By Peter Omopo | September 14, 2025
The United States has cut imports of Nigerian goods by more than 40 per cent within a single month, raising fresh concerns about Nigeria’s dependence on its long-standing trade partner.
Latest data from the US Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis show that imports of Nigerian goods fell from $639m in June 2025 to $379m in July — a 41 per cent plunge.
The decline was mirrored by a drop in US exports to Nigeria, which slid from $919m in June to $584m in July. Despite this, Washington maintained a surplus of $206m in July, compared with $280m the previous month.
From January to July 2025, the US exported goods worth $3.92bn to Nigeria while importing $3.14bn, leaving it with a year-to-date surplus of $781m. The July slump, however, highlights Nigeria’s shrinking access to the US market, where it previously enjoyed consistent surpluses.
Broader African trade with Washington painted a mixed picture. US imports from the continent rose to $4.47bn in July, up from $3.67bn in June, while exports slipped slightly to $3.30bn. This widened America’s trade deficit with Africa to $1.17bn in July from $302m the month before.
Country-level data revealed diverging trends. The US recorded a $557m surplus with Egypt in July but deepened its deficit with South Africa, where imports hit $1.99bn against exports of $565m. Washington’s deficit with Pretoria has now reached $7.74bn so far in 2025.
The steep fall in Nigerian exports coincides with tariff hikes imposed by US President Donald Trump. In late July, Trump signed an executive order raising tariffs on Nigerian exports from 14 per cent in April to 15 per cent, as part of his “reciprocal” tariff regime targeting countries running surpluses against the US. While crude oil — Nigeria’s dominant export — has been partly exempted, uncertainty over non-oil tariffs has dampened American demand.
Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said Abuja would not retaliate but would press on with reforms.
“Nigeria remains responsive; we’re not reacting. We’re focused on President Bola Tinubu’s eight-point agenda. We will continue to support domestic investors and expand market access for Nigerian businesses,” Oduwole said.
She stressed that Nigeria was strengthening its African Continental Free Trade Area strategy, boosting non-oil exports, and seeking new partnerships in Brazil, China, Japan, and the UAE.
Development economist Dr Aliyu Ilias described the tariff shock as an opportunity. “Trump’s tariff is not only for Nigeria. The advantage is that we are now exporting more overall, which is positive. Nigeria must leverage BRICS and other alliances to reduce vulnerability,” he said.
Dr Muda Yusuf, CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, argued that Nigeria’s trade exposure to the US remained limited. “Our exports to the US are dominated by crude oil and a few commodities. The bigger challenge for Nigeria is Washington’s visa policy, which restricts business interactions and investment inflows,” he said.
While July’s sharp fall underscores Nigeria’s vulnerability to external shocks, experts say it could spur diversification into new markets under AfCFTA and strengthen resilience through non-oil exports.
For now, the decline in US imports stands as both a warning of Nigeria’s over-reliance on oil and an opening to reshape its global trade strategy.
