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Strategic Lens

China and Nigeria

First country

Second country

In 2025, China sold USD 24.9 billion of goods to Nigeria and bought USD 2.96 billion from it. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 79 percent in 2023, and 84 percent on average over 2019 to 2023. In 2025, China sold USD 12.9 million of mineral fuels and oils to Nigeria and bought USD 1.56 billion from it. In 2025, China sold USD 3.59 billion of electrical and electronic equipment to Nigeria.

Benefits

  • BothTwo-way trade in critical minerals and metals grew 73 percent, from USD 13.6 million in 2019 to USD 23.4 million in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in agricultural and food products grew 109 percent, from USD 276 million in 2019 to USD 575 million in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in fertilisers grew about 7.9 times, from USD 7.5 million in 2019 to USD 59.3 million in 2025.

Constraints

  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, China sold USD 24.9 billion of goods, against USD 2.96 billion the other way.
  • BothTwo-way trade in mineral fuels and oils fell 39 percent, from USD 2.59 billion in 2019 to USD 1.58 billion in 2025.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, Nigeria sold USD 23.3 million of critical minerals and metals, and China sold almost none.

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026); United Nations General Assembly voting data (Voeten, Strezhnev and Bailey), agreement scores (retrieved 25 September 2026)

Last updated on 26 September 2026

At a glance

Goods trade, both ways
USD 27.9 billion
2025, as reported by China
China to Nigeria
USD 24.9 billion
2025, as reported by China
Nigeria to China
USD 2.96 billion
2025, as reported by China

What connects China and Nigeria

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, China sold USD 24.9 billion of goods to Nigeria and bought USD 2.96 billion from it.

Resources

EnergyIn 2025, China sold USD 12.9 million of mineral fuels and oils to Nigeria and bought USD 1.56 billion from it.Critical mineralsIn 2025, Nigeria sold USD 23.3 million of critical minerals and metals to China.Agriculture and foodIn 2025, China sold USD 537 million of agricultural and food products to Nigeria and bought USD 38.9 million from it.FertiliserIn 2025, China sold USD 59.3 million of fertilisers to Nigeria.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, China sold USD 6.59 billion of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to Nigeria.TechnologyIn 2025, China sold USD 3.59 billion of electrical and electronic equipment to Nigeria.Pharma and healthIn 2025, China sold USD 235 million of pharmaceutical products to Nigeria.

Security

Nuclear and spaceIn 2025, China sold USD 2.0 million of nuclear materials, reactors and spacecraft to Nigeria and bought USD 195 million from it.

Diplomacy

Multilateral alignmentTheir agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 79 percent in 2023, and 84 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.

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