Nigeria's Intra-African Trade Grows 21% to $9.02bn

Nigeria's intra-African trade rose by 21% to $9.02 billion in 2025, as reported in the latest African trade report released by Afreximbank. This growth from $7.47 billion in 2024 underscores Nigeria's position as a leading nation in intra-African trade.

The report attributes this improvement to Nigeria's intensified focus on regional commerce and efforts to leverage opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The AfCFTA aims to lower trade barriers and expand export destinations across the continent.

While crude oil remains a dominant component of Nigeria's exports to the African market, the country's export basket is increasingly diversifying, with growing shipments of chemicals, plastics, rubber products, processed agricultural goods, urea, and cement. This diversification is part of Nigeria's strategy to reduce dependence on traditional export markets outside Africa and to capitalize on the rapidly expanding local consumer market.