Applying a continental lens, Nigeria imported about half (49.6%) of its imported goods by value from Asia. Another 30% came from suppliers in Europe with 11.2% arriving from North America. Smaller percentages originated from fellow African nations (6.5%), Latin America (2.3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.3%) led by New Zealand and Australia.
Given Nigeria’s population of 201 million people, its total $47.4 billion in 2019 imports translates to roughly $240 in yearly product demand from every person in the West African region country.
Nigeria’s Top 10 Imports
Top 10
The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Nigeria’s import purchases during 2019. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Nigeria.
- Machinery including computers: US$9 billion (18.9% of total imports)
- Mineral fuels including oil: $7.4 billion (15.6%)
- Vehicles: $5.6 billion (11.9%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $3.7 billion (7.9%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $3.4 billion (7.1%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $1.5 billion (3.2%)
- Glass: $1.5 billion (3.2%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $1.5 billion (3.1%)
- Cereals: $1.3 billion (2.8%)
- Articles of iron or steel: $1 billion (2.1%)
The top 10 categories represent about three-quarters (75.6%) of imported goods into Nigeria during 2019.
Nigeria’s imported glass posted the fastest-growing increase in value among the top 10 import categories, thanks to its 3,034% increase from 2018 to 2019. In second place for higher purchases were optical, technical and medical apparatus (up by 513.6%). Nigeria’s imports of pharmaceuticals appreciated by 182.5%.
The sole declining top import categories was mineral fuels including oil due to a -31.9% drop year over year.
Also see the section Searchable List of Nigeria’s Most Valuable Import Products further down near the bottom of this article.
Machinery
In 2019, Nigerian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery.
- Temperature-change machines: US$545.2 million (up 197% from 2018)
- Taps, valves, similar appliances: $487.9 million (up 38.9%)
- Rubber/plastic article making machines: $434.5 million (up 89%)
- Stone/ceramic working machine-tools: $395.4 million (up 195%)
- Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $394.5 million (up 114.8%)
- Liquid pumps and elevators: $390.4 million (up 106.2%)
- Miscellaneous machinery: $344.8 million (up 91.5%)
- Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines: $312 million (up 28.5%)
- Refrigerators, freezers: $296 million (up 97.7%)
- Air conditioners: $272.6 million (up 110.4%)
Among these import subcategories, Nigerian purchases of temperature-change machines (up 197%), stone and ceramic working machine-tools (up 195%) then centrifuges, filters and purifiers (up 114.8%) grew at the fastest pace from 2018 to 2019.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of machinery-related imports among Nigerian businesses and consumers.
Fuel
In 2019, Nigerian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels including oil.
- Processed petroleum oils: US$7.1 billion (down -33.3% from 2018)
- Petroleum oil residues: $147.3 million (up 19.3%)
- Petroleum gases: $79.4 million (up 159.9%)
- Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $52.1 million (down -8.3%)
- Natural bitumen, asphalt, shale: $21 million (down -11.7%)
- Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $6 million (down -3%)
- Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $4 million (down -4.5%)
- Asphalt/petroleum bitumen mixes: $620,000 (down -15%)
- Coke, semi-coke: $205,000 (up 23.5%)
- Peat: $110,000 (down -36.8%)
Among these import subcategories, Nigerian purchases of petroleum gases (up 159.9%), coke or semi-coke (up 23.5%) then petroleum oil residues (up 19.3%) grew from 2018 to 2019.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of mineral fuels-related imports among Nigerian businesses and consumers.
Vehicles
In 2019, Nigerian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.
- Cars: US$2.7 billion (up 162.4% from 2018)
- Motorcycles: $1.4 billion (up 131.6%)
- Chassis fitted with engine: $621.1 million (up 196.9%)
- Trucks: $257 million (up 159.8%)
- Automobile parts/accessories: $208.4 million (up 191.5%)
- Public-transport vehicles: $162.8 million (up 518.7%)
- Tractors: $56.8 million (down -17.6%)
- Motorcycle parts/accessories: $51.9 million (up 17.1%)
- Special purpose vehicles: $51.3 million (up 96.2%)
- Trailers: $44 million (up 87.8%)
Among these import subcategories, Nigerian purchases of public-transport vehicles (up 518.7%), chassis fitted with engine (up 196.9%) then automobile parts or accessories (up 191.5%) grew at the fastest pace from 2018 to 2019.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of vehicles-related imports among Nigerian businesses and consumers.
Electronics
In 2019, Nigerian importers spent the most on the following subcategories of electronics.
