Where We Export — Used Car Import Destinations in West Africa

We export to two markets, and we know both properly rather than claiming to serve all of Africa.

Ghana and Nigeria are both English-speaking and both drive on the right, which means our left-hand-drive Chinese stock fits without conversion and without translating a single document. That is not a small thing: converting a right-hand-drive car costs $3,000-5,000 and produces a car nobody wants to buy.

The difference between the two markets is duty. Ghana runs roughly 30-35% of CIF value; Nigeria runs roughly 50-70%. Freight differs by only about $50. So the same car lands around $2,000 cheaper in Tema than in Lagos, while Nigeria offers several times the market depth. Which matters more depends on whether you are optimising for margin per unit or for volume.

Both figures are estimates. Tax rates, valuation practice and exchange rates all move, and the number your clearing agent gives you is the number that counts. We publish our estimates so you can start the arithmetic, not so you can skip it.

Why left-hand drive decides everything

If you are in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa or any other right-hand-drive market, we are the wrong supplier and we will tell you so on the first call. Chinese domestic cars are built left-hand drive. Converting one is expensive, compromises the car and destroys its resale value.

Our market is the LHD half of Africa, and Ghana and Nigeria are where we have the port relationships, the documentation experience and the buyer demand to work properly.