Togo emerges as Nigeria’s largest African trading partner in Q2 2025

Key Takeaways

  • Togo leads on both sides of trade, supplying ₦211.99B in imports and receiving ₦811.97B in exports, making it Nigeria’s strongest African partner by value.
  • South Africa ranks second, with imports of ₦115.15B and exports of ₦473.65B, reflecting deep bilateral trade ties.
  • Côte d’Ivoire also features prominently, sending ₦106.15B worth of goods to Nigeria while importing ₦408.97B, showing balanced engagement.
  • West Africa dominates Nigeria’s intra-African trade, with Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana collectively accounting for a significant share of regional exports.

In Q2 2025, Togo emerged as Nigeria’s most significant African trading partner, underscoring its role as both a transit hub and a major destination for Nigerian exports. With ₦211.99B in imports flowing from Togo and ₦811.97B in exports directed to it, the relationship highlights Nigeria’s dependence on regional neighbours for both supply and market access. South Africa followed closely, reflecting its role as a continental economic powerhouse, with ₦115.15B worth of goods entering Nigeria and ₦473.65B leaving in the opposite direction.

Côte d’Ivoire stood out as another key partner, supplying ₦106.15B and receiving ₦408.97B in exports, while Ghana and Mauritius rounded out the list with ₦307.47B and ₦264.98B in Nigerian exports, respectively. The dominance of West African countries, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana, in Nigeria’s top African partners illustrates the strength of regional trade integration under ECOWAS, while South Africa and Mauritius highlight strategic ties beyond West Africa.

Source:

National bureau of statistics

Period:

Q2 2025
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