundred catalogue photos.
Step 3: Agree on price, MOQ and shipping terms
Incoterms decide where your responsibility starts and ends.
| Term | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| EXW | You pay from the factory gate — usually the worst option |
| FOB | Supplier delivers to the Chinese port; you pay freight and insurance |
| CIF | Supplier pays freight to a Nigerian port; you still clear customs |
| DDP | Supplier handles everything to your door — rare and expensive |
FOB is the most common choice for Nigerian buyers because it lets you use your own forwarder.
On payment: a 30% deposit with 70% against the bill of lading copy is standard. Bigger orders can use a letter of credit. Never pay into a personal account, and confirm that the beneficiary name on the bank details matches the company name on the invoice.
Step 4: Prepare the documents before the cargo sails
- Form M – opened through your bank with a proforma invoice. You need a registered company, TIN and a valid import licence where applicable.
- PAAR – Pre-Arrival Assessment Report, generated through NICIS II once your documents are complete.
- Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill, certificate of origin.
- SONCAP certificate or NAFDAC approval where required.
- Marine insurance.
Start Form M early. It is the single biggest cause of cargo sitting at the port.
Step 5: Pick your shipping method
| Method | Typical transit time | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Sea LCL | 30–45 days | 1–10 CBM, mixed goods |
| Sea FCL (20ft/40ft) | 25–35 days | 15 CBM and above |
| Air freight | 5–10 days | Light, high-value, urgent items |
Main sea ports: Apapa, Tin Can Island, PTML (vehicles), Onne and Port Harcourt. Air: Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.
LCL looks cheap per CBM but adds consolidation, CFS and handling charges. Once you pass roughly 15 CBM, a 20ft container usually costs less overall.
Step 6: Work out your landed cost properly
This is where most new importers get caught out. Your landed cost is not the supplier's price plus freight.
| Cost item | Typical figure |
|---|---|
| FOB value of goods | From supplier |
| Freight and insurance | Per forwarder quote |
| Import duty | 5%–35% depending on HS code |
| VAT | 7.5% on CIF plus duty |
| CISS | 1% of FOB |
| ETLS | 0.5% of CIF |
| Terminal, shipping line and CFS charges | Varies by port |
| Clearing agent fee | Negotiated |
| Haulage to your location | Negotiated |
Add the naira-dollar rate you actually paid, not the official rate. A shipment that looked profitable at ₦1,000 to the dollar can turn into a loss at ₦1,600.
Mistakes that cost Nigerian importers the most
- Under-declaring value to reduce duty. Customs uses transaction value and reference databases; penalties and seizures cost far more than the duty saved.
- Shipping regulated goods without SONCAP. The cargo sits at the port accruing rent.
- Paying 100% upfront to a supplier you have never tested.
- Using an unlicensed clearing agent and losing the goods or the documents.
- Forgetting demurrage and storage, which start after the free days run out.
- Ordering far below or far above your real MOQ needs, which ties up cash either way.
Realistic timeline for a first order
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Supplier search and sampling | 1–3 weeks |
| Form M and payment | 1–2 weeks |
| Production | 2–4 weeks |
| Sea transit | 4–6 weeks |
| Customs clearing | 3–10 days |
A first sea shipment from China to Nigeria normally takes 8 to 14 weeks from payment to delivery. Air freight cuts this to about 3 to 5 weeks.
GlobemX connects Nigerian and African buyers with vetted Chinese suppliers and competitive MOQ pricing, so sourcing and consolidating your first order takes less guesswork. You can also get help matching products to the right HS codes and shipping route before you commit.