Air Cargo From China to Nigeria — In 3 to 25 Days

Normal air cargo (20kg+) starts at USD 12.90/kg for office pickup, USD 14.88/kg for door-to-door Lagos delivery, and USD 16.58/kg for delivery to other Nigerian states. Express delivery (minimum 20kg) is USD 18.98/kg with 3 to 4 working days transit. Shipments below 20kg range from USD 16.98 to USD 20.50/kg. All rates include a ₦1,500/kg (₦2,500/kg for Express) customs clearance component. All charges are converted using DECHASER’s approved China exchange rate.

Chargeable weight is the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight. Volumetric weight = (L × W × H in cm) ÷ 6000. For example, a 60×50×40cm box weighing 10 kg has volumetric weight of 20 kg. You pay for 20 kg. Bulky light goods like fashion and electronics packaging almost always pay on volumetric weight. Use the calculator on this page to estimate your chargeable weight.

All freight charges are converted using DECHASER’s approved China exchange rate, not the Nigerian parallel (black market) exchange rate. This ensures transparent, consistent, and verifiable pricing on every shipment. The rate is stated in your quote and is locked at booking — protecting you from mid-shipment currency fluctuations.

Yes, with low-quality forwarders. Common surprise charges include: fuel surcharge, security surcharge, MMIA terminal handling, customs duty, VAT, customs agent fees, and last-mile delivery. Foon Chaser discloses all expected charges in the DDP quote — no surprises on arrival.

Normal air cargo takes 7 to 10 working days door-to-door. Express service takes 3 to 4 working days. Battery cargo takes 15 to 25 working days due to IATA dangerous goods handling. Hong Kong routed shipments take 15 to 25 working days. Sea freight takes 60 to 70 days.

Multiple daily cargo and passenger flights operate from Guangzhou (CAN), Shenzhen (SZX), and Shanghai (PVG) to Lagos MMIA (LOS) via hubs in Doha, Dubai, or Addis Ababa. Foon Chaser books the next available flight, typically within 1 to 3 days of cargo being ready at the China airport.

Chinese New Year (January to February) causes a pre-holiday shipping rush and reduced cargo capacity for 2 to 4 weeks. Therefore, rates spike 20 to 50% and ETAs slip. Book air cargo arriving before CNY at least 3 to 4 weeks in advance. Contact Foon Chaser’s Guangzhou team by December each year to plan around the holiday.

Most airlines set a minimum of 45 to 100 kg for regular air cargo. For shipments under 20kg, our published 1 to 10 kg and 16 to 19 kg rate bands apply (USD 20.50/kg and USD 16.98/kg respectively). For very small parcels, express courier (DHL, FedEx, EMS) is usually more appropriate. Foon Chaser can consolidate your goods with other shippers to reach minimum weight thresholds and reduce your per-kg cost.

Yes. Battery cargo ships at USD 15.50/kg + ₦1,500/kg clearance with 15 to 25 working days transit. Batteries inside equipment (assembled phones, laptops) follow PI 966 or PI 967 and are typically allowed as Class 9 DG with declaration. Standalone batteries (power banks, spare batteries) must be at 30% or less state of charge and properly packaged. Large lithium batteries above 300Wh (EV batteries, large UPS) require full IATA DG documentation and cargo-only aircraft. Foon Chaser handles DG compliance routinely.

Foon Chaser Express does NOT accept drones, balance bikes, massage chairs, children’s remote-control cars, sprays and pressurised gas canisters, liquids, powders, medicines, food items, cosmetics (except approved Hong Kong shipments), paint, gasoline and other flammable materials, glue and similar hazardous items. If restricted items are shipped and become stranded in Hong Kong or any transit location due to customs regulations, FOON CHASER EXPRESS LIMITED will not be responsible for any delays, penalties, storage charges, confiscation, or losses. See the Restricted Items section above for the full list.

