Many Nigerian businesses have become quite reliant on China for their stock, and understandably so. China provides businesses with a wide range of products, access to more manufacturers and suppliers, and more favourable trade options than other countries.
However, to successfully import goods from China, you need more than having access to suppliers. A successful import requires careful planning around supplier verification, payment, shipping, customs clearance, documentation and delivery in Nigeria.
This guide walks you through the process and the key issues Nigerian businesses should understand before placing an order in China.
Why Nigerian Businesses Import From China
China offers Nigerian businesses access to a huge manufacturing and trading ecosystem. Depending on the product, businesses can source directly from manufacturers, work with trading companies or buy through established B2B marketplaces.
The range of products available is one of the biggest advantages. As a Nigerian importer, you can source everything from electronics and household goods to machinery, packaging materials, furniture, fashion products and industrial components in the Chinese market.
The ability to buy in different quantities is another attraction. If you’re a small retailer, you can start with small order quantities or negotiate much larger purchases if you’re an established distributor.
China’s importance to African trade has continued to grow. China-Africa trade increased by nearly 18% in 2025, according to Reuters, while China announced tariff reductions covering imports from 53 African countries in 2026.
This growing trade relationship creates opportunities most Nigerian businesses can’t afford to overlook.
How to Import Goods from China as a Nigerian Businessman
Here are straightforward steps you can take to import goods into Nigeria from China:
1. Decide What You Want to Import
Before searching for a supplier, be clear about the product you’re trying to bring into Nigeria.
This sounds obvious, but vague product specifications can cause problems later. Two products that look similar in an online catalogue may differ significantly in quality, materials, specifications or packaging.
That’s why you should start by stating the exact product, required specifications, quantity, packaging requirements, and intended use. You can also write down your target selling price and expected quality level.
If you’re importing for resale, research the Nigerian market before committing to a large order. You might find it cheaper in Nigeria if you search well enough. The reason is that a product may be cheap in China but difficult to sell profitably after freight, customs duties, taxes and other costs have been added.
Your goal should be to understand the complete economics of the product before you place the order.
2. Find and Verify Your Chinese Supplier
If you ask most experienced importers, they’d tell you that finding a supplier is relatively easy. But finding one you can trust is where the work is.
Most importers find suppliers through B2B marketplaces, trade fairs, sourcing agents, referrals and direct manufacturer searches. Platforms such as Alibaba, 1688 and Made-in-China are commonly used by international buyers, but appearing on a marketplace doesn’t automatically make a supplier reliable.
That’s why you should investigate a supplier before sending a significant payment to them.
Check how long the company has been operating, what products it specializes in, where it is based and whether it appears to have a genuine manufacturing or trading operation. Ask for business registration details where appropriate and verify the information provided.
You should also request product samples when the order is large, or the quality of the goods matters significantly.
A sample gives you an opportunity to examine the product before committing your money to hundreds or thousands of units.
One of the mistakes you should avoid is choosing a supplier based on price alone
A supplier can offer you a much lower price than everyone else but find a way to recover the money from you. The product could be different from what you expected, the materials may be inferior, or important costs may have been excluded from the quotation.
That’s why you should compare suppliers based on the complete offer, including product quality, minimum order quantity, production timeline, packaging, payment terms and shipping arrangements.
3. Agree on the Purchase Order and Payment Terms
Once you’ve selected a supplier, make sure the agreement is clear before production or packaging begins.
Your purchase order should identify the products, quantities, agreed specifications, unit prices, total value, packaging requirements and expected production timeline.
Also pay close attention to the payment terms.
Some suppliers require a deposit before production begins, with the balance paid before shipment. Others may offer different arrangements depending on your relationship with the company and the size of the order.
Whatever arrangement you use, make sure you understand exactly when payment is due and what happens if the supplier doesn’t meet the agreed specifications or delivery timeline.
4. Understand the Shipping Terms
One of the easiest ways to misunderstand an import quotation is to ignore the Incoterm.
Terms such as EXW, FOB and CIF determine which party is responsible for different parts of the transportation process and where responsibility for costs and risks changes hands.
For example, a supplier quoting an attractive factory price may be quoting on an EXW basis, meaning that, as the buyer, you may have to arrange for the transportation of the goods from the supplier’s warehouse.
A FOB quotation generally places certain origin-side responsibilities on the seller up to the agreed loading point, while CIF includes freight and insurance to the named destination port, subject to the specific terms of the contract.
You should understand exactly what’s included before comparing supplier quotations.
Two suppliers can quote apparently different prices for the same product while using different shipping terms. Comparing the numbers without comparing what’s included can lead to a misleading conclusion.
5. Choose Between Air Freight and Sea Freight
Once your goods are ready, you need to decide how they will reach Nigeria. For many importers, the choice comes down to air freight or sea freight.
Air freight is faster and is useful when the shipment is urgent, relatively small or time-sensitive.
A retailer that needs to replenish a popular product quickly may accept the higher cost because waiting for sea freight could mean losing sales.
