Importing from China is the backbone of thousands of Nigerian businesses — building materials, electronics, fashion, machinery, spare parts. The goods are rarely the hard part. Getting them from a factory in Guangzhou into your shop in Lagos, Kano or Port Harcourt, at a price you predicted in advance, is where most people lose money. This guide walks the whole route.
Current sea shipping rates to Nigeria
Sea freight from China is priced per cubic metre (CBM). These are the current rates through our importation partner, 3BROTHERS CARGO:
| Route | Rate |
|---|---|
| Sea freight per CBM — Lagos | ₦542,000 |
| Sea freight per CBM — Kano | ₦567,500 |
Rates move with global freight and exchange rates. Confirm the current figure before you pay your supplier.
Step by step: China to your door
- 01
Confirm your supplier and product first
Before you talk shipping, verify the supplier on 1688, Alibaba or through your sourcing agent. Ask for real production photos, request a sample where the order is large, and confirm carton dimensions and weight — those numbers decide your freight cost, not the invoice value.
- 02
Calculate your CBM correctly
CBM (cubic metre) = length × width × height in metres, per carton, multiplied by the number of cartons. A 60cm × 40cm × 50cm carton is 0.12 CBM; twenty of them is 2.4 CBM. Ask your supplier for exact packed dimensions, not the product dimensions — packaging can add 20–30%.
- 03
Choose sea or air freight
Sea is charged per CBM and suits furniture, machinery, building materials, textiles and general goods. Air is charged per kilogram (volumetric weight applies) and suits phones, accessories, spare parts, samples and anything time-sensitive. If your goods are light but bulky, sea almost always wins.
- 04
Book with a Nigerian-facing cargo agent
Work with an agent who has a receiving warehouse in Guangzhou or Yiwu and clears at Lagos. You send the agent's China address to your supplier, the supplier delivers there, the agent measures, consolidates and ships. This is far safer than paying a supplier to arrange shipping to Nigeria on your behalf.
- 05
Send your goods to the China warehouse
Label every carton with your name and phone number exactly as your agent instructs. Unlabelled cartons are the single biggest cause of lost shipments. Get the warehouse to confirm receipt in writing with photos and measured CBM before the container closes.
- 06
Pay freight and track the vessel
Most Nigerian cargo agents collect freight on arrival or on booking. Keep every receipt and the shipping mark. Ask for the estimated time of arrival at Apapa or Tin Can and check in weekly — schedules slip.
- 07
Clear customs and take delivery
Duty is assessed on the value and HS code of your goods. Restricted and prohibited items — some pharmaceuticals, certain textiles, used tyres — will be seized, so check the Nigeria Customs prohibition list before ordering. A door-to-door agent normally handles clearing inside the quoted rate; confirm this in writing so you are not hit with a second bill.
Sea freight vs air freight
The rule of thumb: if your shipment is under roughly 100kg and urgent or high-value, air usually makes sense. Anything bulky, heavy or replaceable goes by sea. A carton of phone accessories is an air shipment; a pallet of tiles, a generator or a sofa set is a sea shipment every time.
Five mistakes that cost importers money
- Paying a supplier in full before confirming carton dimensions — your freight bill can end up larger than the goods.
- Shipping restricted items. Customs seizure means the goods and the freight are both lost.
- Using an agent with no Nigerian phone number, no address and no track record. If something goes wrong, you need a real person to reach.
- Ignoring the difference between per-CBM and per-kg pricing. Light bulky cargo sent by air can cost five times more than by sea.
- Not building in buffer time. Order at least ten weeks before you need the stock, especially before Christmas and Ramadan.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Nigeria take?
Sea freight is typically 45–70 days door to door including clearing. Air freight is usually 7–14 days. Port congestion at Apapa and Tin Can can add a week or more.
How much does one CBM cost?
Currently ₦542,000 per CBM to Lagos and ₦567,500 per CBM to Kano through 3BROTHERS CARGO. Rates move with freight and exchange rates, so always confirm before paying your supplier.
Can I ship a small quantity?
Yes. Consolidated (LCL) shipping means you only pay for the space you use, so small importers can ship one or two CBM without booking a full container.
Do I need a company to import into Nigeria?
For personal and small commercial quantities you generally do not, but formal commercial imports need proper documentation and an HS-coded declaration. Your clearing agent will tell you which route applies to your goods.
Ship with a real person, not a link
Jivu&Co works with 3BROTHERS CARGO for importation — a named agent, a Nigerian phone number and published rates. Send your carton dimensions and destination city and you will get a firm figure before you commit to your supplier.
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