Air vs sea freight to Nigeria
Compare air and sea freight for your China to Nigeria shipment, with a built-in CBM helper so you can price volume correctly.
Air vs sea freight
Indicative China freight sampled 2026-06-07: air $8.5/kg, sea $400/CBM. Not a quote. Get a forwarder rate before booking.
- Shipment is over ~100 kg or ~0.5 CBM
- Goods are bulky or heavy relative to value
- You can wait 4-8 weeks
- Goods are light, small or urgent
- Value per kg is high (electronics, samples)
- You need stock in 1-2 weeks
Add freight to your landed cost
Freight is one input. See the all-in number with duty and VAT included.
Import costGet today's exact rate + the 2026 China Import Cost Cheat-Sheet by email
We will email you the live CNY rate and our import cost cheat-sheet. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Is air or sea cheaper from China to Nigeria?
For a typical 200 kg in 1 m³ load: air is ~$1,700 (~₦2,450,809) at $9/kg; sea ~$440 (~₦634,327) at $400/CBM. The crossover is near ~100 kg or ~0.5 CBM: below it air closes the gap, above it sea wins clearly. Indicative figures, sampled 2026-06-07; not a quote.
| Mode | Cost (USD) | Local |
|---|---|---|
| Air | $1,700 | ₦2,450,809 |
| Sea (LCL) | $440 | ₦634,327 |
How do you calculate CBM and volumetric weight?
CBM = length × width × height in metres. A 40×30×25 cm carton = 0.03 m³; ten cartons = 0.3 m³. Air volumetric weight = CBM × 167 kg, and air is charged on the greater of actual and volumetric weight — light, bulky goods price on volume, not weight.
How long does shipping really take to Nigeria?
Air is usually 5-10 days to arrival, plus clearing. Sea LCL is often 4-8 weeks door-to-port depending on the line and consolidation, plus clearing that stretches if documents are not ready. Plan to the longer end. Most of this trade runs through Lagos — Alaba International, Computer Village in Ikeja, Trade Fair and Idumota — where traders buy from 1688 and Guangdong agents and resell into the open market. The all-in landed cost, not the 1688 sticker price, is what decides whether a carton is worth bringing in.
What this estimate won't capture
Freight rates are indicative and move with season, fuel, route and consolidator. The numbers here build intuition; they do not replace a written quote from a forwarder for your specific shipment. Indicative figures, sampled 2026-06-07; not a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Is air or sea cheaper from China to Nigeria?
Sea (LCL) is usually cheaper per kg once a shipment passes roughly 100 kg or about half a CBM. Air is faster and wins for light, urgent or high-value goods.
How do I calculate CBM?
CBM is length x width x height in metres. For cartons in cm, multiply L x W x H and divide by 1,000,000, then multiply by the number of cartons.
What is volumetric weight?
Air freight is charged on the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight. Bulky light goods can be charged on volume.
Are these freight rates accurate?
They are indicative ballpark figures sampled 2026-06-07. Always get a live quote from a freight forwarder before booking.
Last updated: 2026-06-07.
Adaeze covers the money side of importing from China to Nigeria: how the naira moves against the yuan, what it really costs to pay a supplier once agent fees and FX spreads are counted, and how NCS duty and the de-minimis rules land on a real order. She writes for the importer who wants the number before they wire the money, not after.