The Federal Republic of Nigeria imported US$53 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020, up by 11.9% from $47.4 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Nigeria’s main imported products categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Nigerian imports during 2020 for each of Nigeria’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for over two-thirds (69.2%) of Nigerian import purchases.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Nigerian imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Nigeria’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Nigeria amounted to $15.2 billion or 28.8% of overall Nigerian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 26.4% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 86.4% of Nigeria’s imports from mainland China.

Machinery: $5.8 billion
Electronic equipment: $2.3 billion
Vehicles: $949.3 million
Medical, technical equipment: $709.3 million
Iron and steel: $516.5 million
Other chemical goods: $511.8 million
Plastics: $423.2 million
Iron or steel products: $389.6 million
Organic chemicals: $303.8 million
Inorganic chemicals: $252.5 million
Wood: $212.5 million
Pharmaceuticals: $201 million
Man-made staple fibers: $194.9 million
Railway, tram equipment: $193.8 million
Aluminum: $180.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Nigerian imports from China under the railway and tram equipment product category via a 1,070% gain in revenue, man-made staple fibers (up 180.7%), wood (up 130.3%), pharmaceuticals (up 115.9%), inorganic chemicals (up 94.5%) and aluminum (up 73.8%).

Posting the only declines among Nigeria’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -23.1%) and products made from iron or steel (down -15.5%).

Nigeria’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to Nigeria amounted to $4.8 billion or 9.1% of overall Nigerian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 2.6% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 95.1% of Nigeria’s imports from the United States.

Vehicles: $2 billion
Machinery: $684.7 million
Cereals: $509.6 million
Plastics: $289.8 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $253.9 million
Books, newspapers, pictures: $182.1 million
Beverages: $161 million
Iron or steel products: $131.9 million
Electronic equipment: $129.3 million
Other chemical goods: $77.6 million
Medical, technical equipment: $62.3 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $40.9 million
Paper: $31.5 million
Other food preparations: $29.3 million
Woodpulp: $25.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Nigerian imports from the United States under the books, newspapers and pictures product category via a 2,169% gain in revenue, products made from iron or steel (up 208.3%), paper (up 125.9%), woodpulp (up 108.5%), plastics as a material (up 50.2%) and miscellaneous chemical goods (up 30.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Nigeria’s top 15 imported products were aircraft and spacecraft (down -33.1%), electronic equipment (down -28%), miscellaneous food preparations (down -18.7%) then medical or technical equipment (down -10.3%).

Nigeria’s Main Imports from India

In 2020, India’s exports to Nigeria amounted to $4.2 billion or 7.9% of overall Nigerian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -26.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 90.9% of Nigeria’s imports from India.

Vehicles: $986 million
Machinery: $656.1 million
Pharmaceuticals: $636.7 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $417.7 million
Plastics: $262.2 million
Electronic equipment: $202.4 million
Organic chemicals: $149.1 million
Other chemical goods: $105.8 million
Other food preparations: $92.5 million
Paper: $83.2 million
Iron or steel products: $69.3 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $47.4 million
Inorganic chemicals: $43.8 million
Medical, technical equipment: $42.8 million
Iron and steel: $31.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Nigerian imports from India under the miscellaneous food preparations product category via a 531.3% gain in revenue, plastics as a material (up 205%), pharmaceuticals (up 110.4%), tanning or dyeing extracts (up 68.8%), organic chemicals (up 67.2%) then miscellaneous chemical goods (up 54.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Nigeria’s top 15 imported products were medical or technical equipment (down -98.2%), electronic equipment (down -15.1%) then vehicles (down -7%).

Nigeria’s Main Imports from Netherlands

In 2020, the Netherlands’ exports to Nigeria amounted to $4.1 billion or 7.8% of overall Nigerian imports.

That dollar amount represents an 18.4% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 97% of Nigeria’s imports from the Netherlands.

