Nigeria Import & Export Toolkit

Africa's largest economy runs on the ECOWAS CET plus Form M pre-import approval. Price shipments correctly using our LC, duty + VAT, HS and Incoterms tools.

Currency

NGN (Nigerian Naira)

VAT

7.5%

Applied to CIF + duty + surcharges. Limited input recovery for non-VAT-registered importers.

Duty regime

ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) - 5 bands (0%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 35%). Plus 0.5% ETLS, 1% CISS and various levies. AfCFTA preferential access being progressively rolled out.

Regulatory deep-dive

Nigeria import & export regulations →

Nigeria import/export rules: NCS customs, SONCAP conformity, Form M & PAAR, CBN FX policy, NAFDAC registration, ECOWAS CET.

Authorities · Licensing · Sanctions

Also see compare Nigeria vs other markets →

Free calculators for Nigeria trade

LC Cost Calculator →

All-in bank charges on a Letter of Credit.

Usance LC Interest →

Deferred payment cost with correct ACT/360 or ACT/365 basis.

Import Duty & Tax →

Duty, VAT/GST and landed cost per HS code.

Landed Cost by HS & Country →

Interactive duty + VAT/GST + Incoterm split for this destination.

CIF ↔ FOB Converter →

Convert between CIF, FOB and landed cost.

HS Code Lookup →

Search harmonised classification codes.

CBM & Container →

Volume, weight and container utilisation.

Incoterms 2020 Visualiser →

Cost, risk and document split across all 11 rules.

Multi-Currency Invoice →

FX spread and cross-currency invoice value.

Major ports & gateways

· Apapa (Lagos)
· Tin Can Island (Lagos)
· Onne
· Port Harcourt
· Calabar
· Lekki Deep Sea (2023)

Key trading partners· 7 linked toolkits

Top exports

· Crude petroleum
· LNG
· Cocoa beans
· Sesame seeds
· Cashew nuts
· Aluminium
· Refined petroleum (post-Dangote)

Top imports

· Refined petroleum (declining post-Dangote)
· Wheat
· Machinery
· Vehicles
· Pharmaceuticals
· Iron & steel
· Sugar (raw)

Trade finance in Nigeria

· USD LCs dominate (ACT/360). Since June 2023 FX unification, LC opening has become significantly more predictable.
· Nigerian banks (Zenith, GTBank, Access, First Bank, UBA) quote 0.35-0.75% per quarter plus 7.5% VAT on fees. G7 confirmation typically 0.80-2.00% per quarter.
· Form M is a mandatory pre-import declaration filed on the Trade Monitoring System (TRMS), valid 180 days - required BEFORE LC opening or shipment.
· PAAR (Pre-Arrival Assessment Report) is generated by NCS after Form M and inspection documents are lodged.

Customs & duty in Nigeria

· ECOWAS CET 10-digit HS code administered by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
· Form M + PAAR sequence is mandatory - non-negotiable for LC-backed and non-LC imports.
· NAFDAC (food, drug, cosmetics) and SON (Standards Organisation product certification) permits required for regulated categories.
· Import prohibition list (rice, poultry, cement clinker etc.) periodically updated - check current status before shipping.

Incoterms 2020 practice in Nigeria

· CIF Apapa / Tin Can dominates seaborne cargo. Lekki Deep Sea Port (2023) is easing congestion.
· FCA at origin CY for containers.
· DDP is generally impractical - buyer needs to be importer of record for Form M and NAFDAC/SON permits.

HS commodity guides for Nigeria

Classification, duty and worked landed-cost examples for the commodity families most active on Nigeria's trade lanes.

HS 84Industrial

HS Code for Industrial Machinery (Chapter 84) →

HS 30Regulated

HS Code for Pharmaceuticals (Chapter 30) →

HS 72Metals

HS Code for Iron & Steel (Chapter 72) →

HS 1006Agricultural

HS Code for Rice (HS 1006) →

HS 2709Energy

HS Code for Crude Oil (HS 2709) →

HS 2710Energy

HS Code for Petroleum Products (HS 2710) →

HS 76Metals

HS Code for Aluminium (Chapter 76) →

HS 85Electronics

HS Code for Electronics (Chapter 85) →

Nigeria's key trading partners

India toolkit →

IGST on imports · 5% / 12% / 18% / 28%

China toolkit →

Import VAT · 13% standard, 9% reduced, 6% services

United States toolkit →

No federal VAT / GST · 0% federal

Netherlands toolkit →

BTW (VAT) · 21% standard, 9% reduced

Germany toolkit →

VAT (Umsatzsteuer / Einfuhrumsatzsteuer) · 19% standard, 7% reduced

United Arab Emirates toolkit →

VAT · 5% standard

Frequently asked questions

What is Form M?

Nigeria's mandatory pre-import declaration on the TRMS platform, valid 180 days. Must be approved BEFORE the LC is opened or goods shipped. Without it, cargo cannot be cleared at any Nigerian port.