KNOW THE GROUND BEFORE YOU SHIP
Markets
Five markets we know line-by-line: what moves, what your broker will ask for, what the money rules are, and what kills containers. Tap a market. Updated quarterly.
Nigeria PRIORITY MARKET
Demand220M+ people, washer penetration under 40% — laundry is the entry category, kitchen follows
Stock what movesTwin tubs 8–10kg, heavy-duty blenders (Silver Crest-type), rechargeable fans, microwaves, local-adapter kitchen lines
Port & transitLagos Apapa / Tin Can · 28–38 days from Guangzhou
Typical duty10–20% by HS code + 7.5% VAT (broker confirms)
ComplianceBuyer opens Form M at an authorized bank (needs PI + SONCAP product certificate + insurance) → PAAR before arrival
Payment realityUSD T/T; FX windows can delay buyers, keep quotes valid 7 days, price in USD only
Hard ban: used compressors, used air conditioners, used fridges/freezers are on Nigeria’s import prohibition list. We do not ship them, don’t let any supplier talk you into a “special arrangement”.
Our edge here: Grade B twin tubs clear fastest in Lagos volume markets; Grade A moves in premium shops on the island. See the grading guide.
Ghana
DemandAccra + Kumasi trade rings; strong re-sale culture, price-sensitive outside Accra
Stock what movesWashers (semi-auto strong upcountry), kitchen sets, fans, microwaves
Port & transitTema · 30–38 days
Typical duty10–20% + VAT band
ComplianceEnergy Commission rules, used refrigerators/ACs banned since 2013 (energy + refrigerant grounds)
Payment realityCedi volatility, 7-day quote validity is discipline, not a trick
Tema clearance is generally smoother than Lagos, good first-market for a trial container.
Kenya & EAC (Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda)
DemandNairobi (Luthuli Ave trade cluster) + regional redistribution; growing middle-tier demand for Grade A used & new OEM
Stock what movesGrade A used washers, new OEM kitchen, solar/DC lines for upcountry grid gaps
Port & transitMombasa · 25–32 days; inland rail/road to Kampala/Kigali adds 1–2 weeks
Typical dutyEAC common external tariff ~25% + 16% VAT on finished goods
ComplianceEAC MEPS 2025 (EAS 1213/1214) now phases in efficiency floors for ACs & fridges, old cooling is dead here too; PVoC conformity for new lines
Payment realityUSD T/T straightforward; longer distribution cycles, plan reorder cadence at 6–8 weeks
Don’t ship cooling into EAC on old specs — MEPS phase-in will strand your stock at clearance or on the shelf.
Iraq HIGH-MARGIN, SPECIAL HANDLING
DemandReconstruction + summer heat: cooling, water heaters, kitchen rebuild demand is real and cash-heavy
Stock what movesNew portable/window AC (summer peak, order 3 months ahead), instant water heaters, kitchen lines, coffee equipment for the café boom
Port & transitUmm Qasr · 18–25 days; Baghdad/Basra clearance via local agent
Typical duty5–15% + local fees
ComplianceLighter import regime, but documentation discipline matters for bank transfers
Payment realityCentral bank restrictions keep many Iraqi banks off USD rails — the working structure is payment from the buyer’s UAE/Jordan/Turkey entity. We screen paying banks against restricted lists before accepting
Never accept “my cousin will send from a personal account”. Same-name corporate payment or no deal, read the Iraq guide before your first order.
Margin kicker: cooling & water-heater lines to Iraq typically carry the highest markup multipliers of our five markets (1.4–1.9× on landed).
Philippines
DemandYoung population, strong remittance spending, e-commerce heavy (Shopee/Lazada/TikTok)
Stock what movesNew OEM kitchen & laundry; used lines are a case-by-case clearance question, verify per shipment
Port & transitManila · 7–12 days, the cheapest freight of all our markets
Typical duty0–10% + 12% VAT (ASEAN rates vary by HS code)
ComplianceDTI-BPS mandatory certification (ICC) for household appliances; new lines need certs arranged, we prep CB/CE files from factory
Payment realityStandard USD T/T; small trial LCLs are practical here
The catch: 220V / 60Hz. China-domestic 50Hz compressor products misbehave, for PH we spec 60Hz-rated motors/compressors on new lines. We mark every line’s frequency on the quote.
Side-by-side snapshot
| Market | Ocean freight 40’HQ | Duty band | Transit | Best starter mix | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lagos | $3,000–4,000 | 10–20% + 7.5% VAT | 28–38 d | Grade B twin tubs + blenders + new microwaves | Used cooling banned; FX delays |
| Tema | $2,800–3,500 | 10–20% + VAT | 30–38 d | Semi-auto washers + kitchen sets | Cedi swings; used-cooling ban |
| Mombasa | $2,500–3,500 | ~25% + 16% VAT | 25–32 d | Grade A washers + solar/DC lines | EAC MEPS on cooling |
| Umm Qasr | $2,500–4,500 | 5–15% + fees | 18–25 d | New AC + water heaters + coffee | Pay via UAE entity; bank screening |
| Manila | $1,000–1,800 | 0–10% + 12% VAT | 7–12 d | New OEM kitchen + 60Hz laundry | 60Hz spec; ICC certification |
Freight = recent market bands for 40’HQ, port-to-port; they move monthly, we re-quote at order time. Duty bands are planning references, not legal advice.
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