How to Import from China to Nigeria to Start a Business?

Culled for use

Import from China to Nigeria is a booming business that you need not miss out if you are an entrepreneur. Before now a lot of people think you can just save up money and venture into inter-nation businesses.

However, that assertion is not true, as you need to get a through knowledge about importation of goods from China and how it looks before venturing into the business.

How to Import from China to Nigeria?

If you want to start import business from China to Nigeria, you will need to take these steps:

1. Choose an In-demand Product 

Unsurprisingly, the first step is to hunt for a China cheap product that you have good reason to think will sell well in Nigeria. Usually, the goods needed rather than a want have constant demand because of their nature. So, if you can’t afford to conduct market research, consider goods that everyone needs regardless of their socioeconomic status.

Determining the Type of Goods to Import from China to Nigeria

Importantly, if you want to succeed fast in this business, you must focus on products that are in those products that you are good at, which means you can control the quality, you can understand the development trend of the whole product, you have a complete sales strategy, etc., some of which are listed below.

1. Electronics appliance and gadget

2. Fashion Accessories

3. Home and Office appliances

4. Automobiles

We always get inquiries like this, I want to buy bags, I want to buy clothes to start a business.

If you don’t take the time to do product research well, you’re very likely to fail. We have helped many customers through buy products from 1688 services and ship to them. These transactions all have a common feature, they all have the type of products they want to buy, such as wigs, flowers, and fabrics. . . They have done repeated research to select the styles to buy.

So, ask yourself if you have a specific product that needs to be launched, and whether you have recharged funds to support your business, generally around $2,000 is a good starting point.

If yes, start to buy on 1688 in English is may be a good choice. 

If you never know about 1688, read this post:  

Find Hot Selling Product from China to Nigeria

One good way of doing this would be to look for the product’s selling prices in your country.

Which products are popular among Nigerians?

Which ones are the local hits?

Do What you are familiar with.

According to import and export statistics, we compiled the following best-selling products import from China to Nigeria for reference.

Best-selling products import from China to Nigeria

1 Apparel and footwear 

The textile and footwear industry is the second largest contributor to Nigeria’s manufacturing industry, accounting for 23.3% of its GDP. According to industry insiders, the country’s annual import cost of textiles and ready-made clothing is US$4 billion. In addition, shoes are very scarce locally, and most of them will be imported from China or other countries.

2 Natural soaps

Different types of natural soaps for washing and toiletries are very popular in Nigeria, including shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc. In addition, clothing and utensils also need to be cleaned regularly to maintain hygiene. Although the industry is dominated by a small number of operators, they provide a variety of products on different business lines, and the industry is quite fragmented. In addition, this industry is relatively easy to enter, coupled with high demand, so it needs a large number of suppliers to support.

3 Makeup and Beauty Products

At least nine out of ten Nigerian girls use cosmetics. At present, the industry is growing at an annual rate of 8% to 10%. It is estimated that by 2021, the beauty and care industry in the Middle East and Africa will reach 34.5 billion U.S. dollars. Well-known brands in Nigeria include Mary Kay, Elf, and Black Opal, among others. As long as women exist, cosmetics and beauty products will always be in high demand.

4 Wig products

Nigeria’s wig market is booming all year round. In Nigeria, wigs range from 1,000 Naira (approximately RMB 33) to 90,000 Naira (approximately RMB 3,000). The cheaper ones are mostly made of plastic or chemical fiber. Because they cannot be cleaned normally, consumers use them for 30 days. I will buy new styles after around, and it is normal for Nigerian women to have 3-5 sets of wigs.

5 Electronic products 

Nigerian market continues to import a large number of electronic equipment. Currently, Nigeria’s electronic product market has a huge gap. Nigeria imports VCDs, computers, refrigerators, DVDs and other electronic products every year, and a considerable part of them are second-hand products. In 2017, Nigeria’s imports of consumer electronics reached 738 million U.S. dollars. Among them, 311 million US dollars were imported from China, accounting for 42.16%. China is Nigeria’s first import source of consumer electronics.