Air freight can also be useful for high-value goods where speed and security are important considerations.
Sea freight, on the other hand, is generally more practical for large, heavy or bulky shipments.
Businesses importing substantial quantities can use full container load shipments or share container space through less-than-container load arrangements.
Sea freight takes longer, but the cost can be much more economical for larger shipments.
The right option depends on the cargo, budget and delivery timeline. Businesses shouldn’t choose based on freight price alone. They should consider how the shipping timeline affects inventory, sales and operations.
6. Prepare the Required Import Documents
Documentation is a major part of importing into Nigeria and every other country.
The Nigeria Customs Service identifies Form M as a mandatory process for importing goods into Nigeria. Its service documentation also identifies the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report, or PAAR, and the Single Goods Declaration as important parts of the import process.
Depending on the shipment and product, you may also need documents such as:
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading for sea freight
- Air waybill for air freight
- Certificate of origin where applicable
- Product-specific certificates or permits
- Relevant regulatory approvals
The exact requirements can vary according to the type of goods you’re importing.
7. Check the HS Code and Import Requirements
Every importer needs to pay attention to the classification of their goods.
The Harmonized System, or HS code, is used to classify products for customs purposes. The classification can affect the applicable duty and other import requirements.
Nigeria Customs currently provides an online Tariff and CET Lookup Portal where businesses can search HS codes, review tariff classifications and check applicable duty information.
This is important because a broad product description isn’t enough to determine the correct customs treatment.
For example, describing something simply as “electronic equipment” may not tell you which tariff line applies. The product’s characteristics, materials, function and intended use all matter.
Getting the classification wrong can lead to incorrect duty assessments, delays or compliance problems.
8. Make Sure the Goods Are Allowed Into Nigeria
Not every product can be imported freely into Nigeria. The Nigeria Customs Service maintains a current import prohibition list, and Nigerian law provides for restrictions and prohibitions on certain categories of goods.
There may also be products that require specific approvals, certificates or permits before they can be imported.
This makes product research important before you pay a supplier.
Finding out after your goods have left China that they cannot legally enter Nigeria can create serious financial and operational problems.
Importers should check the current requirements for their specific product and confirm any additional regulatory obligations with the relevant authorities or a qualified customs professional.
9. Calculate the Full Landed Cost
One of the biggest mistakes new importers make is calculating profit from the supplier’s price alone.
Suppose you buy a product for $10 per unit. That doesn’t mean your cost is $10.
Your final cost may include:
- Product price
- Supplier-related charges
- Freight
- Insurance
- Customs duty
- VAT and applicable levies
- Customs clearance
- Port or terminal charges
- Local transportation
- Warehousing
- Other handling or documentation costs
Your landed cost is the amount you ultimately spend getting the goods to the point where they are ready for use or sale.
This number is much more useful when calculating your selling price and expected profit.
10. Arrange Customs Clearance in Nigeria
When the shipment arrives, it must go through the relevant customs clearance process before the goods can be released.
This is where an experienced customs broker or freight forwarder can make a significant difference for you.
The clearance process involves documentation, customs declarations, valuation, tariff classification, payment of applicable duties and taxes, and other procedures depending on the cargo.
The Nigeria Customs Service has also been moving toward greater digitalization of trade processes. Its National Single Window is designed to bring trade, compliance and maritime document processing into a more unified digital environment.
Nigeria launched the first phase of the National Single Window in March 2026 as part of wider efforts to reduce bureaucratic delays and improve trade efficiency.
11. Plan Delivery From the Port or Airport
Once your goods are released, they still need to get to your warehouse, shop, factory or distribution centre.
If your business is in Lagos, the delivery distance may be relatively short depending on the location of the warehouse. But if you’re operating from Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt or another part of the country, the logistics can be more demanding.
How a Freight Forwarder Can Make the Importation Process Easier for You
While you can manage different parts of the import process yourself, coordinating everything becomes harder as you increase shipment volumes and work with more suppliers.
A freight forwarder can help you coordinate the movement of your goods, shipping arrangements, documentation, customs clearance and delivery.
ISOX Shipping provides freight forwarding services for businesses importing and exporting goods, with an international network that includes China and other major trading destinations. Its services cover sea freight, air freight, land transportation, customs brokerage, buyer consolidation and warehousing.
This type of end-to-end support can be particularly useful for businesses that don’t have an in-house logistics team.
So, instead of managing everything yourself, you can have a logistics partner like ISOX Shipping do the heavy work for you.
Conclusion
Importing from China to Nigeria can open up significant opportunities for retailers, distributors and manufacturers, but success depends on more than finding a cheap supplier.
You need to verify your supplier, understand the shipping terms, choose the right freight option, prepare your documents, confirm customs requirements and calculate the complete landed cost.
If you import regularly, a reliable freight forwarding and customs partner can make the complex processes easier for you. With proper planning, importing from China can become a predictable part of your business rather than a series of expensive surprises.
