Bayo Akomolafe 
Following disruptions along shipping routes from Asia to Africa, a freight forwarding firm, Sino Shipping, has increased freight charges on Nigerian bound cargoes from China.
Consequently, an importer from Nigeria woulf have to pay $4,300 and $6,400 per 20 feet and 40 feet containers, respectively from the ports of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Shanghai to Lagos, Tincan Island, Rivers and Calabar ports from October 2024.
According to the company, a 20 feet container will now have a transit time of between 30 and 45 days to Nigerian ports as Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou stand as pivotal gateways for exports from China to Nigeria, each playing a significant role in the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of international shipping.
It noted that when goods arrive Nigeria from China, they primarily entered through the ports of Lagos, Port Harcourt and Calabar, adding that efficient customs processing would be crucial to avoid delays.
The shipping company explained: “Geopolitical tensions and the Red Sea crisis have led to the increased congestion and equipment shortages, affecting schedules and rates. Financial pressures are contributing to higher shipping costs.
“Elevated rates and potential delays are expected through October 2024. Although, demand has not reached pandemic levels, logistical challenges are likely to keep rates high.”
It also advised importers to ensure compliance with Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) regulations, adding that they should prepare for potential disruptions due to global events affecting shipping routes and schedules.
Recall that importers had spent not less than $3.1 billion to ferry containers laden with goods to Nigerian seaports in the first six months of 2024 because of the crisis in the Red Sea. The amount was imposed by liners as extra freight rates charged to ferry 780,000 Twenty Equivalent Units (TEUs) of containers to the country between January and June 2024 into the various port terminals.
Findings revealed that the charges had increased substantially on most trade lanes because of the economic down – turn and the attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group along the red sea trade lane.
In January 2024, Maersk Line imposed $4,000 charges as Container Protect Essential (CPE) and N43,000 as Documentation Destination Fee (DDF) on cargoes coming to Lagos ports and other West African ports, noting that the rates were also subjected to other applicable surcharges, including local charges and contingency charges.
Before the hike in freight rates, arbitrary charges paid were the bunker adjustment, currency adjustment, war risk, extra risk insurance surcharge, freight rates surcharge and port operations recovery surcharge.
Also, findings revealed that apart from freight rates, importers paid N6.11 trillion to clear average of 822,868 containers and N838.112 billion to liners as surcharges because of multiple tariffs, which finally bear by final consumers.
In June 2023, CMA CGM also imposed additional costs on all dangerous goods being imported to Lagos, Tincan Can Island ports and other ports in West Africa. The rates attract an additional EUR200 or $230 on 20 feet containers from North Europe, Baltic, Scandinavia, West Mediterranean.
