Middle East & Africa · Sourcing guide
Sourcing chairs from China to Nigeria
A container of chairs bound for Nigeria spends roughly 30–48 days at sea before it reaches you. What it costs to get there — and what surprises buyers at customs — is below.
Policy and payment mechanics decide feasibility in Nigeria before freight even enters the calculation — finished furniture has appeared on the central bank's FX-restriction and import-prohibition lists at various points, so confirming current importability and FX access should happen before any production commitment. When the window is open, Lagos (Apapa/Tin Can and the newer Lekki deep-sea facility) is the gateway, with 20% duty plus levies and 7.5% VAT. The Lekki port, operational since 2023, is improving vessel scheduling and reducing the severe congestion at Apapa. Substantial demand exists in a large population — the constraint is the operating environment, not the market.
The market, briefly
Nigeria is Africa's largest population with real furniture demand, but policy (import restrictions, FX access) and Lagos port costs decide feasibility more than freight does. The 2023 Lekki deep-sea port is improving vessel access. Many goods historically entered via Cotonou and land borders when restrictions were tight.
Landed cost: how to run the numbers
Landed cost for Nigeria = FOB price + ocean freight (plus surcharges) + duty + VAT/GST + port and clearance fees + the inland leg. The mistake we see most is budgeting the FOB and the headline freight and nothing else — on budget seating the "everything else" routinely adds 20–40% to the invoice price.
A worked example (estimate)
Say you load a 40HC with 300 KD task chairs at $30 FOB — a $9,000 order. Using the midpoint of the 2026-H1 spot band ($5,800), ocean freight alone adds about $19 per chair before duty, VAT/GST, port fees and inland haulage. Run the same math at the top of the band before you budget: rate swings of this size are normal, not exceptional. Figures are illustrative — get live quotes.
Two guides cover the mechanics in depth: sea-freight budgeting and Incoterms for chair buyers. For load planning, see container math.
Frequently asked
How long does shipping take from China to Nigeria?
Port-to-port, count on 30–48 days into Lagos (Apapa/Tin Can)/Lekki Deep Sea Port on the usual liner schedules. Asia–West Africa services, usually via transshipment (Lomé/Tema/Pointe-Noire); the new Lekki port takes direct larger vessels. Booking lead time and clearance at both ends sit on top of that.
What does a 40ft container of chairs cost to ship to Nigeria?
Public rate indices put the 2026-H1 spot band for this lane at roughly $3,500–$8,000 per 40ft/40HC. Treat that as an estimate rather than a quote, and budget surcharges, peak-season fees and the inland legs separately.
What import duty applies to chairs in Nigeria?
Nigeria applies 20% duty on most finished furniture plus levies and 7.5% VAT — and furniture has appeared on the central bank's FX-restriction and import-prohibition lists in various forms over the years. Verify current importability and FX rules first. 7.5% VAT.
Which port should I route chairs through for Nigeria?
Lagos (Apapa/Tin Can), Lekki Deep Sea Port are the usual gateways. Your forwarder's local coverage matters more than the port itself.
All freight, transit, duty and tax figures are generic planning estimates compiled by the editorial desk, marked as-of 2026-H1. Tariffs and VAT change frequently; always verify current rates with your freight forwarder and a licensed customs broker before quoting or committing. Rates as of 2026-H1.