6 Generators

The electricity supply in Nigeria is short and unstable, so the demand for generators is very large. It is not only suitable for rich families, poor people will also buy it. Every year, 60 million people in Nigeria spend about 1.6 trillion naira on generators’ purchase and maintenance. It is estimated that by 2020, Nigeria’s imports of generator sets will increase to about 151.16 billion naira.

7 Building materials

In recent years, the Nigerian government has invested a lot of money in the field of infrastructure construction, and this industry has become the most attractive industry for investment in Nigeria. The Nigerian construction industry is backward, accounting for only 3.2% of GDP, which is far from meeting the domestic demand for housing and building materials. It is expected that from now to 2020, the Nigerian construction industry will usher in a higher growth rate.

The highest imports of building materials products in Nigeria are: 

construction hardware, doors and windows, ceilings, kitchens and bathrooms, and floor materials products. In addition, the category, quality, and price of Chinese building materials are very suitable for the Nigerian market.

8 Solar Products

More than half of Nigeria’s population, and more than two-thirds of the population in rural areas do not have a normal electricity supply. With the development of solar power technology, Nigeria is extremely rich in solar energy resources and is limited by its own manufacturing capacity. The introduction of solar power equipment from other countries to solve the electricity problem is currently the main countermeasure.

9 Auto parts products

Nigeria has roads, population and affordability. It is considered to be the largest potential auto market in Africa. The Nigerian government imports 8 billion U.S. dollars each year. Imported cars in Nigeria are mainly second-hand cars. The demand for new cars is about 75,000 units/year, and the demand for second-hand cars exceeds 150,000 units/year, accounting for 2/3 of the total demand. As the Nigerian government relaxes the restrictions on the age of imported second-hand cars, second-hand car imports will further increase. Therefore, the auto parts market in the upper and lower Nigerian second-hand car industry chain reaches will usher in more opportunities.

2. Get Your Business Registered with CAC

It is not obligatory to get your business registered with CAC (CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION), but it might help boost the client’s or customer’s confidence in you, as research suggests. 

How Do I Get a CAC Certificate?

To get a CAC certificate in Nigeria, you will need to follow these steps:

-Register your business with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). You can do this online or by visiting a CAC office in person.

-Pay the CAC registration fee. The registration fee is currently N10,000 for companies and N2,000 for business names.

-Submit the following documents to the CAC:

 -CAC Form C01

-Memorandum and Articles of Association (for companies)

 -Business Name Registration Form (for business names)

 -Proof of identity of the directors or shareholders (passport or driver’s license)

-Proof of address of the business (utility bill or rent agreement)

Obtain a CAC certificate. Once the CAC has processed your application, you will be issued a CAC certificate.

You can get more information about how to get a CAC certificate on the CAC website: https://pre.cac.gov.ng/

3. Look For A Chinese Supplier

You can look for a reliable supplier online as well. The website Find will help you get in touch with reliable and trustworthy suppliers. 

Having isolated some of the goods you think can do well and acceptable in the market in Nigeria and decided on the particular one you want to import, the second step is to make a selection of merchants that deals with those goods in China.

There are several ways you can look for some Chinese suppliers: 

Online directories. There are a number of online directories that list Chinese suppliers. Some popular directories include:

Alibaba

Global Sources

Made in China

Global Sources 

Search Engines. You can also use search engines to find Chinese suppliers at local market. Simply search for the products or services that you are interested in and include the keyword “China” in your search.

Trade Shows. If you are able to travel to China, you can attend trade shows to meet with Chinese suppliers in person. This is a good way to get a better understanding of the suppliers’ products and services.

4. Place Buying Order from China to Nigeria

Once you are done with product and supplier hunting, it is time to order them. Please note that you do not necessarily need the help of import agents to have your desired products delivered.

Here are some additional tips for placing a buying order from China to Nigeria:

Be clear and specific in your communication with the supplier. Make sure to clearly specify the products that you are interested in, the quantity that you need, and the delivery date that you require.

Get everything in writing. Once you have agreed on the price and terms of the order, be sure to get everything in writing from the supplier. This will help to avoid any disputes later on.

