Top 10 African countries Nigeria imported goods from in Q4 2025

Nigeria’s import trade in the fourth quarter of 2025 remained heavily concentrated among a small group of countries, demonstrating the nation’s continued reliance on foreign suppliers for a wide range of essential products.

Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that Nigeria’s total imports reached N17.25 trillion during the period, reflecting the scale of demand for foreign goods ranging from petroleum products and vehicles to industrial machinery, food items and industrial raw materials.

While Asia and Europe dominate Nigeria’s global import structure, trade flows within Africa also showed notable concentration.

Only a handful of African countries accounted for the bulk of Nigeria’s imports from the continent during the quarter.

According to the NBS data, Ghana, South Africa, and Egypt emerged as Nigeria’s leading African trading partners on the import side in the final quarter of 2025, highlighting growing commercial links within the continent amid the ongoing implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Below is a breakdown of the top 10 African countries from which Nigeria imported goods in Q4 2025.

Uganda — N12.60bn

At number ten on the list is Uganda, with Nigeria importing goods worth N12.60 billion from the East African country.

Key products imported from Uganda include tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes, raw hides and leather, machinery, pharmaceutical products, and optical and medical equipment.

Nigeria also sourced vegetable products such as edible vegetables and tubers, as well as rubber, textiles, apparel, and iron and steel articles.

Additional imports included electrical equipment, tools, beverages, dairy products, pulp of wood, and various chemical and industrial materials.

Kenya — N22.85bn

Nigeria imported N22.85 billion worth of goods from Kenya during the quarter.

Kenyan exports to Nigeria consisted of vegetable textile fibres, coffee, tea and spices, leather products, pharmaceuticals, cereals and food preparations, and fruits and nuts. Other items included machinery, electrical equipment, plastics, wood products, chemicals, and furniture.

The trade also featured organic and inorganic chemical products, oil seeds, and industrial raw materials used in manufacturing.

Ivory Coast — N22.86bn

Nigeria’s imports from Ivory Coast were valued at N22.86 billion.

Major products included petroleum bitumen valued at N13.03 billion, extracts and concentrates worth N5.18 billion, and beauty or cosmetic preparations valued at N2.54 billion.

Other imports included shelled cashew nuts and processed food items such as soups and broth preparations.

Tanzania — N23.25bn

Imports from Tanzania stood at N23.25 billion during the period.

Nigeria sourced raw hides and skins, vegetable textile fibres, tobacco products, edible vegetables, and spices such as coffee and tea from Tanzania.

The country also exported machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, chemical products, perfumes and cosmetics, as well as apparel and other textile-related products to Nigeria.

Morocco — N31.05bn

Nigeria imported N31.05 billion worth of goods from Morocco in the quarter.

Key items included fertilizers, fish and other aquatic products, cement-related materials, spices, electrical equipment, and industrial machinery. Vehicles and inorganic chemicals were also among the major imports from the North African economy.

Morocco’s fertilizer exports, in particular, are significant for Nigeria’s agricultural sector, which depends heavily on imported inputs.

Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) — N37.19bn

Formerly known as Swaziland, Eswatini exported goods worth N37.19 billion to Nigeria.

The imports were dominated by mixtures of odoriferous substances used in the food and beverage industries, valued at N21.64 billion. Other items included flavouring extracts for drinks, sucralose, and various sugar-based products used in food manufacturing.

These products are commonly used by Nigeria’s beverage and food processing industries.

Togo — N88.91bn

Nigeria’s imports from neighbouring Togo totalled N88.91 billion, making it the fourth-largest African supplier.

The overwhelming majority of these imports consisted of motor spirit (petrol) valued at N84.69 billion, reflecting Nigeria’s continued reliance on fuel imports despite its status as a major crude oil producer.

Other imports included hides and skins, crude soybean oil, and postage-related materials.

Egypt — N130.34bn

Egypt ranked third among African exporters to Nigeria, with imports totalling N130.34 billion.

Major imports included bulk salt for human consumption, construction materials such as plasters, PET chips used in plastic manufacturing, high-capacity transformers, and glucose syrups used in food processing.

The trade profile highlights Egypt’s role as a supplier of both industrial materials and food-related products to Nigeria.

South Africa — N131.32bn

South Africa was the second-largest African exporter to Nigeria, with imports worth N131.32 billion.

Top imports included scrap metal, goods transport vehicles, polypropylene used in plastics manufacturing, apples, and diesel-powered commercial vehicles.

The diverse trade mix reflects South Africa’s strong industrial base and its role as one of Africa’s largest manufacturing hubs.

Ghana — N150.96bn

Ghana emerged as Nigeria’s largest African source of imports in the fourth quarter of 2025, with goods valued at N150.96 billion.

The imports were dominated by crude petroleum oils valued at N92.67 billion, followed by cocoa powder with added sugar worth N41.33 billion.

Other items included crude palm oil, margarine, and infant food preparations.

Ghana’s strong position in Nigeria’s African import structure highlights the growing trade ties between the two West African economies.

Growing Intra-African Trade 

The data underscores the expanding but still uneven pattern of intra-African trade, where a relatively small group of countries dominate export flows to Nigeria.

Analysts note that initiatives under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could gradually deepen trade integration across the continent by lowering tariffs, harmonizing standards, and improving logistics networks.

However, Nigeria’s continued dependence on imports—even from within Africa—for petroleum products, food ingredients, industrial inputs, and vehicles highlights persistent gaps in domestic production capacity.