Yes. The CBN Form M is mandatory for all commercial imports to Nigeria valued above $500 USD, regardless of cargo mode. It must be obtained at a Nigerian bank before goods are shipped from China. Without a valid Form M, cargo cannot legally clear Nigeria Customs Service and will be detained. Foon Chaser assists clients through the Form M process as part of our DDP service.

SONCAP (Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme) is a mandatory pre-shipment inspection certificate for SON-regulated products — primarily electronics, electrical equipment, batteries, and certain consumer goods. The certificate must be obtained in China before shipment. Foon Chaser coordinates SONCAP inspections with approved verification agencies.

For DDP air cargo, Foon Chaser prepares and coordinates: Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Air Waybill (AWB), HS Code classification, China export customs declaration, Form M (importer opens), PAAR / Single Goods Declaration, SONCAP certificate (for regulated electronics), NAFDAC permits (for food/drugs/cosmetics/medical devices), IATA Shipper’s Declaration (for dangerous goods), and Cargo Insurance policy (on request). One team, all documents.

Once your package has been sent to our warehouse address in China, you must share the tracking number with us immediately for reference and shipment monitoring. This helps us identify, receive, and process your cargo without delay. Without the tracking number, your cargo may sit unprocessed at our warehouse for several days while our team manually identifies it — which delays your shipment and can push you into a later consolidation batch.

Unless otherwise agreed, customers are responsible for the payment of any customs duties, import taxes, inspections, levies, subscriptions, or other charges imposed by government agencies in the destination country. These are determined by Nigeria Customs based on your cargo’s HS code and declared CIF value. For DDP shipments, we pay these on your behalf and itemise the amount in your quote; for DDU/DAP, you settle them directly with Nigeria Customs before cargo release.

Yes. To ensure smooth processing of your shipment, kindly complete our online booking form before sending your cargo. This allows us to pre-register your shipment in our system, assign the correct service tier (Normal, Express, Battery, Sea, Special Cargo), and prepare the right documentation templates in advance. Shipments that arrive at our China warehouse without a prior booking may experience additional handling delays and may be subject to a surcharge for unannounced cargo.

Air cargo insurance is not legally mandatory but is strongly recommended — especially for cargo above $5,000. All-risk air cargo insurance costs 0.3% to 0.5% of declared cargo value. Foon Chaser arranges insurance on request and assists with any claims. For very high-value cargo, we can arrange dedicated cargo-only aircraft sections.

Red flags include: rates far below market (under USD 12/kg DDP), refusal to provide an official AWB number, requests for 100% upfront payment to personal accounts, and no verifiable physical China office. Verify: AWB tracking on the airline’s portal, company registration in China, structured payment terms, and references from established Nigerian importers. Foon Chaser provides all documentation transparently.

Lagos MMIA (LOS) handles the most air cargo from China. Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe (ABV) and Port Harcourt International (PHC) also receive air cargo but with fewer direct connections. Most air cargo from China routes through Lagos regardless of final inland destination.

Yes. Foon Chaser delivers air cargo to all major Nigerian cities. Lagos deliveries are same-day or next-day after MMIA customs release. Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu, and other cities are 1 to 3 business days from Lagos. Inland delivery to other states is included in the USD 16.58/kg DDP rate.

Sea freight from China to Nigeria is USD 495/CBM for normal cargo and USD 545/CBM for battery cargo, both rates inclusive of Nigeria customs clearance. Estimated transit time is 60 to 70 days. Sea freight is the most cost-effective option for shipments over 1,000 kg or 5 CBM.

Choose air freight if your shipment is under 300 to 500 kg, you need goods in under 10 days, the goods are high value (phones, electronics), or you have a stock emergency. Choose sea freight if your shipment is over 500 to 1,000 kg, goods are low value per kg (furniture, tiles), or you can wait 60 to 70 days. For most bulk cargo, the per-kg cost saving with sea freight is significant.