- Phone system devices including smartphones: US$807.8 million (up 71% from 2018)
- Electric generating sets, converters: $666.5 million (up 100.4%)
- Electrical converters/power units: $491.4 million (up 90.1%)
- TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $344.4 million (up 74.5%)
- Insulated wire/cable: $172.9 million (up 144.4%)
- Electric motors, generators: $149.5 million (up 116%)
- Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $149.2 million (up 94%)
- Electric storage batteries: $115.2 million (up 96%)
- Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $97.1 million (up 62.5%)
- Metal soldering/hot-spray equipment: $87.5 million (up 89%)
Among these import subcategories, Nigerian purchases of insulated wire or cable (up 144.4%), electric motors and generators: (up 116%) then electric generating sets and converters (up 100.4%) grew at the fastest pace from 2018 to 2019.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported ships and boats among Nigerian businesses and consumers.
Searchable List of Nigeria’s Most Valuable Import Products
The following searchable table displays 100 of Nigeria’s most in-demand imported goods during 2019. Shown beside each product label is its total import value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2018.
| Rank | Nigeria's Import Product | 2019 Value (US$) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Processed petroleum oils | $7,065,579,000 | -33.3% |
| 2 | Cars | $2,703,062,000 | +162.4% |
| 3 | Electro-medical equipment (e.g. xrays) | $2,613,096,000 | +1,384% |
| 4 | Laboratory/pharmaceutical glassware | $1,434,517,000 | +34,854% |
| 5 | Motorcycles | $1,376,400,000 | +131.6% |
| 6 | Wheat | $1,267,551,000 | +10% |
| 7 | Medication mixes in dosage | $857,144,000 | +120.7% |
| 8 | Phone system devices including smartphones | $807,843,000 | +71% |
| 9 | Unused stamps (current or new issue) | $776,436,000 | +1,709% |
| 10 | Electric generating sets, converters | $666,517,000 | +100.4% |
| 11 | Chassis fitted with engine | $621,145,000 | +196.9% |
| 12 | Whole fish (frozen) | $613,026,000 | +12.7% |
| 13 | Cruise/cargo ships, barges | $578,066,000 | +1,278% |
| 14 | Temperature-change machines | $545,224,000 | +197% |
| 15 | Blood fractions (including antisera) | $517,958,000 | +692.2% |
| 16 | Electrical converters/power units | $491,397,000 | +90.1% |
| 17 | Taps, valves, similar appliances | $487,887,000 | +38.9% |
| 18 | Sugar (cane or beet) | $463,213,000 | +3.8% |
| 19 | Rubber/plastic article making machines | $434,522,000 | +89% |
| 20 | Flour/meal/starch/malt extract food preparations | $430,243,000 | +64.2% |
| 21 | Stone/ceramic working machine-tools | $395,407,000 | +195% |
| 22 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers | $394,477,000 | +114.8% |
| 23 | Liquid pumps and elevators | $390,441,000 | +106.2% |
| 24 | Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products | $360,813,000 | -1% |
| 25 | Miscellaneous machinery | $344,809,000 | +91.5% |
| 26 | TV receivers/monitors/projectors | $344,425,000 | +74.5% |
| 27 | Concentrated/sweetened milk, cream | $343,981,000 | +23.1% |
| 28 | Polyacetal/ether/carbonates | $334,380,000 | +21.6% |
| 29 | Packaged insecticides/fungicides/herbicides | $330,090,000 | +1.4% |
| 30 | Propylene/olefin polymers | $322,457,000 | +2.2% |
| 31 | Ethylene polymers | $318,265,000 | +11.2% |
| 32 | Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines | $311,990,000 | +28.5% |
| 33 | Rubber tires (new) | $308,473,000 | +69.9% |
| 34 | Refrigerators, freezers | $296,036,000 | +97.7% |
| 35 | Uncoated paper for writing/printing | $273,286,000 | +12.4% |
| 36 | Air conditioners | $272,579,000 | +110.4% |
| 37 | Spray/dispersing mechanical appliances | $263,337,000 | +126.2% |
| 38 | Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers) | $257,320,000 | +124.8% |
| 39 | Trucks | $256,962,000 | +159.8% |
| 40 | Scents used for beverage or industrial manufacturing | $254,487,000 | +9.5% |
| 41 | Turbo-jets | $249,669,000 | -13.2% |
| 42 | Air or vacuum pumps | $229,442,000 | +72.7% |
| 43 | Miscellaneous iron and steel structures | $227,964,000 | +106.2% |
