Crude oil leads Nigeria’s global exports with 68.87% share, while refined petroleum products (motor spirit, gas oil) top its imports at over 27%

Key Takeaways:

  • Crude oil remains Nigeria’s largest export, while refined petroleum products lead imports.
  • Natural gas ranks as the second-largest export, contributing 9.71% of the total export value.
  • The top five imported products account for 32.28% of Nigeria’s global imports.
  • The top ten exports represent over 95% of Nigeria’s total export value.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, crude oil and oil obtained from bituminous minerals accounted for ₦13.78 trillion, representing nearly 70% of Nigeria’s global exports. Natural gas followed, adding ₦1.94 trillion or 9.71% to Nigeria’s global exports.

On the import side, refined petroleum products topped the list. Motor spirit (petrol) led with ₦3.3 trillion, while gas oil followed with ₦1.23 trillion. Together, these accounted for over 27% of Nigeria’s global import value.

Though oil dominates the country's export trade landscape, non-oil exports such as cocoa beans, sesame seeds, and natural cocoa butter are emerging as valuable contributors to its export diversification strategy, with individual shares ranging from 0.52% to 4.18%. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s imports reflect a broad range of needs, highlighting the importance of enhancing domestic manufacturing and reducing reliance on foreign goods.

Source:

National Bureau of Statistics

Period:

Q4 2024
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