Zero-Tariff Policy Pushes Chinese Imports from Nigeria Up 81% to $2.25bn

China’s imports from Nigeria climbed 81 per cent year-on-year to $2.25 billion in the first half of 2026, following the introduction of Beijing’s zero-tariff policy for goods from 53 African countries, including Nigeria.

The Consul General of China in Lagos, Yan Yuqing, revealed the figures at the 2026 Nigeria International New Energy and Power Industry Expo and Nigeria International Lighting Expo Lunch Conference.

Yan said the policy was already having a noticeable impact less than four months after it took effect.

She disclosed that trade between China and Nigeria totalled $17.4 billion between January and June 2026, representing a 35 per cent rise from the corresponding period of 2025.

She said: “Chinese imports from Nigeria accounted for $2.25 billion of the trade, rising by 81 per cent year-on-year, with monthly growth exceeding 40 per cent in both May and June.”

The consul general said the strong growth in Nigerian exports to China showed the capacity of the zero-tariff arrangement to open up greater opportunities for Nigerian products while strengthening bilateral economic relations.

China officially implemented the zero-tariff policy on May 1, extending zero duties across all tariff lines for products from 53 African nations with which it has diplomatic relations.

Yan explained that the initiative was part of China’s wider effort to deepen economic engagement with Africa and implement the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan for 2025–2027.

She added that the policy coincided with the start of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and was designed to create fresh momentum for China and African countries in their shared pursuit of modernisation.

Highlighting the wider expansion of bilateral economic ties, Yan said China-Nigeria trade exceeded $28 billion in 2025, growing by more than 28 per cent year-on-year.

She added that Chinese direct investment in Nigeria rose to $690 million during the year, representing a 103 per cent increase over the previous year.

Yan described Nigeria as China’s biggest engineering contracting market in Africa, its second-largest export market on the continent and a key investment destination.

“Nigeria is also China’s second-largest trading partner in Africa,” she said.

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