Export - Intelpoint

Despite Trump tariffs, US imports from Africa surged 24% to $23.4B in H1 2025

US imports from Africa grew 23.9% year-on-year to $23.4 billion in H1 2025.
South Africa drove much of the growth, with exports surging 52.2% to $9.5 billion.
Nigeria recorded a 12.1% decline in exports to the US, falling to $2.8 billion.
Algeria also posted a contraction, with exports dropping 13.5% to $1.1 billion.
Egypt’s exports increased 14.8%.
Other African countries collectively expanded exports by 23.5% to $8.6 billion.
Africa’s trade growth with the US continues despite tariff barriers, showing resilience.

US trade deficit with South Africa nearly doubled to $6.3 billion in H1 2025

US imports from Africa jumped 24% to $23.4 billion in H1 2025 despite tariffs.
Egypt led gains, doubling its surplus with the US to $2.73 billion.
Nigeria swung into a $576 million surplus, reversing last year’s deficit.
South Africa’s deficit with the US nearly doubled to $6.32 billion, dragging the overall balance.

US trade deficit with South Africa nearly doubled to $6.3 billion in H1 2025

US imports from Africa jumped 24% to $23.4 billion in H1 2025 despite tariffs.
Egypt led gains, doubling its surplus with the US to $2.73 billion.
Nigeria swung into a $576 million surplus, reversing last year’s deficit.
South Africa’s deficit with the US nearly doubled to $6.32 billion, dragging the overall balance.

46 African countries get more than 60% of their export earnings from raw goods, with South Sudan leading with 99.5%

More than 60% of the countries in Africa are commodity-dependent.
South Sudan leads the list with 99.5%.
Nigeria’s commodity export dependence is 96.3%, dominated by energy (89.7%), followed by agriculture (4.0%) and mining (2.6%).
Africa alone accounts for nearly 47% of all commodity dependent countries globally.

Only 8 African countries get less than 60% of their export earnings from raw goods, with Tunisia leading at 21.5%

Of the 54 African countries, 46 earn more than 60% of export revenues from raw goods.
Algeria, Morocco, Eswatini, Lesotho, Djibouti, Mauritius, Comoros, and Egypt stand out with less than 60%.
Algeria and Morocco are the least dependent, pointing to stronger industrial and trade sectors.
Lower dependence means greater economic stability, while high reliance exposes countries to volatile global commodity markets.

Ghana’s exports

Gold bullion dominates exports, contributing ¢163.0B (55.3%) of total exports.
Petroleum oils follow distantly at ¢52.6B (17.8%).
Cocoa (beans, paste, butter) remains a vital sector, collectively worth ¢24.7B (8.4%).
Manganese, cashew, tuna, iron/steel, and shea oil are niche contributors, each under 2% of exports.
All other products still make up a significant 14.4% (¢42.4B), showing potential for export diversification.

Nigeria’s foreign trade

Total Trade Volume in Q1 2025 stood at ₦36.02 trillion, with exports totalling ₦20.6 trillion and imports at ₦15.4 trillion, resulting in a surplus of ₦5.17 trillion.
Crude oil dominates Nigeria’s export trade, accounting for the largest share of export revenue. -
Other petroleum oil products are also a major export item, reflecting the significance of both raw and refined oil-based commodities in Nigeria’s trade portfolio. -
On the import side, manufactured goods dominate, showing Nigeria’s continued reliance on foreign machinery, technology, and consumer goods.
While Nigeria exports mostly raw and oil-based products, it imports refined, processed, or industrial goods, indicating a structural trade gap and limited local industrial capacity. -
Agricultural and raw material goods feature on both sides of trade, but their value is significantly less than petroleum-related trade.

Cocoa led Nigeria’s agricultural exports by value in Q1 2025, with over ₦1.2B

The value of agricultural goods exported in Q1 2025 rose to ₦1.70 trillion, up 64.65% year-on-year and 10.63% quarter-on-quarter, highlighting continued growth in the sector.
Standard and superior cocoa beans led the chart, contributing a combined ₦1.23 trillion, with major buyers being The Netherlands (₦344.17B) and Belgium (₦203.17B).
Cashew nuts in shell earned ₦157.63B, mostly exported to India (₦87.56B) and Vietnam (₦69.74B), while sesamum seeds brought in ₦128.18B.
Soya bean flours and ornamental flowers fetched ₦27B and ₦18B respectively, showing Nigeria's export mix is broadening.

Petroleum products dominate Nigerian exports, raking in ₦17.52 trillion, 85.52% of total value

Nigeria's export value increased by 16.8% quarter-on-quarter to ₦20.49 trillion in Q3 2024. Petroleum products (oils, liquefied natural gas, and other petroleum gases) made up 85.52% of its exports, valued at ₦17.53 trillion. This figure highlights Nigeria's heavy reliance on the oil and gas sector for revenue, emphasising the need for diversification to reduce dependence on a single industry.

Nigeria's exports increase by 98% YoY to ₦20.5 trillion, with four European countries contributing 33%

Nigeria's export value rose by 16.8% quarter-on-quarter and 98% year-on-year, reaching ₦20.49 trillion in Q3 2024. Spain emerged as the top trading partner, with exports valued at ₦2.27 trillion (11%), while Italy rounded out the top five with ₦1.38 trillion (6.72%).

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