Nigeria’s exports to Africa surge to N4.9 trillion
Nigeria's exports to Africa saw a remarkable increase of 97.16 percent year-on-year, reaching N4.9 trillion in the third quarter of 2025, indicating a strategic pivot towards emerging markets, specifically intra-African trade and the BRICS bloc, as reported by industry insiders.
According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigerian goods shipped to African nations rose to N4.9 trillion in Q3 2025, compared to N2.49 trillion during the same quarter in 2024.
The report also pointed out a notable rise in exports to China and Brazil, while shipments to the United States and India experienced significant declines.
The BRICS group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, provides an alternative economic framework to the Western-led model that is largely influenced by the United States.
Recent export statistics indicate a significant increase in Nigeria's trade with BRICS nations. The National Bureau of Statistics disclosed that exports to China surged by 230.49 percent, climbing to N2.26 trillion in Q3 2025 from N683.74 billion in the same quarter of the previous year. Exports to Brazil also rose by 19.58 percent, achieving N446.76 billion, up from N373.61 billion the year before.
It was previously noted that imports from Nigeria to the United States decreased from $2.65 billion to $2.12 billion between January and May 2025. This decline followed a 14 percent tariff imposed by then-U.S. President Donald Trump on all exports from Nigeria, which strained bilateral trade relations and created uncertainty regarding the renewal of trade agreements like the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
Industry stakeholders, including Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, stated that the trade statistics "clearly demonstrate that Nigerian manufacturers and exporters are increasingly turning to BRICS nations as alternative markets."
He explained that this shift has become essential after the United States imposed a 14 percent tariff on most Nigerian exports. According to the DG of MAN, the tariff regime and rising trade tensions have rendered the U.S. “less appealing” for Nigerian exporters.
Ajayi-Kadir remarked, "For many manufacturers, this diversification is no longer just an option; it has become a necessity. BRICS markets present fewer trade barriers and, in some instances, bilateral agreements that facilitate market access."
He added that exporters now encounter “prolonged shipping times, higher compliance costs, and currency fluctuations” when conducting trade with the U.S., while BRICS countries have become increasingly open to Nigerian manufactured goods, agricultural products, and semi-processed items.
When asked whether the Trump-era tariffs had a role in the declining trade figures, the DG of MAN affirmed that they "undeniably played a significant part," emphasizing that “no country or business willingly accepts higher tariffs. Such policy changes naturally redirect trade patterns.”
He cautioned that uncertainty surrounding the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act could exacerbate this situation and stressed the need for Nigeria to enhance trade within Africa through the African Continental Free Trade Area.
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