How Long Does It Take to Import from China to Nigeria in 2024?

As a Nigerian business owner looking to source products from China's vast supplier base, one of your biggest questions is likely "how long will it take to get my goods delivered?" Understanding the typical import timelines from China to Nigeria is crucial for supply chain planning and inventory management.

While the import process involves multiple stages, this guide will break down the estimated time required for each step when importing from China to Nigeria in 2024.

The key stages in the import journey include:

1. Sourcing Chinese Suppliers (1-3 days)

2. Payment Processing (1 day)

3. Production Lead Time (1-60 days)

4. Quality Inspections (2-5 days)

5. International Shipping to Nigeria (7 days air, 45-60 days sea)

6. Customs Clearance (1-5 days)

Let's explore each step and the associated timelines in detail:

Sourcing Suppliers in China Finding the right Chinese manufacturer through research, supplier vetting, negotiations, and order placement typically takes 1-3 days when using efficient sourcing solutions.

Payment Processing After finalizing your supplier(s), payment processing like upfront payments or wire transfers requires approximately 1 business day.

Manufacturing Lead Times Delivery timelines heavily depend on whether your product is a stocked item or requires custom manufacturing. Lead times can range from just 1 day for stocked goods to up to 60 days for made-to-order products.

Quality Inspections in China Most Nigerian importers engage third-party inspection companies in China to check product quality, which takes around 2-5 working days. Full-service procurement providers can consolidate and expedite inspections.

Shipping to Nigeria For regular, non-specialized cargo, air freight takes around 7 days while sea freight runs longer at 45-60 days on average. Delicate or specialized goods may require extra handling, extending air shipping to 14 days.

Customs Clearance in Nigeria

The final customs clearance process in Nigeria requires approximately 1-5 working days from the date of arrival.

Based on the above, the total import time from order to delivery in Nigeria can range from as little as 12 days for air freight of stocked inventory, up to around 70 days for sea shipments of custom-manufactured goods.

To simplify and accelerate imports from China's vast manufacturing hub, consider leveraging procurement solutions that consolidate sourcing, quality checks, freight booking, and shipment tracking on a single platform - reducing your total import timeline.