Strategic Lens

Nigeria and South Africa

First country

Continent

Country

Second country

Continent

Country

Category

In 2025, Nigeria sold USD 1.66 billion of goods to South Africa and bought USD 353 million from it. The DESTA database lists 1 trade agreement that includes both countries, the most recent being African Economic Community South Africa accession (1997). Both are members of the Commonwealth of Nations and the African Union. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 94 percent in 2023, and 95 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.

Benefits

BothTwo-way trade in fertilisers grew about 13 times, from USD 5.8 million in 2019 to USD 75.5 million in 2025.
BothAfrican Economic Community South Africa accession, signed 1997.
BothBoth are members of the Commonwealth of Nations and the African Union.

Constraints

BothTwo-way trade in goods fell 45 percent, from USD 3.63 billion in 2019 to USD 2.01 billion in 2025.
BothTwo-way trade in mineral fuels and oils fell 50 percent, from USD 3.15 billion in 2019 to USD 1.57 billion in 2025.
BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, South Africa sold USD 76.5 million of agricultural and food products, against USD 3.0 million the other way.

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026); DESTA: Design of Trade Agreements database, version 02_03 (retrieved 25 September 2026); Wikidata, statements on membership (property P463) (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 2.01 billion; 2025, as reported by Nigeria
Nigeria to South Africa: USD 1.66 billion; 2025, as reported by Nigeria
South Africa to Nigeria: USD 353 million; 2025, as reported by Nigeria

What connects Nigeria and South Africa

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, Nigeria sold USD 1.66 billion of goods to South Africa and bought USD 353 million from it.

Resources

EnergyIn 2025, Nigeria sold USD 1.57 billion of mineral fuels and oils to South Africa and bought USD 1.2 million from it.Agriculture and foodIn 2025, Nigeria sold USD 3.0 million of agricultural and food products to South Africa and bought USD 76.5 million from it.FertiliserIn 2025, Nigeria sold USD 75.5 million of fertilisers to South Africa.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, South Africa sold USD 110 million of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to Nigeria.

Diplomacy

Agreements and treatiesThe DESTA database lists 1 trade agreement that includes both countries, the most recent being African Economic Community South Africa accession (1997).Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of the Commonwealth of Nations and the African Union. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 94 percent in 2023, and 95 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.Diaspora and mobilityIn 2024, 27 thousand people born in Nigeria lived in South Africa.