Nigeria imported goods worth N11.01tn from China in the first half of 2026, accounting for 39.27 per cent of the country’s total imports, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.
The development has further strengthened China’s position as Nigeria’s largest source of imported goods while raising fresh concerns over the growing presence of counterfeit and substandard products in the Nigerian market.
An analysis of the latest Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics showed that Nigeria’s imports from China increased from N5.10tn in the first quarter of 2026 to N5.92tn in the second quarter.
The combined N11.01tn accounted for almost four out of every 10 naira spent by Nigeria on imported goods between January and June 2026.
China’s imports rise despite overall decline
Nigeria’s imports from China increased by N1.39tn, representing a 14.49 per cent rise compared with the N9.62tn recorded during the first half of 2025.
The increase came despite a decline in Nigeria’s overall import bill.
Total imports fell from N33.14tn in the first half of 2025 to N28.04tn in H1 2026, representing a 15.37 per cent decline.
As a result, China’s share of Nigeria’s total imports rose significantly from 29.03 per cent in H1 2025 to 39.27 per cent in H1 2026.
This represents an increase of more than 10 percentage points within one year.
China widens lead over other suppliers
China remained Nigeria’s largest source of imported goods in the first quarter of 2026.
Nigeria recorded total imports of N13.62tn in Q1, down 18.17 per cent from N16.64tn recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
Of that amount, China supplied goods worth N5.10tn, representing 37.42 per cent of total imports.
The United States ranked second with N2.81tn, while India followed with N992.87bn.
China’s dominance became even more pronounced in the second quarter.
Imports from China increased by 16.09 per cent quarter-on-quarter to N5.92tn, representing 41.02 per cent of Nigeria’s N14.42tn total imports during the period.
The United States supplied N1.01tn, or 6.97 per cent, while India accounted for N924.46bn, representing 6.41 per cent.
The Netherlands and Germany supplied N409.81bn and N395.87bn respectively.
The figures indicate that Nigeria imported almost six times more goods from China than from the United States in Q2 2026.
Compared with Q2 2025, imports from China increased by N955.58bn, or 19.26 per cent, from N4.96tn, even as Nigeria’s total imports declined by 12.55 per cent year-on-year.
Rising imports raise counterfeit concerns
The growing value of Chinese imports has emerged amid renewed concerns over counterfeit and substandard products circulating in Nigeria.
Concerns over fake products have intensified in recent weeks, with Nigerians raising alarms online over alleged counterfeit toothpastes, creams, contaminated bottled water and adulterated yoghurt drinks.
The development has also attracted the attention of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, had earlier told The PUNCH that the agency uncovered what it described as a new trend involving some Chinese counterfeiters operating within Nigeria.
The agency’s concerns come as China’s share of Nigeria’s import market continues to expand.
Growing trade relationship
The latest figures highlight the increasingly important role China plays in Nigeria’s import market.
While Chinese goods cover a wide range of consumer and industrial products, the growing concentration also underscores the need for stronger regulatory oversight and quality-control measures, particularly where imported products have direct implications for public health and consumer safety.
For Nigeria, the challenge is to balance its growing trade relationship with China with efforts to protect consumers, strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce excessive dependence on imported goods.
The data also raise questions about the competitiveness of local producers as imported products continue to occupy a significant share of the Nigerian market.
