The landscape of the China-Nigeria trade relations underwent a shift in 2025 with bilateral trade volume soaring to $22.3 billion between January and October.
This figure represents a 30.2% year-on-year increase and comes amid aggressive trade policies from the United States.
The surge in activity in the China-Nigeria trade relations comes in response to the “Fair and Reciprocal Trade Plan” reintroduced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
In 2025, the Trump administration imposed a 15% tariff on various Nigerian exports.
Giving details of the China-Nigeria trade relations in 2025, Chinese Consul-General in Lagos, Ms Yan Yuqing, bilateral trade exceeded $22.3 billion between January and October.
Yuqing disclosed this at the Lagos Forum New Year Media Symposium, where she reviewed bilateral relations and outlined prospects for deeper cooperation in 2026.
“Over the past year, China-Nigeria economic and trade cooperation has shown great vitality and strong momentum.
“From January to October 2025, bilateral trade exceeded $22.3 billion, representing a 30.2 per cent year-on-year increase,” Yuqing said. She said Nigeria had remained one of China’s major investment destinations in Africa for many consecutive years.
According to her, Nigeria was honoured as the Guest Country of Honour at the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in June and the CIIE in November.
She said Nigerian products, including cashews, sesame seeds, sorghum, and dried ginger, gained increased access to the Chinese market. Yuqing noted that the Lekki and Ogun–Guangdong Free Trade Zones remained key platforms for industrial and manufacturing cooperation.
She said development-focused collaboration delivered tangible benefits, especially in infrastructure, agriculture, and the digital economy.
According to her, the projects supported job creation and strengthened local industrial capacity across Nigeria. Yuqing cited the Lekki Deep Sea Port, projecting yearly throughput of 520,000 TEUs, representing over 82 per cent year-on-year growth. She added that Lagos-Ibadan Railway and Lagos Light Rail passenger volumes hit record highs, easing congestion and improving mobility.
The envoy said people-to-people and cultural exchanges continued expanding, strengthening mutual understanding between the two countries.
The Secretary General of the West Africa Association for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China, Jacob Wood, also spoke at the event, commending peaceful coexistence between Nigerians and Chinese residents despite cultural differences.
Wood urged continued unity, describing Nigeria as the best destination for investment. Chairman, Chinese Industrial and Commercial Enterprises Association and Huaxing Arts Troupe Nigeria, Dr Eric Ni, called for stronger collaboration between Chinese and Nigerian businesses and cultural institutions.
He said trade, investment, and cultural exchanges should deepen understanding, engage youth, and promote shared development.
The revelation comes after official data about the U.S.-Nigeria trade in 2025 revealed the United States reduced its purchases of Nigerian goods by about $615 million in the first eight months of 2025.
Official data revealed that American imports of Nigeria-sourced goods fell from $4.197bn between January and August 2024 to $3.582bn in the corresponding period of 2025, representing a year-on-year decline of 14.7 per cent.
In contrast, the United States exported far more goods to Nigeria. U.S exports to the country rose sharply from $3.169bn in the first eight months of 2024 to $4.751bn in the same period of 2025, an increase of $1.582bn or 49.9 per cent. The surge was driven partly by a major rise in August exports, which climbed to $830m from $230m in August 2024.
