Nigeria's manufactured goods imports jump to N18tn in H1 2026 as local production struggles
Nigeria’s manufactured goods imports surged to N18 trillion in the first half of 2026, up 16.9% from N15.40 trillion in H1 2025, according to Nairametrics’ analysis of NBS Foreign Trade Statistics. The rise was driven by a stronger second quarter, with imports hitting N9.51 trillion (vs N8.48 trillion in Q1 2026), a 12.1% quarter-on-quarter increase. Year-on-year, Q2 2026 imports rose 20.7% from N7.88 trillion in Q2 2025.
This trend underscores Nigeria’s continued reliance on imported manufactured goods despite government efforts to boost domestic production. The manufacturing sector faces headwinds: bank credit to the industry fell by N1.92 trillion between December 2024 and December 2025, while lending rates remain high—average prime at 27% and maximum up to 35.6% at some banks. Manufacturers also cite high production costs, energy expenses, and inflationary pressures as barriers to growth. Notably, manufacturing contributed just 9.57% to Nigeria’s real GDP in Q1 2026, though it remains a key non-oil sector and tax contributor.
To reduce import dependence, the Federal Government is urging manufacturers to leverage the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) to access regional West African markets. Given persistent local production challenges, should businesses prioritize solving internal constraints like financing and energy costs, or advocate for stronger policies to make Nigerian-made goods more competitive against imports?