DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Economy & Trade

Nigeria Risks Missing China’s $18 Billion Export Window, Experts Warn

From ThisDay · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Nigeria risks losing out on a $18 billion Chinese export market opportunity due to its production and export capacity weaknesses.
  • China has removed tariffs on imports from African countries, leading to a significant increase in bilateral trade, but quality and supply consistency remain key challenges for Nigeria.
  • Experts warn that Nigeria must urgently reform its systems to benefit from preferential access, moving beyond unprocessed commodities and meeting market standards.

Nigeria faces the risk of squandering a significant $18 billion trade opportunity with China unless it urgently addresses its production, processing, and export capacity issues. China's recent decision to eliminate tariffs on imports from African nations with diplomatic ties presents a potentially transformative opening, but stakeholders caution that Nigeria's structural weaknesses could prevent it from capitalizing on this preferential access.

Bilateral trade between Nigeria and China reached $18 billion in the first half of 2026, with Chinese imports from Nigeria jumping by 80 percent to $2.3 billion following the implementation of the zero-tariff policy on May 1. This policy has already resulted in tangible savings for Nigerian exporters, with significant reductions in tariff costs for products like sesame and cattle bone granules.

Meeting Chinese market standards and ensuring reliable supply volumes are essential for long-term success.

— Yu DunhaiChinese Ambassador to Nigeria, emphasizing the requirements for Nigerian businesses in the Chinese market.

However, speakers at an international seminar highlighted that tariff elimination is only the first step. Meeting Chinese market standards and ensuring reliable supply volumes are critical for long-term success. Nigerian producers are urged to improve quality, strengthen supply chains, and move beyond exporting unprocessed commodities. China has expressed readiness to support Nigeria with technology, equipment, and technical expertise, including partnerships for industrial parks and local processing.

Experts, including Charles Onunaiju of the Centre for China Studies, issued a stark warning: this preferential access could become another missed opportunity if Nigeria fails to reform its production and trade systems. The challenge lies in transforming the preferential access into sustained export earnings, industrial growth, and job creation, requiring a fundamental overhaul of existing trade infrastructure and practices.

Zero-tariff treatment for products coming from Africa is only the starting point, it’s not the finish line.

— Charles OnunaijuDirector of the Centre for China Studies, warning about the need for further reforms beyond tariff elimination.
About this summary

Originally published by ThisDay in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog