For larger or less urgent shipments, sea freight is the economical way to send more for less.
Sea freight to Nigeria takes 4–6 weeks door to door: £2.80/kg with a 50 kg minimum, or a flat £120 per barrel — £170 if we supply the drum. Because the per-kg minimum works out at £140, a barrel is the cheapest sea shipment we can take at any weight.
Sea freight is where most of the volume on this corridor travels. Weight barely moves the price the way it does by air, which makes it the natural home of the barrel, the household relocation and the container of stock.
What sea asks for instead is planning. The journey includes the sailing, clearance at Apapa or Tin Can, and road delivery to the final address — so the booking deadline sits further back than people expect.
What sea freight costs
Plus a ₦5,000 handling fee, paid in Nigeria when the cargo is delivered, with a 50 kg minimum on per-kg shipments. Container pricing moves with routes and sailings, so we quote those to order.
Worth knowing before you choose: a barrel is a flat £120, and the per-kg rate never bills below the 50 kg minimum — which is £140. So a barrel is cheaper than the smallest per-kg shipment we can take, at any weight. If what you are sending fits in a drum, send it as a barrel.
| Option | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Barrel — your own drum | £120 | Food, clothing, household goods |
| Barrel — we supply the drum | £170 | The same, when you have no barrel |
| Per kg / per box | £2.80/kg (50 kg min) | Mixed loads and boxes |
| Groupage, per cubic metre | £320 per CBM | Bulky loads that do not fill a container |
| 20ft container | Quoted on request | Full home relocations, commercial loads |
| 40ft container | Quoted on request | Large commercial shipments |
Barrels, boxes, groupage or a container?
Most personal shipments are barrels. They are strong, waterproof, roll easily and are priced per barrel — so how well you pack one decides the value you get. Boxes suit smaller or awkward loads.
Groupage means your goods share a container with other shipments — the right answer when you have more than a couple of barrels but not enough for a container of your own.
A full container makes sense for a home relocation or a commercial import, and gives you exclusive use and a cleaner clearance path.
Ports and transit
Shipments arrive at Lagos — Apapa or Tin Can — before clearing and moving on by road. Both ports can congest, particularly from October to December when the whole corridor is shipping at once.
We quote transit as a range and flag current conditions rather than promising a date. If a shipment has a deadline attached, tell us and we will be straight about whether sea can make it.
What suits sea freight
- Barrels of food, provisions and clothing
- Household goods and furniture for a relocation
- Building materials and equipment
- Vehicles by RoRo or in a container
- Commercial stock and bulk goods
- Anything bulky and light — where air’s volumetric charging hurts most
What's Included
- Barrels from £120
- Groupage at £320/CBM
- 20ft & 40ft containers on request
- £2.80/kg for boxes
Common questions
How long does sea freight to Nigeria take?
Typically 4–6 weeks door to door, covering the sailing, clearance at Apapa or Tin Can and road delivery. Peak season and port congestion can extend that, which is why we quote a range rather than a fixed date.
How much is sea freight to Nigeria?
£2.80/kg door to door to Lagos, or a flat £120 per barrel (£170 if we supply the drum). A ₦5,000 handling fee is paid in Nigeria on delivery. A 50 kg minimum applies on per-kg shipments. Containers are quoted to order because pricing moves with routes and sailings.
What is groupage?
Your goods share a container with other shipments rather than filling one alone. It is the sensible middle option when you have more than a couple of barrels but not enough to justify a whole container.
Can I ship a car by sea?
Yes — by RoRo, where the vehicle drives on and off, or inside a container. Vehicles must be no more than 12 years old from manufacture and completely drained of fuel. See our car shipping page for the detail.
When should I book for Christmas?
Early October. Sea takes 4–6 weeks door to door and we load a groupage container once a month — so the October sailing lands comfortably before Christmas, while November's runs into peak-season port congestion and is a gamble. Working back from Christmas Day is what produces that deadline. Our deadlines page counts down what is left.
Is sea freight safe for my belongings?
Yes, when packed properly. The main risk is movement over several weeks, which is why we tell people to fill every gap in a barrel. Seal food in bags, wrap fragile items in clothing, and nothing should shift.
Do you handle clearance at the port?
Yes, clearance is included in door-to-door service. We need an accurate contents list and honest declared values — that is what keeps a shipment moving through Apapa rather than sitting in it.