Nigeria’s trade with other African countries grew by N610bn in the first half of 2025, with fresh figures from the National Bureau of Statistics showing that total trade rose to N4.82tn compared with N4.21tn recorded in the same period of 2024.
The latest numbers highlight both the resilience of regional trade and the distortions created by the weakening naira. The quarterly trend revealed contrasting movements.
In the first quarter of 2025, trade fell slightly to N1.86tn from N2.24tn in Q1 2024. However, the second quarter delivered a sharp rebound, with trade climbing to N2.97tn against N1.98tn in Q2 2024.
This near N1tn jump in the second quarter was the decisive factor behind the overall increase recorded in the half-year period.
Exports accounted for most of the growth. Nigeria exported goods worth N4.82tn in the first six months of 2025, compared with N4.21tn in the same period of 2024.
The expansion was particularly evident in Q2 2025 when exports rose to N2.97tn, up from N1.97tn in the second quarter of 2024. Imports also grew but at a slower pace, reaching N1.82tn in the first half of 2025 from N1.13tn a year earlier.
