China's exports to Nigeria more than doubled between the 2016 drop and the 2022 peak, growing by 130%

Key Takeaways:    

  • China’s exports to Nigeria increased from less than $100 million in 1992 to $20.2 billion in 2023, an overall growth of 22,074%.
  • The highest export value was recorded in 2022 at $22.3 billion.
  • China's exports to Nigeria dropped sharply in 2016 to $9.7 billion from $15.39 billion in 2014.
  • After a sharp 29% decline between 2015 and 2016, exports entered a period of sustained growth beginning in 2017.
  • The 2020–2022 period saw remarkable growth, with exports rising by 33% despite global pandemic challenges.
  • In 2023, exports declined by 9.5%, yet remained significantly above pre-pandemic levels.

China’s exports to Nigeria have grown significantly over the past three decades, reflecting deepening economic ties between the two nations. Starting at $90.9 million in 1992, exports surged past $22 billion by 2022, driven by the demand for machinery, electronics, and manufactured goods. But 2023 saw a slight decline to $20.2 billion.

Amid economic challenges and global uncertainty, exports dropped sharply to $9.7 billion by 2016. From 2017 onward, trade rebounded steadily, with China reaching a historic high in 2022 at $22.3 billion in exports to Nigeria.

Source:

Trading Economics, UN Comtrade

Period:

1992-2023
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Nigeria's exports to South Africa have far exceeded imports since 2002
  • Nigeria has exported more to South Africa than it has imported every year since 2002.
  • Exports peaked at $6.29 billion in 2014, driven almost entirely by mineral fuels.
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  • Nigeria recorded a $1.27 billion trade surplus with South Africa in 2025.
  • Mineral fuels made up over 95% of Nigeria's exports throughout 1995-2025.

Morocco nearly matched South Africa in Africa’s vehicle import market in 2025
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  • Egypt ranked third, followed by Algeria and Nigeria.
  • The top 10 markets accounted for 67.1% of Africa’s $56.48 billion total.
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Africa’s merchandise exports to China in 2025
  • Africa exported a record $86.2bn worth of goods to China in 2025.
  • China received about 12.5% of Africa’s total merchandise exports.
  • Annual exports remained below $10bn until 2004, before accelerating sharply.
  • Export values have remained relatively high since 2021 despite earlier downturns.
  • The trade relationship remains heavily commodity-led, with limited manufactured exports.

Africa’s export map changed, but only three economies escaped heavy reliance on one buyer
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  • Nigeria recorded the largest and most sustained shift, with its top-buyer share falling from 43.1% to 9.9%.
  • Madagascar’s top-market share dropped from 40.0% to 14.9% and has remained below 20% since 2021.
  • Libya narrowly qualified at 19.5%, after remaining above the threshold in 2024.
  • The test measures reduced dependence on one export destination, not greater product diversification.

South Africa, Egypt and Morocco accounted for nearly 40% ($313b) of Africa’s merchandise imports in 2025
  • Africa imported merchandise worth $788.9 billion in 2025, representing about 3% of global merchandise imports.
  • South Africa was Africa’s largest merchandise importer, with imports valued at $128.1 billion.
  • Egypt ranked second at $97.5 billion, followed by Morocco at $87.4 billion.
  • The three largest importers accounted for $313 billion, or 39.7% of Africa’s total merchandise imports.
  • South Africa alone accounted for about 16.2% of the continental total.
  • The five largest importers, including Algeria and Nigeria, were responsible for $404.6 billion, or 51.3% of Africa’s imports.
  • Nigeria ranked fifth, with merchandise imports valued at $41.5 billion.

Africa has never sold more than 20% of its goods exports within the continent in three decades
  • Only 16.9% of Africa’s merchandise exports were sold to other African countries in 2024.
  • Africa had the second-lowest intra-continental export share, ahead only of Oceania’s 4.8%.
  • Europe recorded the highest share at 65.6%, followed by Asia at 58.4% and the Americas at 54.0%.
  • Europe’s intra-continental export share was nearly four times Africa’s.
  • Africa’s share increased from 12.1% in 1995 to 16.9% in 2024, a rise of 4.8 percentage points.
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  • Africa has not crossed the 20% mark at any point in the three decades covered.

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