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Sea freight

Sea freight to Nigeria, full or shared containers

The cheapest way to bring in big or heavy goods. We book the container, keep an eye on the vessel, clear it at the Lagos ports and truck it to you.

FCLLCLUK, China, USA, UAEExports
Fully loaded container ship at sea

Full container or shared space?

It mostly comes down to how much you're shipping. If you're unsure, tell us the volume and we'll work out which is cheaper.

FCL

Full container load

A whole 20ft or 40ft container just for your goods. It's sealed at origin and opened in Nigeria.

  • Makes sense from roughly 15 cubic metres upwards
  • Less handling along the way, so less risk of damage
  • Usually cheaper per unit for larger volumes
  • 20ft, 40ft and 40ft high cube
LCL

Shared container

Your goods travel in a container with other shippers' cargo. You only pay for the space you use.

  • Good for a few pallets or a batch of cartons
  • No need to fill a whole container
  • Charged per cubic metre
  • Takes a bit longer because of consolidation

How long it takes

Typical door-to-door times into Lagos, from the day your goods leave the origin port.

RouteTypical door to door
China to Lagos28 to 35 days
UK to Lagos22 to 30 days
USA to Lagos25 to 38 days
UAE to Lagos18 to 28 days

Vessel schedules, transshipment and port congestion all affect these. We give you a realistic timeline for your shipment when we quote, and update you if it changes.

Where your container lands

The shipping line decides the port. We clear at all three Lagos seaports, so it doesn't matter which one your vessel calls at.

Apapa

Nigeria's oldest and busiest port, on the Lagos mainland side of the harbour.

Tin Can Island

Next door to Apapa. Handles a large share of general cargo and vehicles.

Lekki Deep Sea Port

The newest of the three, east of Lagos, built to take the largest container ships.

Avoiding extra costs

Demurrage: the cost nobody warns you about

Shipping lines allow a few free days for their container. After that you pay for every extra day, and the terminal charges storage on top. Most of the nasty surprises at Lagos ports start here.

  • We make sure Form M and PAAR are ready before the vessel arrives
  • We line up the truck before release, so the container leaves the terminal quickly
  • We return empty containers on time to avoid detention charges
  • We tell you the free days on your shipment when we quote
FAQ

Sea freight questions

Anything else? Ask us on WhatsApp.

How long does shipping from China to Nigeria take by sea?

Typically 28 to 35 days door to door into Lagos. The time on the water is only part of it; clearing and delivery are included in that range.

Should I choose FCL or LCL?

As a rough guide, from about 15 cubic metres a full container usually works out cheaper. Below that, a shared container (LCL) is normally the better option. We'll compare both for you.

Can you ship goods out of Nigeria?

Yes. We handle sea exports from Nigeria, including the export paperwork, for goods such as agro produce and Nigerian-made products.

What documents do I need for sea freight?

A commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading, plus Form M and PAAR for clearing in Nigeria, and permits for regulated goods. Our customs clearing page has the full checklist.

Planning a container?

Tell us what you're shipping, roughly how much, and from where. We'll send an itemised quote in naira.