Mineral fuels including oil: $2.6 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $516.4 million
Fish: $253.6 million
Machinery: $133.7 million
Vehicles: $96.1 million
Other chemical goods: $81.8 million
Iron and steel: $59.6 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $58.7 million
Plastics: $49.8 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $35.9 million
Electronic equipment: $28.3 million
Vegetable/fruit preparations: $23.3 million
Organic chemicals: $23.1 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $22.5 million
Other food preparations: $22 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Nigerian imports from the Netherlands under the vehicles product category via a 656.3% gain in revenue, vegetable or fruit preparations (up 260.3%), plastics as a material (up 222.4%), pharmaceuticals (up 178.9%), iron and steel as materials (up 141.7%) and miscellaneous chemical goods (also up 141.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Nigeria’s top 15 imported products were dairy, eggs and honey (down -26.5%) and electronic equipment (down -4.4%).

Nigeria’s Main Imports from Belgium

In 2020, Belgium’s exports to Nigeria amounted to $2 billion or 3.8% of overall Nigerian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -16.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 96.6% of Nigeria’s imports from Belgium.

Mineral fuels including oil: $1.4 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $121.2 million
Machinery: $91.2 million
Vehicles: $76.8 million
Plastics: $46.6 million
Milling products: $45.7 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $31.6 million
Organic chemicals: $28.8 million
Electronic equipment: $21 million
Other chemical goods: $20.8 million
Iron or steel products: $12.3 million
Medical, technical equipment: $10.7 million
Inorganic chemicals: $10.6 million
Copper: $10.3 million
Paper: $10.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Nigerian imports from Belgium under the goods made from iron or steel product category via a 92.2% gain in revenue, inorganic chemicals (up 36.1%), medical or technical equipment (up 29.1%), dairy, eggs and honey (up 27.4%), organic chemicals (up 23.3%) and milling products (up 11.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Nigeria’s top 15 imported products were electronic equipment (down -40.8%), paper (down -34%), machinery (down -32.3%), pharmaceuticals (down -28.8%), mineral fuels including oil (down -18.4%) and plastics as a material (down -9.8%).

Nigeria’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to Nigeria amounted to $1.7 billion or 3.1% of overall Nigerian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 13.7% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 82.9% of Nigeria’s imports from Germany.

Machinery: $445 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $161.1 million
Vehicles: $146.5 million
Electronic equipment: $101.4 million
Plastics: $92.1 million
Cereals: $63.5 million
Other chemical goods: $59 million
Paper: $54.7 million
Organic chemicals: $49.7 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $41.7 million
Medical, technical equipment: $37.6 million
Iron or steel products: $35.1 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $31.4 million
Inorganic chemicals: $28.4 million
Other food preparations: $26.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Nigerian imports from Germany under the dairy, eggs and honey product category via a 161.9% gain in revenue, paper (up 141.8%), miscellaneous food preparations (up 132.9%), tanning or dyeing extracts (up 122.1%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 117.4%) and mineral fuels including oil (up 79.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Nigeria’s top 15 imported products were medical or technical equipment (down -29.6%), machinery (down -28.9%) and products made from iron or steel (down -12.6%).

Nigeria’s Main Imports from Russia

In 2020, Russia’s exports to Nigeria amounted to $1.2 billion or 2.2% of overall Nigerian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 60.7% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 99.2% of Nigeria’s imports from the Russian Federation.

Cereals: $385.8 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $301.5 million
Fish: $212.1 million
Iron and steel: $107.5 million
Fertilizers: $84 million
Inorganic chemicals: $26.9 million
Pharmaceuticals: $23.5 million
Paper: $12.5 million
Aluminum: $6.9 million
Organic chemicals: $6 million
Explosives, pyrotechnics: $4.4 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $3.5 million
Woodpulp: $3.2 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $1.5 million
Copper: $1.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Nigerian imports from Russia under the explosives and pyrotechnics product category via an 87,260% gain in revenue, aircraft and spacecraft (up 6,526%), tanning or dyeing extracts (up 269.9%), aluminum (up 205.2%), paper (up 155.7%) then inorganic chemicals (up 105.1%).

