The Nigeria market for Indian non-basmati rice
West Africa (Benin 15.71%, Guinea 8.21%, Cote d'Ivoire 7.97%, then Togo - APEDA FY2024-25) buys parboiled and white long grain mainly CFR in 50 kg bags; Nigeria requires NAFDAC registration by the importer for packaged food.
Indian community in Nigeria (Ministry of External Affairs estimate): 50,120 (NRI 50,000 + PIO 120).
Non-Basmati Rice specification for Nigeria orders
| Parameter | Typical export value |
|---|---|
| Broken | 5% (premium), 15%, 25% or 100% broken grades (typical trade grades) |
| Moisture | ≤ 13-14% (typical) |
| Average grain length | IR-64 about 5.8-6.2 mm; Sona Masoori about 5.0-5.2 mm (typical) |
| Chalky grains | ≤ 5-6% (typical) |
| Damaged / discoloured | ≤ 1-2% (typical) |
| Foreign matter | ≤ 0.1-0.5% (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 non-basmati rice 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 non-basmati rice is mainly produced or harvested Paddy harvest Oct-Nov; new-crop shipments Nov-Mar (ASSUMPTION - general crop calendar); Kharif harvest Oct-Dec; rabi Mar-May (ASSUMPTION). 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' about 24-26 MT in 25-50 kg bags, 40' HC about 26-27 MT (weight-limited).
Quoted on FOB, CFR, CIF, FAS; 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), rice/edible-oil/sugar importers, pharma importers/distributors (Idumota drug market) & local formulators (APIs) |
| 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) | Indian expatriate community retail, oil & gas service companies (OCTG, chemicals |
| Abuja | Inland; Apapa/Tin Can (Lagos) or Onne (Port Harcourt); Kaduna Inland Dry Port (~200 km) · | government & embassy procurement, retail, hotels/HORECA |
| Onitsha | Onitsha River Port (Niger River, inland); sea ports Lagos / Onne · Chinua Achebe Airport U | building materials; Nnewi auto-parts/motorcycle industry; south-east distributors, Onitsha Main Market & Ogbo Ogwu (Bridge Head drug market) importers - pharma, textiles |
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to import non-basmati rice 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 non-basmati rice from India?
Usually HS 100630. Nigeria applies its own national tariff extension to the 6-digit code; confirm the full line with your broker.
What is the difference between Sona Masoori and IR-64?
Sona Masoori is a lightweight, aromatic medium grain from south India sold mainly to diaspora retail; IR-64 is a long-grain variety exported raw or parboiled as a staple rice, mainly to Africa and Asia.
Which broken percentages can you offer?
Standard trade grades are 5%, 15%, 25% and 100% broken; tighter specifications can be milled to order.
Do non-basmati exports need registration?
Yes. Since 24 September 2025 each non-basmati export contract must be registered with APEDA before shipment (DGFT Notification 33/2025-26).
Related guides
Request a quote: non-basmati rice to Nigeria
Tell us grade, quantity and your port in Nigeria. We quote CIF/CFR with the destination documents listed above.