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Nigeria’s agricultural imports fell 8.5 percent year-on-year to N2.03 trillion in H1 2026, from N2.22 trillion a year earlier.
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Imports rose 45.4 percent quarter-on-quarter to N1.20 trillion in Q2, but remained below the previous year’s half-year level.
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Strong agricultural exports, particularly cocoa and sesame, highlight the sector’s growing role in Nigeria’s non-oil trade despite continued reliance on imported food and farm products.
September 14, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s agricultural imports fell by 8.5 percent year-on-year to N2.03 trillion in the first half of 2026, despite a sharp increase in import activity during the second quarter.
An analysis of the Q1 and Q2 2026 Foreign Trade Statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that agricultural imports stood at N827.72 billion in Q1 and N1.20 trillion in Q2.
The combined H1 figure compares with N2.22 trillion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, when imports stood at N1.04 trillion in Q1 and N1.18 trillion in Q2.
On a quarter-on-quarter basis, agricultural imports increased by 45.4 percent between Q1 and Q2, reflecting stronger inbound trade during the second quarter.
However, the increase was not enough to offset the lower value recorded in the first quarter, leaving the half-year import bill below its 2025 level.
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Agricultural products accounted for 6.08 percent of Nigeria’s total imports in Q1 2026, down from 6.71 percent a year earlier.
Their share rose to 8.35 percent in Q2, compared with 7.75 percent in Q2 2025.
Agriculture exports gain momentum
The decline in agricultural imports comes alongside stronger activity in the export of several Nigerian agricultural commodities, reinforcing the sector’s importance to the country’s non-oil trade.
In Q2 2026, standard quality cocoa beans were among the leading agricultural exports, with shipments valued at N154.31 billion. Sesame seeds followed at N96.03 billion, while superior quality cocoa beans were valued at N58.82 billion.
Other major exports included soya beans excluding seeds at N50.22 billion, flours and meals of soya beans at N36.41 billion, cut flowers and flower buds at N31.43 billion, natural cocoa butter at N27.60 billion and crude shea oil at N12.66 billion.
The export figures show that cocoa, sesame, soya and other agricultural commodities continue to provide important sources of non-oil export earnings.
However, the stronger export performance does not necessarily mean Nigeria is becoming less dependent on imported agricultural products.
Domestic supply remains key
The 8.5 percent decline in the agricultural import bill could reflect stronger domestic supply, changes in prices, exchange-rate effects, shifts in consumption or lower import demand.
The trade data alone does not establish that local production has replaced imports.
That distinction is important for an economy where agriculture remains a major source of employment and livelihoods.
NBS data showed that 25.34 million people were engaged in agriculture, forestry and fishing in 2023, representing 30.1 percent of the country’s total workforce.
The sector employed more people than wholesale and retail trade, which accounted for 23.13 million workers or 27.5 percent of the workforce.
The latest trade figures therefore present both an opportunity and a challenge. Nigeria is importing fewer agricultural products in value terms while exporting larger quantities of commodities such as cocoa and sesame.
The bigger question is whether the country can convert that export momentum and its large agricultural workforce into higher domestic production, processing capacity and value-added exports, while steadily reducing its dependence on imported agricultural products.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.
