Case Study: One Mixed Container, Lagos, Six Weeks Door to Door
A mixed 40HQ container carrying 165 twin tubs, 40 microwaves and a small kitchen line left the factory floor on day 10 and reached Alaba market on day 41. Deposit went down on day 0, balance was paid on day 7 against a video-verified bench test, and the goods spent 18 days on the water before Form M and SONCAP cleared them at Tin Can. Six weeks door to door, no surprise costs, because every date was fixed before the container was sealed.
Why this concern is real
Every Lagos importer has a story about a container that sat at the port for three extra weeks because SONCAP paperwork wasn't ready, or a supplier who went quiet after the deposit cleared. Your cash is tied up in transit for a month or more, and if the timeline slips, your retail season slips with it. You need to know the exact day your balance is due, the exact day the ship sails, and the exact day the goods pass through Form M so you can plan your own selling calendar around real dates, not estimates.
How it actually works
On day 0 you place a 30% deposit against a pro forma invoice listing 165 twin tubs, 40 microwaves and the agreed kitchen line items. Between day 2 and day 6 every unit goes through a 27-point bench test, serial-logged unit by unit, and you receive video of the test run before anything is packed. On day 7 you pay the remaining 70% against a copy of the Bill of Lading, and the booking is confirmed the same day. The container departs on day 10. Transit to Lagos runs 14 to 18 days, so arrival typically falls between day 24 and day 28. From there, Form M and SONCAP documentation processing at the port adds 12 to 14 days depending on terminal congestion, and the container clears for delivery to Alaba between day 40 and day 42.
How we handle it at Apex Home Export
We source from a pool of 184 factories, and every twin tub or microwave going into a Lagos-bound container is graded before it's quoted: Grade A units are 3 years old or less with a 90-day warranty, Grade B units are up to 5 years old with a 30-day warranty, Grade C is sold tested as-is with no warranty claim attached. We don't load used cooling units or used TVs into any container, regardless of market. Payment moves through a corporate account that matches the name on your contract, so there's no mismatch when your bank or customs asks for proof of remittance. Freight to Lagos on a mixed 40HQ runs $3,000 to $4,000 depending on sailing schedule, and that figure is quoted before your balance is due, not after. If you want third-party verification, SGS or Bureau Veritas inspection is welcome at any stage, and we build their inspection window into the day 2-6 test period so it doesn't add time to the schedule.
What you should do before you pay
- Confirm the grade (A, B, or C) for every product line on your invoice, not just the container total.
- Ask for the 27-point bench test video with visible serial numbers before releasing the 70% balance.
- Match the corporate account name on the payment instruction to the entity named in your contract.
- Get the Bill of Lading copy in hand before day 7, not after.
- Check your Form M is registered against the correct HS codes for twin tubs, microwaves and kitchen line items separately.
- If you're using SGS or Bureau Veritas, confirm their inspection date fits inside the day 2-6 window.
A container that takes six weeks door to door isn't luck, it's a schedule that's fixed on day 0 and followed without renegotiation. If you're planning a mixed 40HQ into Lagos, Accra, Mombasa, Baghdad or Manila and want the same day-by-day plan built around your product mix, message us on WhatsApp at +86 199 0592 2526 and we'll quote your timeline before you commit a deposit.