FMCG export from Dubai to West Africa
The largest destination group we quote, and the one where pre-shipment conformity and pack format decide whether a container clears and sells.
| Markets we quote | 16 |
|---|---|
| Ports of loading | Jebel Ali (AEJEA), Khor Fakkan (AEKHL), Fujairah (AEFJR), Sharjah (AESHJ) |
| Ports of discharge we book | Abidjan (CIABJ), Tema (GHTEM), Apapa, Lagos (NGAPP), Tin Can Island, Lagos (NGTIN), Dakar (SNDKR) |
| Conformity regimes in force | SONCAP, NAFDAC |
| Minimum order | One full container per order, mixed across products |
Duty and what governs it
Most of the region applies the ECOWAS Common External Tariff, a five-band structure common to member states, so a rate quoted for Ghana is usually indicative for Senegal or Côte d'Ivoire. Angola, Cameroon and DR Congo sit outside ECOWAS and apply their own national or CEMAC tariffs, so they are quoted separately. Nigeria additionally operates SONCAP pre-shipment conformity and NAFDAC product registration, which are two different requirements with two different holders — the exporter and the importer respectively — and neither can be obtained retrospectively once goods have shipped.
How the goods move
Direct services from Jebel Ali to the Gulf of Guinea, or transhipment via a Mediterranean or European hub depending on the week. Lagos, Tema, Abidjan and Dakar are the ports we load against most often.
Transit times are confirmed at quotation stage. Gulf routing is volatile, and a transit commitment we cannot honour is worse than no commitment.
Markets we quote in West Africa
| Market | Port of discharge | Conformity | Typical terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angola | On enquiry | — | CFR |
| Benin | On enquiry | — | CFR |
| Burkina Faso | On enquiry | — | CFR |
| Cameroon | On enquiry | — | CFR |
| Côte d'Ivoire | Abidjan (CIABJ) | — | CFR |
| DR Congo | On enquiry | — | CFR |
| Gambia | On enquiry | — | CFR |
| Ghana | Tema (GHTEM) | — | CFR |
| Guinea | On enquiry | — | CFR |
| Liberia | On enquiry | — | CFR |
| Mali | On enquiry | — | CFR |
| Niger | On enquiry | — | CFR |
| Nigeria | Apapa, Lagos (NGAPP), Tin Can Island, Lagos (NGTIN) | SONCAP, NAFDAC | CFR |
| Senegal | Dakar (SNDKR) | — | CFR |
| Sierra Leone | On enquiry | — | CFR |
| Togo | On enquiry | — | CFR |
Common questions
Which ports do you ship to in West Africa?
We load against Abidjan (CIABJ), Tema (GHTEM), Apapa, Lagos (NGAPP), Tin Can Island, Lagos (NGTIN), Dakar (SNDKR). Other ports in the region are quoted on enquiry; the list here is the ones we book most often, not the limit of where we ship.
What is the minimum order to West Africa?
One full container per order. A single product need not fill it. Where it will not, we consolidate compatible products to make up the volume.
Which conformity certificates apply in West Africa?
SONCAP, NAFDAC apply in one of these markets. Each is a pre-shipment requirement, which means the certificate has to exist before the goods sail — none of them can be obtained retrospectively, and a container that arrives without one is a container in demurrage. We confirm which applies to your destination and product before quoting.
Can I mix products in one container to West Africa?
Yes, and most orders on these lanes are mixed. One full container per order, but a single product does not have to fill it — we consolidate compatible lines until the volume is made up and confirm the fill before quoting.
Quote a shipment to West Africa
Tell us the destination port, the products and the quantities. We confirm the container fill, the conformity position and the shelf life at arrival before quoting.
Browse the catalogue — every product carries its HS code and pack configuration, which is what a customs broker in this region asks for first.