Nigeria imported agricultural products valued at N1.44 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2025, marking a significant 31.74 per cent increase from N1.09 trillion in the same period of 2024 and a 30.24 per cent rise compared to N1.10 trillion in the third quarter of 2025.
The figures were released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its Nigeria Foreign Trade Statistics report for Q4 2025.
The sharp rise in agricultural imports during the period contributed to a notable decline in food inflation, which fell to 8.89 per cent in January 2026 from 10.84 per cent in December 2025.
Despite the high import bill for agricultural goods, Nigeria maintained a positive merchandise trade balance of N1.71 trillion in Q4 2025, though this represented a decline from previous levels.
Total merchandise trade stood at N36.21 trillion, reflecting a 1.07 per cent decrease from N36.60 trillion in Q4 2024 and an 8.94 per cent drop from N39.77 trillion in Q3 2025.
The NBS attributed the overall trade contraction primarily to reduced crude oil exports.
Exports accounted for 52.36 per cent of total trade, valued at N18.96 trillion down 5.25 per cent from N20.01 trillion in Q4 2024 and 16.88 per cent lower than N22.81 trillion in the preceding quarter.
Crude oil remained the dominant export commodity, contributing N9.70 trillion or 51.17 per cent of total exports, despite a steep 29.60 per cent decline from N13.78 trillion in Q4 2024 and a 24.24 per cent fall from Q3 2025.
Non-crude oil exports totalled N9.26 trillion (48.83 per cent of exports), with non-oil products making up N3.15 trillion or 16.59 per cent of the total export value.
On the import side, total imports reached N17.25 trillion, up 3.98 per cent from N16.59 trillion in Q4 2024 and 1.73 per cent higher than N16.96 trillion in Q3 2025.
Key import categories showed increases across several segments:Raw materials: N2.35 trillion (+11.50% from Q4 2024; +16.59% from Q3 2025)
Solid minerals: N140.99 billion (+26.12% from Q4 2024; +86.77% from Q3 2025)
Manufactured goods: N8.80 trillion (+3.89% from Q4 2024; +13.31% from Q3 2025)
Other oil products: N4.02 trillion (-16.38% from Q4 2024; +11.95% from Q3 2025)
China remained Nigeria’s leading source of imports in Q4 2025, followed by the United States, the Netherlands, India, and Brazil.
The most imported commodities during the quarter included motor spirit (ordinary), durum wheat, crude petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, cane sugar for refining, and used vehicles with diesel or semi-diesel engines.
The continued heavy reliance on imported agricultural and food-related products underscores ongoing challenges in boosting domestic production and reducing Nigeria’s vulnerability to global supply chain disruptions and foreign exchange pressures.
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