The Nigeria market for Indian hotel & restaurant supplies
Hotel projects in East and West Africa; Kenya PVoC applies to many consumer items.
Indian community in Nigeria (Ministry of External Affairs estimate): 50,120 (NRI 50,000 + PIO 120).
Hotel & Restaurant Supplies specification for Nigeria orders
| Parameter | Typical export value |
|---|---|
| Stainless steel | 304 / 18-10 for cutlery and buffet; 201 for budget lines (typical) |
| Copperware | Hammered copper with stainless or tin lining for food contact (typical) |
| Gastronorm | GN 1/1 to 1/9, depths 20-200 mm per EN 631 (typical) |
| Ceramics | Stoneware/porcelain, lead- and cadmium-safe glazes (typical) |
| Chafing dishes | 6-9 L, fuel or electric, roll-top or lift-top (typical) |
Final values are agreed per contract and checked against the Nigeria requirements below, then confirmed by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Import requirements in Nigeria
| Requirement | Regulator | Document / registration |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | NAFDAC | NAFDAC product registration (importer-held); import permit |
General guidance as of November 2026. Confirm with your customs broker or the regulator before shipping. Final regulatory decisions require professional verification.
Shipping hotel & restaurant supplies to Nigeria
Typical sea transit Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) → Lagos: 25-38 days. Transhipment via Colombo/Singapore or Jebel Ali/Med; SONCAP certificate mandatory for customs clearance
Supply window: Indian hotel & restaurant supplies is mainly produced or harvested Year-round; Year-round; hotel pre-opening & renovation cycles. Allow 25-38 days at sea plus 5–10 days for inspection, export clearance and Nigeria customs when you set delivery dates.
Container loading (estimate): 20' ~25-30 cbm, 40' HC ~60-68 cbm (volume-limited).
Quoted on FOB, FCA, CIF, DAP; CIF Lagos is the common choice for first orders.
Where buyers are in Nigeria
| City | Port / airport | Buyer sectors |
|---|---|---|
| Lagos | Apapa Port & Tin Can Island Port (Lagos; NPA) / Lekki Deep Sea Port (opened 2023) · Murtal | textile/garment wholesalers (Balogun), pharma importers/distributors (Idumota drug market) & local formulators (APIs), rice/edible-oil/sugar importers |
| Kano | Inland (~1,000 km); Apapa/Tin Can Lagos; Kano Inland Dry Port (Dala/Zawachiki) · Mallam Am | textile & garment wholesalers (Kantin Kwari), northern distributors (Sahel cross-border to Niger/Chad), leather tanneries (chemicals) |
| Port Harcourt | Port Harcourt (Rivers Port) & Onne Port (Federal Ocean Terminal/Onne Oil & Gas Free Zone) | HORECA, oil & gas service companies (OCTG, chemicals |
| Abuja | Inland; Apapa/Tin Can (Lagos) or Onne (Port Harcourt); Kaduna Inland Dry Port (~200 km) · | hotels/HORECA, government & embassy procurement, pharma (federal tenders) |
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to import hotel & restaurant supplies into Nigeria?
Key requirements: Registration — NAFDAC (NAFDAC product registration (importer-held); import permit). Your customs broker confirms the full list for your HS line.
How long does shipping from India to Nigeria take?
Typically 25-38 days port-to-port from Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) to Lagos, plus 5–10 days for stuffing, export clearance and destination clearance (estimates).
Does Nigeria have a trade agreement with India?
No FTA (Nigeria is in ECOWAS/AfCFTA). MFN tariffs (ECOWAS CET) plus import prohibitions list [S7 — not mentioned] A preferential certificate of origin is needed to claim any reduced duty.
Which HS code applies to hotel & restaurant supplies from India?
Usually HS 732393. Nigeria applies its own national tariff extension to the 6-digit code; confirm the full line with your broker.
Is copper serveware safe for food?
Only when lined with stainless steel or tin on food-contact surfaces. Unlined copper is decorative.
Can you supply a complete hotel F&B package?
Yes. Buffet ware, serveware, cutlery, crockery and glassware from different clusters, consolidated into one shipment.
Do you meet gastronorm sizes?
Yes, GN pans in standard EN 631 sizes and depths.
Related guides
Request a quote: hotel & restaurant supplies to Nigeria
Tell us grade, quantity and your port in Nigeria. We quote CIF/CFR with the destination documents listed above.