Nigeria has recorded a trade surplus of N5.81tn in the third quarter of 2024, reflecting a remarkable rise in export earnings, according to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics.
However, the surplus recorded in Q3 2024 is far lower than the N6.95tn trade surplus recorded in the previous quarter.
The NBS in its foreign trade statistics report on Friday noted that Nigeria’s merchandise trade for the Q3 2024 was a total value of N35.16tn, marking an 81.35 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023 and a 13.26 per cent rise from the previous quarter.
Total exports for the quarter surged by 98.00 per cent to N20.49tn, compared to N10.35tn in Q3 2023.
This marks a 16.76 per cent increase from N17.55tn in the preceding quarter, Q2 2024.
The NBS report read, “Total exports in Q3 2024 were valued at N20.49tn, reflecting a 98.00 per cent rise compared to N10.35tn in the corresponding quarter of 2023 and a 16.76 per cent increase compared to N17.55tn in Q2 2024.”
The significant boost in exports was primarily driven by Nigeria’s crude oil and natural gas exports, which remain key contributors to the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
Crude oil exports alone amounted to N13.41tn, a 57.06 per cent increase from N8.54tn in Q3 2023.
Exports of other oil products, including liquefied natural gas and petroleum gases, also saw a massive 303.93 per cent rise, totalling N4.58tn.
In addition to oil exports, agricultural exports saw an extraordinary increase of 301.87 per cent, reaching N884.07bn, compared to N219.99bn in Q3 2023.
This growth was despite a slight decline of 9.20 per cent from the previous quarter.
Exports of solid minerals and manufactured goods also performed well, rising by 86.58 per cent and 419.93 per cent respectively.
Spain was Nigeria’s largest export partner in Q3 2024, followed by the United States, France, the Netherlands, and Italy.
These countries benefitted from Nigeria’s crude oil, LNG, and other petroleum exports.
On the imports side, Nigeria’s total import bill for Q3 2024 stood at N14.67tn, an increase of 62.30 per cent from N9.04tn recorded in the same period in 2023.
Compared to the previous quarter, imports rose by 8.71 per cent.
The report read, “The value of total imports stood at N14.67tn in the third quarter of 2024, representing a rise of 62.30 per cent from the value recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2023 (N9.04tn) and increased by 8.71 per cent compared with the value recorded in Q2, 2024 (N13.5tn).”
The rise in imports was driven largely by manufactured goods, which increased by 76.44 per cent to N6.98tn, and raw materials, which saw a 66.11 per cent rise to N1.58tn.
Other notable imports included agricultural products, valued at N882.24bn, reflecting a 37.06 per cent increase from Q3 2023.
China continued to dominate Nigeria’s import trade, followed by India, Belgium, the United States, and Malta.
Key imported goods included motor spirit, gas oil, durum wheat, and used vehicles.