Lagos is the largest used-car and consumer-goods import market in West Africa. Apapa and Tin Can together handle the majority of vehicle imports for Nigeria and a significant share of regional re-export to Niger, Chad, and Burkina Faso. Icon Logistics has run weekly service to Lagos since 2007.
Lagos lane snapshot
Weekly RoRo. Two terminals. One team end to end.
Loading ports - pick your US side
We sail to Lagos from multiple US ports. We pick the cheapest live combination of inland trucking + ocean rate per booking.
Baltimore (USBAL)
Frequent RoRo service. Strong choice for Mid-Atlantic and Northeast pickups.
Newark (USEWR)
Major auction-belt port. Best for NJ, NY, PA, MA pickups.
Brunswick / Jacksonville
Direct RoRo service. Strong for FL, GA, SC pickups.
Galveston / Freeport TX
Best for TX, OK, LA pickups. Sometimes the cheapest live combination depending on routing.
Savannah (USSAV)
Container and select RoRo service. GA / SC / Southeast pickup belt.
Philadelphia / Wilmington DE
Alternate East Coast options when Baltimore or Newark are tight.
Lagos terminals
Apapa (PTML, Five Star)
Primary RoRo terminal. Most US sailings call here. 3-day typical free time, then demurrage.
Tin Can RORO
Alternative terminal, often less congested gate-out. Some carriers berth here primarily.
The terminal is determined by vessel rotation. We confirm it on booking.
What we ship to Lagos
Used and new cars
Sedans, SUVs, pickups, hybrids, and EVs. RoRo or container. Any pickup ZIP in the US.
Trucks, vans, buses
Pickup trucks, box trucks, Sprinter vans, mini-buses, full coaches. RoRo by linear meter.
Salvage and non-running
Copart and IAAI lots. Loaded on mafi for RoRo, or stuffed in container for heavy-damage shells.
Heavy equipment
Excavators, forklifts, generators, agricultural and construction yellow iron. RoRo or break-bulk.
Personal effects & barrels
LCL groupage. Weekly cutoff. Diaspora-friendly process - see [barrel shipping](/barrel-shipping).
Commercial cargo
Importer stock, e-commerce inventory, parts, samples. FCL or LCL.
Documents you'll need
The same checklist applies to most cargo to Lagos.
Original US title (vehicles)
Or notarized lien release. Required by CBP before export.
Bill of sale / commercial invoice
With declared value, VIN (vehicles), and shipper details.
Photo ID
Driver's license or passport for shipper and consignee.
Consignee TIN
Nigerian Tax Identification Number - required for clearance at Lagos.
Power of attorney (optional)
If we clear at destination on your behalf, we provide the form.
Duty at Nigeria Customs - what to expect
Nigeria Customs assesses vehicle duty at 35% duty + 35% surcharge + 7.5% VAT on the customs-assessed CIF value, with an age coefficient that penalizes older cars. The customs-assessed value is set by NCS, not by your declared value - this is the most common source of dispute.
A typical 5-10 year old sedan landed at Apapa generally faces 60-110% of CIF in total clearance cost (duty + surcharges + VAT + port fees + broker). We give a duty estimate at booking so the consignee can plan cash flow.
For a deeper walkthrough see How to ship a car to Nigeria and Lagos port clearance.
Transit times - port to port
| Loading port | Apapa / Tin Can transit |
|---|---|
| Baltimore | 21-26 days |
| Newark | 22-28 days |
| Brunswick | 21-26 days |
| Galveston / Freeport TX | 24-30 days |
| Savannah | 22-28 days |
Add 5-10 days inland to loading port and 5-10 days clearance at Lagos for a full door-to-door view.
Shipping to Lagos?
Send the VIN, lot number, or cargo description and pickup ZIP. Quote in one business day.