Nigeria’s exports to the United States fell by N365.64 billion in the first quarter of 2026, even as imports from the world’s largest economy almost doubled, pushing the country’s bilateral trade deficit with the US to about N1.63 trillion.
- +US demand for Nigerian goods drops N365.6 billion as trade deficit widens
According to the National Bureau of Statistics’ Q1 2026 Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics report, Nigeria exported goods worth N1.18 trillion to the US during the quarter, down 23.69% from N1.54 trillion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics’ Q1 2026 Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics report, Nigeria exported goods worth N1.18 trillion to the US during the quarter, down 23.69% from N1.54 trillion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
Meanwhile, imports from the US surged 97.33% year-on-year to N2.81 trillion from N1.42 trillion, marking one of the fastest increases among Nigeria’s major trading partners.
The figures indicate that Nigeria’s trade position with the US deteriorated sharply. While the country recorded a trade surplus of about N122 billion with the US in the first quarter of 2025, it swung to a deficit of approximately N1.63 trillion a year later as import growth significantly outpaced export earnings.
The surge is particularly significant because it came during a period when Nigeria’s overall imports declined. Total imports into the country fell 18.17% year-on-year to N13.62 trillion, suggesting demand for US products remained resilient despite weaker aggregate import spending.
On the export side, Nigeria’s sales to the US weakened considerably compared to a year earlier.
Overall bilateral trade between Nigeria and the US reached N3.98 trillion during the quarter, highlighting the importance of the trade relationship even as the imbalance widened.
These trade outcomes unfolded amid protectionist rhetoric and tariff-focused policies under US President Donald Trump, which have influenced sourcing decisions and global trade flows.
Afrieximbank Research had stated that President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs might have a limited direct impact on African economies, given the continent’s deepening trade ties with China.
The organisation, in its analysis of the tariff issue, noted that recent trade data had revealed a major shift in Africa’s global economic alliances, with China surpassing the United States as the continent’s leading trading partner.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Jumoke Oduwole, also said that Nigeria is not worried by the policies of President Donald Trump of the United States of America.
Nairametrics recently reported that the United States government opened a trade investigation into Nigeria and 59 other economies over concerns that their trade practices may allow the importation of goods produced with forced labour.
