Nigèria: Visió econòmica i política
Nigeria is relatively open to trade. The objective of Nigeria's trade policy is to promote and diversify its exports by reinforcing national competitiveness and encouraging liberalization through the reduction of subsidies. The country mainly exports petroleum oils and petroleum gas (mineral products account for around 90% of total exports), with minor shares for fertilisers and cocoa beans; while petroleum oils account for one-third of imports. Other imported items include fighting vehicles (14.1% of imports in 2023), motor cars (3.9%), and wheat and meslin (3.4% - data Comtrade).
In 2023, Nigeria's main export partners were the Netherlands (12.6% of total exports), Spain (9.4%), India (8.4%), United States (7.5%), Indonesia (6.5%), and France (6.5%); whereas its main suppliers were China (18.4%), Singapore (14.3%), Belgium (9.4%), India (8.0%), and the United States (6.2% - data Comtrade). Nigeria is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and has signed several regional and bilateral trade agreements. The country is also a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and has signed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, which aims to create a single market for goods and services among African countries. The Nigerian government has implemented various measures to promote exports, such as the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) and the Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme (NESS). These measures aim to encourage non-oil exports, promote value addition, and increase competitiveness. Lingering barriers to trade and investment persist in the country, mainly due to long bureaucratic delays.
Nigeria’s merchandise trade balance is structurally positive, but it occasionally turns negative when oil prices and production drop. According to WTO data, in 2023, exports of goods amounted to USD 57.89 billion, whereas imports reached USD 45.94 billion (-8.2% and -23.8% y-o-y, respectively - WTO). Exports of services stood at USD 3.96 billion, while imports totalled USD 17.25 billion (WTO). According to preliminary figures from CBS, in 2024, Nigeria posted a goods trade surplus of USD 13.17 billion. Gas exports surged by 48.3% to USD 8.66 billion, while non-oil exports rose 24.6% to USD 7.46 billion. Fuel imports dropped 23.2% to USD 14.06 billion, and non-oil imports declined 12.6% to USD 25.74 billion.
| Foreign Trade Values | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Imports of Goods (million USD) | 35,740 | 51,880 | 60,351 | 49,428 | 40,907 |
| Exports of Goods (million USD) | 35,634 | 46,871 | 63,075 | 55,182 | 52,933 |
| Imports of Services (million USD) | 19,598 | 15,792 | 18,500 | 17,252 | 17,291 |
| Exports of Services (million USD) | 3,533 | 3,532 | 4,408 | 3,964 | 4,068 |
Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data
| Foreign Trade Indicators | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Trade Balance (million USD) | -16,402 | -4,562 | 5,998 | 8,075 | 13,166 |
| Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) | -32,241 | -16,622 | -7,958 | -5,161 | -194 |
Source: World Bank ; Latest available data
| Foreign Trade Forecasts | 2025 (e) | 2026 (e) | 2027 (e) | 2028 (e) | 2029 (e) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) | 2.4 | 8.1 | 1.3 | 1.8 | -1.2 |
| Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) | -3.7 | 8.8 | 4.1 | 5.2 | 4.0 |
Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data
Note: (e) Estimated Data
Member of Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
Member of African Union (AU)
The country has signed a trade agreement with 21 other countries in the São Paulo Round of the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP).
| Main Customers (% of Exports) |
2024 |
| Spain | 10.5% |
| France | 9.0% |
| Netherlands | 9.0% |
| India | 7.5% |
| United States | 7.3% |
| See More Countries | 56.8% |
| Main Suppliers (% of Imports) |
2024 |
| China | 23.3% |
| Belgium | 11.6% |
| India | 10.2% |
| United States | 6.7% |
| Netherlands | 3.8% |
| See More Countries | 44.4% |
Source: Comtrade, 2025. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
Source: Comtrade, 2025. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows.
| 4.9 bn USD of services exported in 2022 | |
| 41.59% | |
| 23.17% | |
| Personal travelPersonal travel | 23.17% |
| 16.51% | |
| 9.37% | |
| 5.41% | |
| 2.27% | |
| 1.68% | |
| 18.8 bn USD of services imported in 2022 | |
| 46.78% | |
| 21.49% | |
| Personal travelPersonal travel | 19.92% |
| Business travelBusiness travel | 1.57% |
| 19.59% | |
| 3.72% | |
| 2.97% | |
| 2.29% | |
| 1.70% | |
| 1.34% | |
| 0.10% | |
| n/a% | |
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2025. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
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Actualitzacions: November 2025