Posting the sole decline among Nigeria’s top 15 imported products was woodpulp (down -4.8%).

Nigeria’s Main Imports from the UK

In 2020, the United Kingdom’s exports to Nigeria amounted to $1.2 billion or 2.2% of overall Nigerian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -13.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 86.2% of Nigeria’s imports from Britain.

Machinery: $222.9 million
Electronic equipment: $142.7 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $133.5 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $77.1 million
Milling products: $76.7 million
Cereals: $64.1 million
Vehicles: $58 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $40.6 million
Iron or steel products: $38.2 million
Pharmaceuticals: $31.9 million
Medical, technical equipment: $28.8 million
Beverages: $25 million
Books, newspapers, pictures: $22.4 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $21.6 million
Other food preparations: $15.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Nigerian imports from the United Kingdom under the cereals product category via a 1,069% gain in revenue, milling products (up 345.9%), miscellaneous food preparations (up 118.8%), aircraft and spacecraft (up 75.2%), products made from iron or steel (up 60.9%) then perfumes and cosmetics (up 34.8%). Posting the severest declines among Nigeria’s top 15 imported products were books, newspapers and pictures (down -66.3%), electronic equipment (down -43.9%), beverages (down -19.8%), mineral fuels including oil (down -18.2%), cereal or milk preparations (down -13.4%) then medical or technical equipment (down -13.3%).

Nigeria’s Main Imports from Italy

In 2020, Italy’s exports to Nigeria amounted to $1.1 billion or 2.2% of overall Nigerian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 30.9% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 94% of Nigeria’s imports from Italy.

Machinery: $344.3 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $231.2 million
Vehicles: $161.2 million
Electronic equipment: $110.1 million
Iron or steel products: $63.9 million
Other chemical goods: $41.9 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $25.2 million
Plastics: $19.6 million
Pharmaceuticals: $14.9 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $13.7 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $12.2 million
Medical, technical equipment: $9.8 million
Rubber: $9.6 million
Paper: $8.7 million
Felt, yarn, twine, cordage: $7.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Nigerian imports from Italy under the mineral fuels including oil product category via a 1,393% gain in revenue, aircraft and spacecraft (up 358.4%), cereal or milk preparations (up 214.2%), pharmaceuticals (up 118.6%), paper (up 110.3%) and miscellaneous chemical goods (up 104%).

Posting the severest declines among Nigeria’s top 15 imported products were medical or technical equipment (down -48.4%), machinery (down -17.5%) and vehicles (down -12.3%).

Nigeria’s Main Imports from Brazil

In 2020, Brazil’s exports to Nigeria amounted to $1.1 billion or 2.1% of overall Nigerian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 59.6% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 97.7% of Nigeria’s imports from Brazil.

Sugar: $702.8 million
Vehicles: $107.4 million
Tobacco: $65.1 million
Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $43.1 million
Iron and steel: $36.8 million
Organic chemicals: $35.5 million
Paper: $25.6 million
Machinery: $23.1 million
Plastics: $15.7 million
Beverages: $11.4 million
Cereal, milk preparations:$10.5 million
Iron or steel products: $9.3 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $6.7 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $4.1 million
Milling products: $3.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Nigerian imports from Brazil under the vehicles product category via a 1,148.3% gain in revenue, tanning or dyeing extracts (up 495.8%), cereal or milk preparations (up 196.2%), food waste and animal fodder (up 155.8%), iron and steel as materials (up 148.6%) then plastics as a material (up 71.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Nigeria’s top 15 imported products were products made from iron or steel (down -32.2%), beverages (down -28.6%) then machinery (down -10.4%).

References

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, Nigeria, Borders of Nigeria.

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Nigeria’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries