China imports $2.3bn in Nigerian goods in six months, envoy says
China imported nearly $2.3 billion worth of goods from Nigeria in the first half of 2026, representing an 80 per cent increase compared with the same period last year, according to Chinese diplomatic officials.
Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Zhou Hongyou, disclosed the figure in Abuja, saying total bilateral trade between Nigeria and China also rose to about $18 billion during the period.
The increase in Nigerian exports comes after China introduced zero-tariff treatment for products from 53 African countries with diplomatic relations with Beijing, effective May 1, 2026. Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Yu Dunhai previously said Nigerian exports grew by more than 40 per cent in both May and June following the policy.
Among the Nigerian products benefiting from the policy are sesame, cattle bone granules and liquefied propane. The Chinese envoy said the tariff exemptions have reduced export costs, including savings of about $11,000 for every 100 tonnes of sesame shipped to China.
The development could provide Nigeria with an opportunity to expand its non-oil exports and earn more foreign exchange, particularly as the country seeks to diversify its economy away from crude oil.
However, experts have cautioned that increased access to the Chinese market will only produce lasting benefits if Nigeria can expand production, improve logistics, meet international quality standards and increase local processing and value addition.
The figures also highlight the continuing importance of China to Nigeria’s economy. With bilateral trade reaching $18 billion in just six months, the key question for Nigeria is whether the surge in exports can translate into more domestic production, jobs and industrial growth, rather than simply an increase in the volume of raw commodities leaving the country.