Be aware of the risks. Importing goods from China can be risky, so it is important to be aware of the risks and to take steps to protect yourself. One way to protect yourself is to only do business with reputable suppliers.

5. Make Payment when Import from China to Nigeria

Once you have placed your order, the next step is to make your payment to China, and as we all know, it is also a critical part of every contract. 

There are a number of ways to pay Chinese suppliers from Nigeria, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

One option is to use a money transfer service. This is a relatively simple and straightforward option, but it can be expensive, especially for large transfers. Some popular money transfer services that operate between Nigeria and China include:

Western Union

MoneyGram

Ria Money Transfer

WorldRemit

Azimo

Another option is to use a bank transfer. This is generally cheaper than using a money transfer service, but it can take longer for the funds to be received by the supplier. To make a bank transfer, you will need to have a bank account in Nigeria and a bank account in China. You will also need to know the supplier’s bank account details.

If you are importing goods from China regularly, you may want to consider opening a letter of credit (LC). An LC is a guarantee from your bank to the supplier’s bank that you will pay for the goods once they have been delivered and inspected. This can be a good option for large or complex transactions, but it can also be expensive and time-consuming to arrange.

Finally, you may also be able to pay your Chinese supplier using Alibaba Trade Assurance. This is a service that is offered by Alibaba, a popular Chinese online marketplace. Alibaba Trade Assurance provides buyer protection against product quality and non-delivery. To use Alibaba Trade Assurance, you will need to create an account on Alibaba and make your payment through the Alibaba platform.

Here are some additional tips for paying Chinese suppliers from Nigeria:

Be aware of the exchange rate. The exchange rate between the Nigerian naira and the Chinese renminbi (RMB) can fluctuate frequently. It is important to check the exchange rate before making a payment to ensure that you are getting a good deal.

Beware of scams. There are a number of scams that target businesses that are importing goods from China. It is important to be aware of these scams and to take steps to protect yourself. One way to protect yourself is to only do business with reputable suppliers.

Use a secure payment method. When making a payment to a Chinese supplier, it is important to use a secure payment method, such as a bank transfer or a credit card. Avoid using cash or wire transfers, as these payment methods are not as secure.

6. Shipping from China to Nigeria

<img class=”aligncenter wp-image-2507 size-full” src=”https://www.supplyia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/how-to-ship-from-China-to-nigeria.jpg” alt=”how to ship from China to nigeria” width=”700″ height=”420″ srcset=”https://www.supplyia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/how-to-ship-from-China-to-nigeria.jpg 700w, https://www.supplyia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/how-to-ship-from-China-to-nigeria-300×180.jpg 300w” sizes=”(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px” />

There are two ways to ship from China to Nigeria.

You can do via Sea freight or air freight. Method of shipment is another critical factor to look into and agree upon and don’t forget that the type of shipment you use can greatly influence the final price of your goods. But should be the least of your concern since are not the cosigner. The method is the dealer’s to worry about as long as you have agreed and settled the price of goods.

Little things to note however is that while DHL and UPS offers easy, fast, and secure shipment, it comes with a higher price which will drive the final cost of your goods higher irrespective of who is paying for shipment. If a merchant is shipping from China to Nigeria through DHL or UPS, they must have added the cost to the price of the goods.

Free On Board(FOB) is the most popular system used when most people import from China to Nigeria, in conjunction with the port of loading. With this arrangement, the seller is responsible for transporting the goods to the port for shipment and also take care of the loading charges. From there the responsibility of clearing the goods from your own port and transporting it to your final destination and paying all costs of transport, insurance, etc becomes yours.

If you think shipping from China to Nigeria is difficulty for you. The easiest way to ship from China is to find a company that can DDP shipping to help you clear the goods and then ship them directly to you. So, you don’t have to worry about the Customs process. Contact us, we will help you to handle everything.

Remind: 

In the past ten years, we have helped Nigerian customers purchase tens of millions of goods. We strongly recommend that you find a local freight forwarder in your local country. They generally have stable cooperative freight forwarders in China.

After we have purchased your goods, we can send them directly to your freight forwarder. In this case, if a problem arises, you can go directly to their office, otherwise the freight forwarder you found online will disappear without a trace.

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