With the rapid development of global trade, the trade relationship between China and Nigeria is becoming increasingly close. The variety of products shipping from China to Nigeria is also increasing, such as machinery and equipment, electronic products, textiles, and daily consumer goods, which has led to an increasing demand for logistics and transportation among Chinese and Nigerian merchants. I hope this article can help you better understand the time required for transportation from China to Nigeria and plan your cargo transportation accordingly.

Introduction to Nigeria

Nigeria is located in the southeast of West Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south, Niger to the north, Benin to the west, Cameroon to the east, and Chad across Lake Chad in the northeast. Lagos is the largest city and economic center in Nigeria. It has modern port facilities that promote international trade and cargo transportation.

Logistics Tips for Importing from China to Nigeria

shipping from China to Nigeria

There are two ways to ship goods from China to Nigeria: sea and air. Each shipping method has its advantages and disadvantages, and it’s best to understand them before making a choice

Sea freight from China to Nigeria

Sea freight is a common method of shipping from China to Nigeria. It is suitable for bulk cargo transportation. The cost is lower but the transportation time is longer. It is mainly divided into：

• Less than Container Shipping (LCL): Suitable for smaller cargo that does not require the entire container space. Provide flexibility and cost savings for small quantities of goods.
• Full container load (FCL): suitable for large goods that can fill the entire container. Provide security and privacy.

Air freight from China to Nigeria

Air freight is the fastest way to export goods from China to Nigeria. Suitable for fast transportation of high-value and small quantities of items.

How long does it take to ship from China to Nigeria

The time and cost of air and sea freight vary, you can choose reasonably according to the urgency and weight of the goods.

Sea freight time from China to Nigeria

air freight Time from China to Nigeria

Air freight is the fastest mode of transportation and is suitable for high-value or urgent goods. The following are specific transportation times for air freight:

• Direct flights: 3-5 days
• Transit flights: 5-7 days

The speed and flexibility of air freight make it an ideal choice for transporting urgently needed goods, although the cost is relatively high.

DDP shipping time from China to Nigeria

DDP (Delivery Duty Paid) service means that the seller bears all transportation risks and costs before the goods are delivered to the buyer’s designated location, including tariffs, import VAT, etc. The specific time is as follows:
Air DDP: 7-10 days
Sea DDP: 30-40 days
DDP service is more convenient for buyers, without having to deal with cumbersome customs clearance and tariff issues.

Learn more: Presou DDP 8.0: Comprehensive One-Stop Solution for Shipping from China

Factors Affecting Shipping Time from China to Nigeria

Multiple factors can affect the shipping time of your goods from China to Nigeria, which can cause delays. Understanding these factors is key to planning and ensuring timely delivery.

• Weather conditions: Bad weather can delay ocean and air shipments.
• Port congestion: Busy ports can slow down the processing of goods.
• Customs delays: Document discrepancies can cause goods to be held up at customs.
• Nature of goods: Different natures of goods have different requirements for shipping time. For example, fragile goods, liquids, or dangerous goods require longer processing and shipping time because they require more stringent security checks and special packaging requirements.

Strategies to Reduce Shipping Time from China to Nigeria

• Choose the right shipping method: based on your time needs and the type of cargo.
• Work with a reliable freight forwarder: they have extensive experience and can cope with potential delays.
• Understand customs requirements: ensure all documents are accurate and complete to avoid unnecessary delays.
• Avoid peak shipping times: When carriers are busy, freight rates and shipping times go up. Whenever possible, ship during off-peak times.

Shipping from China to Nigeria | Sea & Air Freight Rates

Shipping prices are affected by many factors, including mode of transport, type of goods, weight and volume. The following are the sea and air freight costs from China to Nigeria:

Sea freight costs: usually charged by container, commonly used are 20-foot containers and 40-foot containers. Prices will be affected by factors such as season, oil prices, and supply and demand of routes.
Full container load (FCL): a 20-foot container is about US$1,500-2,500 and a 40-foot container is about US$2,500-4,000
Less than container load (LCL): charged by volume or weight, about US$50-150/cubic meter

Air freight costs: charged by weight, usually the actual weight or volume weight of the goods. There are two different prices for shipping methods.
General cargo: about US$4-8/kg
Urgent: about US$8-12/kg

Learn more: Analysis of Freight Costs for 20ft and 40ft Containers From China To Nigeria

Customs Clearance from China to Nigeria

When transporting goods from China to Nigeria, customs clearance is an important part of ensuring that the goods pass through customs smoothly. The accuracy and completeness of customs clearance documents are essential to avoid delays and additional costs

Document preparation

• Commercial invoice: details the name, quantity, value and other information of the goods.
• Packing list: lists the details of the goods contained in each package.
• Shipping documents: including shipping documents such as bills of lading or airway bills.
• Import license: certain goods may require specific import licenses.

Declaration and customs declaration

Submit all necessary documents to the local customs agent or logistics company.Ensure the authenticity and accuracy of all documents to avoid delays or problems

Duties and taxes

Depending on the type and value of the goods, import duties and other related fees may need to be paid.Confirm and be prepared to pay these fees before the goods arrive.

Receipt inspection

After the goods arrive, the recipient must conduct an inspection to ensure that the goods are intact and meet the recorded specifications.

You are more interested in: Best Value Shipping Company from China to Nigeria

China and Nigeria enjoy a robust trading relationship, making Nigeria a key African partner for Chinese commerce and logistics. This article aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the transportation duration from China to Nigeria, enabling you to plan the shipment of your goods effectively. By gaining insights into the transit times, you can ensure that your products reach their destination in the shortest possible time, optimizing your supply chain and meeting your business needs efficiently.