Nigeria’s trade with other African countries grew by N610 billion in the first half of 2025, according to new data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Total trade rose to N4.82 trillion, compared with N4.21 trillion recorded in the same period of 2024, underscoring both the resilience of intra-African trade and the impact of currency volatility.
The quarterly trend showed mixed performance. In Q1 2025, trade fell slightly to N1.86 trillion from N2.24 trillion in Q1 2024. However, Q2 delivered a sharp rebound, with trade climbing to N2.97 trillion against N1.98 trillion in the same quarter of 2024 — a near N1 trillion jump that decisively boosted overall half-year performance.
Exports were the key driver of growth. Nigeria exported goods worth N4.82 trillion in the first six months of 2025, up from N4.21 trillion a year earlier. The strongest gains came in Q2, when exports surged to N2.97 trillion from N1.97 trillion in Q2 2024.
Imports also expanded but at a slower pace. They rose to N1.82 trillion in H1 2025 compared with N1.13 trillion in the corresponding period of 2024, reflecting higher costs of bringing in goods amid naira weakness.
The latest trade figures reinforce Nigeria’s growing role in intra-African commerce while highlighting the opportunities and challenges posed by currency instability.
