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Nigeria’s import trade in the fourth quarter of 2025 remained heavily concentrated among a small group of countries, reflecting the country’s continued reliance on external suppliers for essential products.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that the total imports reached N17.25 trillion during the period, suggesting the scale of Nigeria’s demand for foreign products ranging from fuel and vehicles to industrial machinery and food commodities.
Notably, the top 10 trading partners accounted for N13.01 trillion, representing 75.41% of Nigeria’s imports for the quarter, showing how a relatively small group of countries continue to dominate Nigeria’s supply chain for key goods.
At the top of the ranking is China, which maintained its position as Nigeria’s largest source of imports by a wide margin.
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The United States and the Netherlands followed in second and third positions, respectively, showing the growing role of energy products, food commodities, and industrial inputs in Nigeria’s import mix.
Below is a detailed breakdown of Nigeria’s top ten import partners in Q4 2025.
Latvia — N328.32 billion
Latvia closed out the top ten list with N328.32 billion worth of goods exported to Nigeria during the quarter.
Although Latvia is a smaller European economy compared to others on the list, its trade relationship with Nigeria has increasingly been linked to agricultural commodities, processed food inputs, and industrial materials routed through European trade distribution channels before reaching Nigeria.
Latvia accounted for 1.90% of imports among the top partners.
Germany — N432.76 billion
Germany ranked ninth with N432.76 billion in imports to Nigeria in Q4 2025.
As one of the world’s leading industrial economies, Germany supplied engineering equipment, industrial machinery, automobiles, and manufacturing components—products that support sectors such as transportation, construction, and energy.
Some of the imported products from Germany include:
- Other medicaments not elsewhere specified — N7.20 billion
- Other salt not specified — N84.88 million
- Sheets for veneering — N1.17 million
Germany contributed 2.51% of imports from the leading partner group.
Spain — N598.08 billion
Spain came in eighth with imports valued at N598.08 billion, representing 3.47% of the leading partners’ imports.
Trade between Nigeria and Spain revolves around refined petroleum products, machinery, food products, and chemical inputs, pointing to Spain’s role as a key industrial supplier within the European market.
Top imported products from Spain include:
- Mixed alkylbenzenes and mixed alkylnaphthalenes, other than those of heading — N113.83 billion
- Mixed alkylbenzenes and mixed alkylnaphthalenes — N79.68 billion
- Gypsum; anhydrite — N18.77 billion
- Other additives for lubricating oils (excl. with petroleum oils) — N9.40 billion
Belgium — N656.87 billion
Belgium ranked seventh, exporting goods worth N656.87 billion to Nigeria during the quarter.
The country functions as a major logistics and trade gateway in Europe, meaning many products that pass through its ports are redistributed to markets around the world, including Nigeria.
Major imports from the country often include petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, pharmaceuticals, and industrial equipment.
Top imported products from Belgium include:
- Malt Not roasted — N11.56 billion
- Used Vehicles, with diesel or semidiesel engine, of cylinder capacity >2500cc — N4.95 billion
- Other salt not specified — N18.40 million
Belgium accounted for 3.81% of imports among the top partner countries.
United Kingdom — N675.25 billion
The United Kingdom placed sixth position with N675.25 billion worth of imports.
Goods imported from the UK include industrial machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, professional equipment, and speciality materials, illustrating longstanding commercial ties between both countries.
Top imported products from the United Kingdom include:
- Other additives for lubricating oils (excl. with petroleum oils) — N21.45 billion
- Used Vehicles, with diesel or semidiesel engine, of cylinder capacity >2500cc — N5.52 billion
- Crude soyabean oil, whether or not degummed — N100.41 million
- Mixed alkylbenzenes and mixed alkylnaphthalenes — N52.64 million
The UK represented 3.91% of imports from the top partners.
Brazil — N685.69 billion
Brazil ranked fifth with N685.69 billion worth of goods shipped to Nigeria in Q4 2025.
Trade flows between the two countries are heavily dominated by agricultural commodities and fuel products, particularly sugar and refined petroleum products.
Top imported products from Brazil include:
- Cane sugar meant for sugar refinery — N402.31 billion
- Motor spirit (ordinary petrol) — N221.15 billion
- Other salt not specified — N11.02 billion
- Maize seed (corn) — N8.51 billion
- Tobacco, partly or wholly stemmed/stripped — N5.22 billion
Brazil accounted for 3.97% of imports from the leading partner group.
India — N1.12 trillion
India ranked fourth with imports valued at N1.12 trillion, representing 6.47% of Nigeria’s imports among the top partner countries.
The country remains a key supplier of fuel products, pharmaceuticals, vehicle components, motorcycles, and industrial chemicals to Nigeria.
Top imported products from India
- Gas oil — N185.16 billion
- Motorcycles and cycles fitted with auxiliary motor, petrol fuel — N108.15 billion
- Other medicaments not elsewhere specified — N96.95 billion
- CKD motor vehicles for passenger transport — N58.99 billion
- Petroleum jelly — N23.81 billion
- Netherlands — N1.52 trillion
Netherlands – N1.52 trillion
The Netherlands ranked third among Nigeria’s import partners with N1.52 trillion worth of goods supplied during the quarter.
As one of Europe’s largest trading hubs, the country plays a strategic role in supplying refined petroleum products, medicines, seafood products, and chemical compounds.
Top imported products from the Netherlands
- Motor spirit (ordinary petrol) — N1.22 trillion
- Other medicaments not elsewhere specified — N49.23 billion
- Herring’s meat, frozen — N27.25 billion
- Catalysts with precious metal compounds as active substance — N24.32 billion
- Blue whiting fish meat, frozen — N19.66 billion
The Netherlands accounted for 8.80% of imports among the leading partners.
United States of America — N1.61 trillion
The United States ranked second with N1.61 trillion worth of goods exported to Nigeria in Q4 2025, representing 9.34% of imports from the top partner countries.
Trade between the two countries remains heavily influenced by energy products, vehicles, agricultural commodities, and aviation equipment.
- Crude petroleum oils — N407.08 billion
- Used diesel vehicles (engine capacity >2500cc) — N197.90 billion
- Durum wheat — N137.58 billion
- Aeroplanes and aircraft (unladen weight >2,000kg ≤15,000kg) — N75.92 billion
- Additives for lubricating oils — N66.01 billion
China — N5.39 trillion
China remained Nigeria’s largest import partner by a significant margin, supplying goods valued at N5.39 trillion in Q4 2025.
The country alone accounted for 31.22% of Nigeria’s imports, cementing its position as Nigeria’s main supplier of industrial machinery, telecommunications equipment, construction hardware, and renewable-energy technology.
Top imported products from China
- New single-axle tractors — N227.27 billion
- Machines for reception, conversion and transmission of voice, images or data — N170.32 billion
- Poly (vinyl chloride) not mixed with other substances — N105.13 billion
- Photovoltaic cells assembled into panels — N100.83 billion
- Seeders, planters and transplanters — N96.78 billion
China’s strong presence reflects Nigeria’s growing demand for industrial equipment, telecom infrastructure, agricultural machinery, and renewable-energy technology.