| 44 | Sewing machines, related furniture | $221,517,000 | +35.2% |
| 45 | Sort/screen/washing machinery | $216,272,000 | +94.8% |
| 46 | Automobile parts/accessories | $208,432,000 | +191.5% |
| 47 | Iron or steel pipe fittings | $196,726,000 | +271.6% |
| 48 | Industrial preparation machinery | $193,180,000 | +44.6% |
| 49 | Pulley tackle, hoists, jacks | $188,806,000 | +98.5% |
| 50 | Clean/sort/grading machines | $188,146,000 | -15.2% |
| 51 | Ethyl alcohol | $185,477,000 | +54.6% |
| 52 | Paper-making machinery | $178,476,000 | +95.2% |
| 53 | Insulated wire/cable | $172,882,000 | +144.4% |
| 54 | Liquid/gas checking instruments | $171,898,000 | +98.6% |
| 55 | Palm oil | $165,180,000 | +27.9% |
| 56 | Public-transport vehicles | $162,818,000 | +518.7% |
| 57 | Printing machinery | $160,717,000 | +97.7% |
| 58 | Derricks, cranes | $156,870,000 | +39.5% |
| 59 | Electric motors, generators | $149,460,000 | +116% |
| 60 | Solar power diodes/semi-conductors | $149,209,000 | +94% |
| 61 | Pneumatic hand tool | $148,457,000 | +72.4% |
| 62 | Petroleum oil residues | $147,310,000 | +19.3% |
| 63 | Computers, optical readers | $146,576,000 | +4.8% |
| 64 | Artificial filament tow | $142,807,000 | +26.8% |
| 65 | Agricultural/forestry machinery | $142,214,000 | +230.9% |
| 66 | Other food preparations | $130,918,000 | +5.3% |
| 67 | Lifting/loading machinery | $128,500,000 | +113.3% |
| 68 | Iron and steel tubes, pipes | $126,131,000 | +35.7% |
| 69 | Aluminum plates, sheets, strips | $122,857,000 | +21.1% |
| 70 | Unmanufactured tobacco, tobacco waste | $121,557,000 | +48.1% |
| 71 | Weighing machinery | $118,876,000 | +84.8% |
| 72 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $115,250,000 | -5.7% |
| 73 | Electric storage batteries | $115,172,000 | +96% |
| 74 | Vinyl chloride polymers | $114,315,000 | +24.6% |
| 75 | Moulding boxes/base | $110,269,000 | -7.5% |
| 76 | Iron or steel tubes, pipes | $109,856,000 | -13% |
| 77 | Aircraft parts | $109,001,000 | +37.1% |
| 78 | Amino-compounds (oxygen) | $108,673,000 | +24.3% |
| 79 | Whole fish (fresh) | $103,449,000 | +66.4% |
| 80 | Anti-knock/oxidation/gum inhibitors | $98,945,000 | +35.4% |
| 81 | Light vessels, fire boats, floating docks | $97,709,000 | -97.1% |
| 82 | Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels | $97,061,000 | +62.5% |
| 83 | Transmission shafts, gears, clutches | $97,020,000 | +73.4% |
| 84 | Gas/liquid/electricity/production meters | $94,813,000 | +212% |
| 85 | Malt | $90,375,000 | +34.2% |
| 86 | Textile bast fibers | $89,885,000 | +52.9% |
| 87 | Metal-rolling mills | $88,618,000 | +225.7% |
| 88 | Metal soldering/hot-spray equipment | $87,521,000 | +89% |
| 89 | Poultry-keeping, bee-keeping machines | $86,163,000 | +19% |
| 90 | Other measuring/testing machines | $85,754,000 | +151.1% |
| 91 | Gypsum, plasters | $85,247,000 | +45.9% |
| 92 | Carbonates, percarbonates | $84,869,000 | +16.9% |
| 93 | Chemical industry products/residuals | $81,777,000 | +50.6% |
| 94 | Move/grade/scrape/boring machinery | $81,397,000 | +260.5% |
| 95 | Survey/hydro/weather instruments | $79,555,000 | +98.8% |
| 96 | Machinery parts | $79,470,000 | +44.1% |
| 97 | Iron or non-alloy steel products (semi-finished) | $79,468,000 | +2,352% |
| 98 | Miscellaneous furnishings | $79,376,000 | +162.6% |
| 99 | Petroleum gases | $79,364,000 | +159.9% |
| 100 | Mixed alkylbenzenes, alkylnaphthalenes | $77,729,000 | +18.9% |
These 100 imported goods were worth a subtotal of US$38.6 billion or 81.5% by value for all products imported into Nigeria during 2019.
See also Top African Export Countries, Nigeria’s Top 10 Exports and Nigeria’s Top Trading Partners
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Africa: Nigeria. Accessed on March 30, 2020
International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (National Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on March 30, 2020
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on March 30, 2020
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on March 30, 2020
Wikipedia, List of Companies of Nigeria. Accessed on March 30, 2020
Wikipedia, Nigeria. Accessed on March 30, 2020
