The Chinese embassy in Abuja, Nigeria.. Credit: chinaglobalsouth
The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria says imports from Nigeria into the Chinese market increased by 81 per cent in the first half of 2026, attributing the growth to expanding bilateral trade and China’s zero-tariff policy for Nigerian exports.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson, Zhu Songbo, the embassy said Chinese customs data showed imports from Nigeria reached $2.25 billion between January and June 2026, an 81 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2025.
According to the embassy, imports from Nigeria stood at $360 million in May, representing a 44 per cent year-on-year increase, before rising to $440 million in June, up 42 per cent from the corresponding period last year.
The embassy said its review of figures published by Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated that differences between the two countries’ records stemmed from varying statistical methodologies.
It maintained that Chinese investment in Nigeria is primarily in the form of long-term direct investment focused on the real economy, particularly manufacturing and infrastructure.
The clarification follows reports that capital inflows from China into Nigeria fell by 40.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 despite the Federal Government’s announcement that it had secured over $20 billion in investment commitments from Chinese investors across manufacturing, energy, mining, agriculture and other sectors.
According to the NBS Capital Importation Report for Q1 2026, capital importation from China declined to $9.39 million, a 40.89 per cent drop from the corresponding period in 2025. The figure also represented a 13.69 per cent decline from the $10.88 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025, suggesting weaker Chinese capital inflows on both annual and quarterly bases.
Responding to the figures, the embassy said Chinese statistics showed that China’s direct investment in Nigeria exceeded $50 million in the first quarter of 2026, broadly unchanged from the same period last year.
It explained that the apparent discrepancy reflects differences in statistical methods, noting that Chinese investments are largely long-term direct investments aimed at supporting Nigeria’s industrialisation and sustainable economic development.
The embassy added that similar disparities had occurred in previous years. While Nigerian data recorded Chinese capital importation at $38.66 million in 2025, Chinese records showed direct investment of about $390 million during the same period.
Highlighting the activities of Chinese firms in Nigeria, the embassy said cumulative investment in the Lekki Free Trade Zone has exceeded $1.5 billion, creating more than 8,000 direct jobs, with seven new enterprises established in the first half of 2026.
It said Chinese companies continue to contribute to Nigeria’s economy by driving industrial growth, generating tax revenue, creating employment opportunities and improving livelihoods.
The embassy expressed confidence that economic and trade cooperation between both countries would continue to strengthen, describing their economies as highly complementary.
It also noted that since May 1, 2026, China has granted zero-tariff treatment on 100 per cent of tariff lines for products originating from Nigeria and 52 other African countries with diplomatic relations with China, adding that the policy is already boosting trade between both nations.
