The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Nigeria’s import purchases during 2020. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Nigeria.

1. Machinery including computers: US$9.9 billion (18.6% of total imports)
2. Mineral fuels including oil: $8.2 billion (15.4%)
3. Vehicles: $5.3 billion (10.1%)
4. Electrical machinery, equipment: $3.7 billion (7%)
5. Pharmaceuticals: $2.8 billion (5.3%)
6. Plastics, plastic articles: $2.4 billion (4.5%)
7. Cereals: $2.2 billion (4.2%)
8. Other chemical goods: $1.3 billion (2.5%)
9. Fish: $1.3 billion (2.4%)
10. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $1.2 billion (2.2%)

The top 10 categories represent about three-quarters (72.2%) of imported goods into Nigeria during 2020.

Nigeria’s imported pharmaceuticals posted the fastest-growing increase in value among the top 10 import categories, thanks to its 94% increase from 2019 to 2020. In second place for higher purchases were miscellaneous chemical goods (up by 76.8%). Nigeria’s imports of cereals (up 70.5%) and fish (up 59.6%) also generated healthy increases.

The major declining category was optical, technical and medical apparatus due to a -65.5% drop year over year.

For more details, see the adjacent product category virtual folders.

In 2020, Nigerian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery.

1. Taps, valves, similar appliances: US$915.1 million (up 87.6% from 2020)
2. Temperature-change machines: $551 million (up 1.1%)
3. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $481.3 million (up 22%)
4. Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines: $463.7 million (up 48.6%)
5. Sewing machines, related furniture: $347.3 million (up 56.8%)
6. Liquid pumps and elevators: $331 million (down -15.2%)
7. Rubber/plastic article making machines: $328.6 million (down -24.4%)
8. Air conditioners: $280.1 million (up 2.8%)
9. Spray/dispersing mechanical appliances: $275.8 million (up 4.7%)
10. Sort/screen/washing machinery: $265.6 million (up 22.7%)

Among these import subcategories, Nigerian purchases of taps, valves and similar appliances (up 87.6%), sewing machines including related furniture (up 56.8%) then dishwashing or cleaning, drying and filling machines (up 48.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2019 to 2020.

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.

In 2020, Nigerian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels including oil.

1. Processed petroleum oils: US$7.8 billion (up 10% from 2020)
2. Petroleum oil residues: $164.4 million (up 11.7%)
3. Petroleum gases: $108.6 million (up 36.7%)
4. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $79.3 million (up 52.2%)
5. Natural bitumen, asphalt, shale: $13.5 million (down -35.4%)
6. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $9 million (up 50.3%)
7. Coke, semi-coke: $8 million (up 3791.2%)
8. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $6 million (up 50.2%)
9. Asphalt/petroleum bitumen mixes: $555,000 (down -10.3%)
10. Peat: $323,000 (up 193.6%)

Among these import subcategories, Nigerian purchases of coke or semi-coke (up 3,791%), peat (up 193.6%) then petroleum jelly and mineral waxes (up 52.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2019 to 2020.

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.

In 2020, Nigerian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.

1. Cars: US$2.9 billion (up 7.9% from 2020)
2. Motorcycles: $1.2 billion (down -14.6%)
3. Trucks: $292.6 million (up 13.9%)
4. Chassis fitted with engine: $208.8 million (down -66.4%)
5. Automobile parts/accessories: $197.6 million (down -5.3%)
6. Tractors: $135.7 million (up 138.9%)
7. Public-transport vehicles: $107.7 million (down -33.8%)
8. Armored vehicles, tanks: $103.4 million (up 624.1%)
9. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $57.1 million (up 10.1%)
10. Special purpose vehicles: $52 million (up 1.5%)

Among these import subcategories, Nigerian purchases of armored vehicles including tanks (up 624.1%), tractors (up 138.9%) then trucks (up 13.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2019 to 2020.

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.

In 2020, Nigerian importers spent the most on the following subcategories of electronics.

1. Phone system devices including smartphones: US$764.1 million (down -5.4% from 2020)
2. Electric generating sets, converters: $458.1 million (down -31.2%)
3. Electrical converters/power units: $457.7 million (down -6.8%)
4. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $268.7 million (down -22%)
5. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $191.3 million (up 28%)
6. Electric motors, generators: $143.9 million (down -3.7%)
7. Electric storage batteries: $136.3 million (up 18.4%)
8. Insulated wire/cable: $132.9 million (down -23.2%)
9. High-voltage switches, fuses: $121.4 million (up 338.4%)
10. Metal soldering/hot-spray equipment: $102.4 million (up 17%)

Among these import subcategories, Nigerian purchases of high-voltage switches and fuses (up 338.4%), solar power diodes or semi-conductors (up 28%) then electric storage batteries (up 18.4%) grew at the fastest pace from 2019 to 2020.

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.