AfCFTA boosts Nigeria’s intra‑African trade by 21% to $9.02 bn in 2025

In 2025, Nigeria’s intra‑African trade grew by 21 percent, reaching $9.02 billion. The ongoing implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has opened new export opportunities and strengthened regional integration, allowing businesses to benefit from preferential market access and reduced trade barriers.

Afreximbank’s latest African Trade Report 2026 indicates that Nigeria’s trade with other African countries rose from $7.47 billion in 2024 to $9.02 billion in 2025, solidifying its standing among the continent’s top intra‑African trading partners.

The report attributes this growth to Nigeria’s intensified focus on regional commerce and deliberate use of AfCFTA opportunities to lower trade barriers and broaden export markets throughout Africa.

Although crude oil continued to dominate Nigeria’s exports to African markets, the report highlighted a growing diversification of its export basket. Important non‑oil exports comprised chemicals, plastics and rubber products, processed agricultural goods, food products, urea, and cement.

This development aligns with Nigeria’s goal of reducing reliance on traditional export destinations outside Africa and positioning local manufacturers to access the continent’s rapidly expanding consumer market.

The report stated: “Elsewhere in West Africa, the value of Nigeria’s trade with the continent grew from $7.47 billion to $9.02 billion. Crude oil was a dominant feature in Nigeria’s exports to Africa. Other key exports included non‑oil manufactured goods such as chemicals, plastics and rubber products, processed agricultural goods and foodstuffs, urea and cement.”

Afreximbank added that Nigeria has intensified efforts to deepen intra‑African trade by using the AfCFTA to expand market access and reduce trade costs for domestic exporters.

The report highlighted the gazetting of Nigeria’s Provisional Schedule of Tariff Concessions in April 2025 as a key milestone. This action allowed Nigerian products to qualify for preferential tariffs in AfCFTA member states and granted reciprocal access to imports from participating African countries.

The bank also noted new logistics initiatives, such as a dedicated air‑cargo corridor connecting Nigeria with East and Southern Africa. It said the corridor is lowering transportation costs and enhancing the competitiveness of Nigeria’s intra‑African trade.