Nigeria’s foreign trade continued to show strong momentum in the first quarter of 2026, with trade flows concentrated among a handful of strategic partners across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that Nigeria’s largest trading partners accounted for a significant share of the country’s total merchandise trade during the quarter, reflecting the continued importance of crude oil, refined petroleum products, fertilizers, machinery, pharmaceuticals, and manufactured goods in shaping trade relationships.
Asia remained Nigeria’s dominant trading region, driven largely by trade with China and India, while Europe maintained a strong presence through countries such as the Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
The United States remained Nigeria’s largest trading partner in the Americas, while ECOWAS countries continued to deepen regional trade integration.
Notably, Italy was absent from the top 10 in Q4 2025, while all the countries featured in the Q1 2026 ranking were also present in the same period a year earlier, highlighting Italy’s re-entry as the only change in lineup.
Nigeria’s Top 10 Foreign Trade Partners in Q1 2026
10. Brazil (America) – N701.92 billion
Nigeria’s total trade with Brazil stood at N701.92 billion in Q1 2026, comprising imports worth N214.71 billion and exports valued at N487.21 billion. Nigeria maintained a trade surplus of N272.50 billion with Brazil during the period. Major exports were urea, and imports included durum wheat and cane sugar. Brazil slipped to tenth place, down from eighth in Q4 2025.
9. Canada (America) – N775.40 billion
Trade between Nigeria and Canada reached N775.40 billion in the first quarter of 2026. Exports accounted for N670.29 billion, while imports stood at N105.11 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of N565.17 billion for Nigeria. Canada retained its ninth position, the same rank it held in Q4 2025.
8. Italy (Europe) – N1.02 trillion
Nigeria’s trade with Italy amounted to N1.02 trillion in Q1 2026. Exports were valued at N800.25 billion, while imports totaled N215.51 billion, leaving Nigeria with a trade surplus of N584.74 billion. Italy returned to the list in Q1 2026 after being absent in Q4 2025.
7. Spain (Europe) – N1.81 trillion
Total trade between Nigeria and Spain reached N1.81 trillion during the quarter. Exports dominated the trade at N1.63 trillion, while imports were N180.11 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of N1.45 trillion. Spain dropped to seventh place in Q1 2026, from fifth in Q4 2025.
6. France (Europe) – N2.10 trillion
France emerged as Nigeria’s sixth-largest trading partner in Q1 2026, with total trade valued at N2.10 trillion. Exports accounted for N1.97 trillion, while imports stood at N132.20 billion, yielding a trade surplus of N1.83 trillion. Trade with France increased significantly from Q1 2025 and Q4 2025.
5. Netherlands (Europe) – N2.13 trillion
The Netherlands recorded total trade of N2.13 trillion with Nigeria in Q1 2026. Exports from Nigeria reached N1.95 trillion, while imports stood at N174.63 billion, generating a trade surplus of N1.78 trillion. The Netherlands slipped to fifth place in Q1 2026, from second in Q4 2025.
4. ECOWAS Countries (Africa) – N2.27 trillion
Trade between Nigeria and ECOWAS member states totaled N2.27 trillion during the quarter. Exports dominated at N2.20 trillion, while imports amounted to N65.91 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of N2.14 trillion. ECOWAS climbed to fourth position in Q1 2026, from eighth in Q1 2025.
3. India (Asia) – N3.76 trillion
India retained its position as one of Nigeria’s most important trading partners, with total trade reaching N3.76 trillion in Q1 2026. Nigeria imported goods worth N992.87 billion from India while exporting products valued at N2.77 trillion, translating to a trade surplus of N1.78 trillion. India maintained its third-place position from Q4 2025.
2. United States (America) – N3.98 trillion
The United States ranked as Nigeria’s second-largest trading partner in the first quarter of 2026. Total trade between both countries stood at N3.98 trillion, consisting of imports worth N2.81 trillion and exports valued at N1.18 trillion, resulting in a trade deficit of N1.63 trillion. The U.S. rose to second place from third in Q1 2025.
1. China (Asia) – N5.68 trillion
China remained Nigeria’s largest trading partner in Q1 2026, with total trade valued at N5.68 trillion. Imports from China stood at N5.10 trillion, while exports to China totaled N582.20 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of N4.51 trillion. China retained its position as Nigeria’s top trading partner, unchanged from Q4 2025.
