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Africa's main import ports: Lagos, Tema, Mombasa and Dar es Salaam
Which ports Chinese goods mainly use to enter Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania, what each port is like, and what to watch for in clearance.
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Sea freight to Nigeria mainly enters Lagos through Apapa, Tin Can and the Lekki deep-sea port, with the east served by Onne. Ghana mainly uses Tema, Kenya uses Mombasa and Tanzania uses Dar es Salaam; the last two are also gateways for landlocked East African countries.
Information updated: 2026-10-03
Port overview
| Country | Main port | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | Apapa, Tin Can Island (Lagos) | The traditional main ports with heavy volumes; congestion and queues are the norm |
| Nigeria | Lekki Deep Sea Port (Lagos) | Deep-sea port in operation since 2023, able to berth larger ships, with fast container growth in recent years |
| Nigeria | Onne (Rivers State) | Serves the south-east and oil-related cargo |
| Ghana | Tema | A major West African hub that also serves landlocked countries such as Burkina Faso |
| Kenya | Mombasa | One of East Africa's largest ports; cargo can be moved inland by rail |
| Tanzania | Dar es Salaam | Serves Tanzania and landlocked countries such as Zambia and DR Congo |
What to consider when choosing a port
- Which port is closest to the delivery point; inland transport costs vary a lot.
- Port congestion: congestion means ships waiting for berths, slow container collection and detention charges.
- Whether the carrier sails direct: direct services have steadier transit times; each transshipment adds uncertainty.
- The destination's clearance system: Nigeria has rolled out the B'Odogwu clearance system, and the switchover period may affect release speed.
Reference sea-leg transit times
| Destination port | Sea leg (reference) |
|---|---|
| Lagos | 30 to 38 days |
| Tema | 28 to 35 days |
| Mombasa | 28 to 35 days |
| Dar es Salaam | 30 to 38 days |