Trade between Nigeria and China has surged by 34.7 per cent to $15.48 billion between January and July 2025, compared with the same period last year, the Chinese Consul-General in Lagos, Ms. Yan Yuqing, has disclosed.
Speaking at a reception in Lagos on Sunday, Ms. Yuqing said the growth reflects the strengthening of economic ties, with Nigeria now ranking as China’s second-largest trading partner in Africa.
She credited the upswing partly to the elevation of both countries’ relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, which she said has unlocked wider opportunities in infrastructure, trade, energy, culture, and education.
“Guided by the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit, our cooperation has yielded remarkable results. The tangible benefits are evident across investment, trade, energy resources, and cultural exchange,” she stated.
Highlighting China’s broader economic performance, Ms. Yuqing said the Chinese economy grew by 5.3 per cent in the first half of 2025 despite global headwinds, underscoring its resilience.
She also praised the Chinese community in Nigeria for contributing to local development, cultural exchange, and humanitarian efforts, urging them to act as bridge-builders in strengthening friendship between both nations.
According to trade figures, China maintained its position as Nigeria’s largest import partner in Q2 2025, supplying goods worth N4.96 trillion—more than double the United States at N2.16 trillion. Asia accounted for half of Nigeria’s total imports, with China leading, followed by India, the Netherlands, and the UAE.
China’s exports to Nigeria were dominated by machinery, refined petroleum products, and telecommunications equipment. Manufactured imports from China totaled N7.88 trillion, while agricultural imports stood at N1.18 trillion, driven largely by wheat supplies from Canada and Russia.
Ms. Yuqing described the current phase of China–Nigeria relations as the “best in history” and pledged continued support from the Consulate in safeguarding Chinese nationals and deepening economic cooperation.
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Nigeria Becomes China’s Second Largest Trading Partner in Africa
Trade between Nigeria and China has surged by 34.7 per cent to $15.48 billion between January and July 2025, compared with the same period
