We are a Japanese exporter shipping used tires by the container to West Africa. This page covers what a buyer in Ghana needs to know before the first order: the import rules, the ports, how much fits in a container, and how payment works.
Takoradi
Used tires are not on Ghana’s import prohibition or restriction list. The Ghana Revenue Authority publishes that list, and HS 4012.20 does not appear on it. There is no tire-specific permit or certification scheme to obtain before importing.
Import rules for used tires in Ghana
This is worth stating plainly because the rules in West Africa differ sharply from one country to the next. Nigeria, next door, prohibits used tire imports through the Standards Organisation of Nigeria. A buyer who has read about the Nigerian ban sometimes assumes the same applies in Ghana. It does not.
The National Road Safety Authority has at various points proposed banning tires older than six years. As of 2026 that proposal has not been enacted — it has stayed at the level of public awareness campaigns rather than law.
What we cannot tell you is how your own clearing agent will handle a specific shipment. Customs practice and written law are not always the same thing. If you are importing for the first time, confirm the current position with your agent at Tema or Takoradi before you place the order.
The ocean route
Tema is the main gateway and handles most of Ghana’s container traffic. Takoradi, in the Western Region, is the second option and is also used as a base for onward trade into the interior.
We load from thirteen Japanese ports — Ishikari, Tomakomai, Hachinohe, Akita, Sendai, Niigata, Kashiwazaki, Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe and Moji. Which one we use depends on where the stock is collected, not on where you are.
We do not publish transit times, because they depend on the carrier and the routing on the day. Ask us when you enquire and we will give you the schedule we are actually being quoted.
What fits in a container
- Passenger car tires (PCR), 12–17 inch — about 3,500 pieces in a 40ft, loaded 2-in-1 or 3-in-1
- Truck and bus tires (TBR), 11R22.5 single size — 288 pieces in a 40ft
- Mixed PCR and light truck — roughly 2,200 PCR plus 500–550 LT pieces
Full size lists and grading are on the category pages: passenger car tires, truck & bus tires, light truck tires and casings for retreading.
Terms and payment
We quote CIF to your discharge port. Marine insurance is included on every shipment. Freight is normally prepaid in Japan; collect at your end can be arranged if that suits your bank better.
Most customers pay by T/T. For a yearly contract we also work with L/C at sight.
FAQ — importing used tires from Japan to Ghana
Is it legal to import used tires into Ghana?
Yes. Used tires do not appear on the Ghana Revenue Authority’s import prohibition and restriction list, and there is no tire-specific permit scheme. Nigeria bans used tire imports, but Ghana does not — the two are often confused.
Is there an age limit on the tires?
Not in law. A ban on tires older than six years has been proposed by the National Road Safety Authority but has not been enacted as of 2026. We can still work to an age limit if you want one written into the order.
Which port should I use, Tema or Takoradi?
Tema handles most of Ghana’s container traffic and is the usual choice. Takoradi suits buyers in the Western Region and those trading onward into the interior. We quote CIF to either.
What is the minimum order?
One 40ft container. We do not ship part loads, because the freight cost per tire stops making sense below a full container.
Can I mix sizes and types in one container?
Yes. Tell us the sizes and roughly what share of each you want and we build the load around that. Mixing passenger and light truck tires is routine; mixing in truck and bus tires changes the piece count considerably.
Request an offer for Ghana
Send us your discharge port, the sizes you want and the rough quantity. We reply with a CIF price and the loading schedule.
How the buying process works — from the first enquiry through inspection, loading and documents.
