The trade balance between Nigeria and United States has plummeted, moving from a substantial surplus to a deficit of over N3 trillion in the first nine months of 2025, according to new data from the National Bureau of Statistics.
The figures reveal a dual trend: while Nigeria’s exports to the U.S. dropped by nearly N941 billion year-on-year, its imports from America more than doubled, underlining shifting trade dynamics and growing import dependency.
From January to September 2025, Nigeria exported goods worth N3.65 trillion to the United States, down from N4.59 trillion in the same period in 2024, a decline of 20.5 percent.
The N940.98 billion drop shows reduced outbound trade, potentially influenced by lower commodity prices, logistical constraints, or weaker demand for Nigerian exports such as crude oil, cocoa, and cashew.
Over the same nine months, Nigeria’s imports from the U.S. surged by 125.5 percent, from N3.01 trillion in 2024 to N6.80 trillion in 2025, an increase of N3.78 trillion. This surge in purchases, which may include machinery, vehicles, pharmaceutical products, and agricultural goods, has drastically altered the trade equation.
As a result, Nigeria recorded a trade deficit of approximately N3.15 trillion with the United States between January and September 2025.
