How to import from Egypt to Nigeria

Lagos port congestion is a known challenge — Onne + Lekki are alternatives for high-priority cargo.

ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET)

• Clinker HS 2523.10: 5% CET (cement industry essential)
• Cement HS 2523.29: 10% CET + 50% levy in some periods (protect domestic Dangote/BUA)
• Natural gypsum HS 2520.10: 5% CET
• DAP HS 3105.30: 5% CET + ECOWAS Levy 5% + 0.5% AU Import Adjustment Tax
• Industrial salt HS 2501.00: 10% CET
• Fresh produce: 20% CET typical

Nigerian VAT + levies

• Standard VAT 7.5%
• Levies: ECOWAS 0.5%, ETLS 0.5%, IT Levy 1%, Foreign Exchange Equalization 5% (varies by year)
• Recoverable VAT for VAT-registered industrial buyers

CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) Form M / FX policy

• All imports require Form M approval through authorised dealer bank
• Foreign exchange access varies — official + parallel markets diverge
• Letter of Credit common for industrial imports

SONCAP (Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme)

• Mandatory for many regulated products
• Pre-export verification through Intertek, TÜV Austria / SGS, Cotecna
• Certificate of Conformity (CoC) issued at port of loading
• Required for cement, fertilizers, food, chemicals

NAFDAC (food/pharma regulator)

• Food + pharmaceutical imports require NAFDAC registration
• Bulk salt for industrial use generally exempt
• Food-grade salt + sea salt require NAFDAC approval

Required documentation

• Commercial Invoice (USD-denominated, with Form M reference)
• Packing List
• Bill of Lading
• Certificate of Origin (AfCFTA preferential)
• COA / Mill Test Certificate
• SONCAP Certificate of Conformity (regulated products)
• NAFDAC registration (food + pharma)
• Form M + IDF (Import Duty Form)
• Phytosanitary cert (agricultural)

Both Egypt and Nigeria are AfCFTA members. AfCFTA Certificate of Origin (we issue per shipment) provides progressive tariff reduction. Nigeria's AfCFTA implementation is partial — see latest tariff phase-down schedule.

Pitfall 1: Form M / FX approval delays

Symptom: Cargo arrives at Apapa, importer can't clear due to FX delay.
Avoidance: Confirm Form M + FX approval before vessel sails from Egypt.

Pitfall 2: SONCAP non-compliance

Symptom: Cargo detained at port pending SONCAP CoC.
Avoidance: Pre-export SONCAP verification with Intertek/SGS/Cotecna at Egyptian port BEFORE B/L issuance.

Pitfall 3: Lagos port congestion

Symptom: Vessel waiting weeks for berth at Apapa.
Avoidance: Consider Onne or Lekki for time-sensitive cargo; build buffer into lead time.

• Damietta + Alexandria → Lagos / Onne / Lekki shipping framework (CMA CGM, MSC, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd)
• Handysize bulk for clinker + cement
• AfCFTA Certificate of Origin per shipment
• SONCAP pre-export verification coordination (Intertek + SGS + Cotecna Egypt)
• Form M support for Nigerian importer Central Bank approval
• L/C documentation through Nigerian-bank-accepted format

Request a Nigeria-import quote →

Import compliance is only half of supply-chain risk; the other half is whether the cargo that arrives matches the specification that was tendered. Egypt Globe Group closes that gap before the vessel sails: every lot is tested at the port laboratory and released on a Certificate of Analysis or Mill Test Certificate before the Bill of Lading, and independent pre-shipment inspection (mandatory for most conformity programmes and every L/C-financed shipment) is coordinated at the Egyptian port.

• Specification conformity

  How Egypt Globe meets itPort-laboratory analysis against the contract specification on every lot; out-of-spec lots rejected at the port
  Evidence issuedCertificate of Analysis / Mill Test Certificate before B/L

• Pre-export inspection

  How Egypt Globe meets itTÜV Austria, SGS, Intertek or Bureau Veritas sampling, witness test and draft survey at the loading port
  Evidence issuedInspection certificate; sealed retained samples (90 days)

• Origin and preferential tariff

  How Egypt Globe meets itEgyptian Chamber of Commerce Certificate of Origin; EUR.1 / PAFTA / COMESA / AfCFTA where applicable
  Evidence issuedCertificate of Origin; preferential origin document

• Bank and customs documentation

  How Egypt Globe meets itStandardised L/C document set prepared by the in-house documentation desk
  Evidence issuedCommercial Invoice, Packing List, B/L, CoA, COO, SDS / phytosanitary where required

• Laycan discipline

  How Egypt Globe meets itResident EGG stevedoring and agency teams at all seven Egyptian ports
  Evidence issuedNotice of Readiness and Statement of Facts on every vessel

• Quality & compliance — the QA charter, inspection partners and destination conformity programmes
• Inspection & QC · Trade documentation · Loading ports
• Request a quote — priced FOB / CIF / CFR offer, sample Certificate of Analysis and inspection protocol