How to Import a HOWO or SHACMAN Truck to Nigeria

Nigeria buys more Chinese trucks than almost any other market in West Africa. HOWO and SHACMAN units move sand, cement, fuel, and containers across Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt every day. If you are planning your first import, the process is straightforward once you understand the paperwork. Here is how it works.

Start With SONCAP, Not the Truck

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) is the certificate that lets your truck clear customs. Without it, your unit can sit at the port racking up storage charges. SONCAP is issued against a Product Certificate that the exporter arranges in China before shipment, based on inspection and testing of the goods.

For used, remanufactured, and refurbished trucks, the process runs through a physical inspection at origin. Book this early. Trying to add SONCAP after the truck has already sailed is the single most common mistake we see from first-time buyers.

Choose Your Port

Most truck cargo lands at Lagos, split across two terminals:

• Apapa: the older, busier terminal, often congested.
• Tin Can Island: handles a large share of RoRo and container traffic.

Some buyers in the east clear through Onne near Port Harcourt to be closer to their base. Talk to your clearing agent before you fix the destination port, because congestion and duty handling differ between them.

We usually ship from Qingdao as the default, with Shanghai or Shenzhen available if the routing is better for your schedule.

RoRo or Container

A single tractor unit or dump truck can move two ways:

• RoRo (roll on, roll off): the truck is driven onto a vehicle carrier. Simple and often cheaper for one drivable unit.
• Container: better for a truck shipped in knocked-down form, or when you are mixing the truck with spare parts in a 40ft box.

For a standard HOWO 371 6x4 tractor or a dump truck, RoRo is the common choice. For mixed loads, a container makes more sense.

Budget for Duties and Levies

Import charges in Nigeria stack up from several sources: import duty, a levy, VAT, and port and terminal handling. Rates change with government policy, so do not rely on an old quote. Ask a licensed customs agent for a current landed-cost estimate against your exact truck category before you commit. Reman and refurb units are valued differently from brand new, so give the agent the real specification.

Documents You Need to Clear

Keep this checklist with your agent:

• Commercial Invoice and Packing List
• Bill of Lading
• Certificate of Origin (Form is not CEPA here, but a standard CO helps establish value)
• SONCAP certificate
• Product Certificate from the inspection in China

We provide the CI, PL, B/L, and CO as standard, plus the conformity paperwork required for your market. Get the consignee details right on the B/L, because corrections after issue cost time and money.

Payment and Lead Time

Our standard terms are T/T with 30 percent deposit and 70 percent against the bill of lading copy, and L/C is available for larger orders. Lead time is around 30 days, and the minimum order is one unit. If you want to fill a container, we can combine a truck with spare parts to make the freight work harder for you.

A Realistic Timeline

From order to a truck on Nigerian soil, plan for roughly six to ten weeks: production or refurbishment and inspection in China, ocean transit to Lagos, then customs clearance. Clearance is the variable that stretches, so line up your agent and your SONCAP early and the rest follows.

We supply new, remanufactured and refurbished HOWO and SHACMAN trucks factory-direct from China. Tell us your model and destination port for a quote within 24 hours.