US Records $576 Million Trade Surplus with Nigeria in 2025 as Exports Surge, Imports Decline

The United States swung to a $576 million trade surplus with Nigeria in the first half of 2025, marking a sharp turnaround from a $779 million deficit in the same period of 2024, according to fresh data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis. The shift reflects a surge in American exports to Nigeria and a simultaneous drop in Nigerian shipments to the U.S.

Between January and June 2025, U.S. exports to Nigeria climbed 41%, rising from $2.36 billion to $3.34 billion year-on-year. Conversely, imports from Nigeria fell 12%, sliding from $3.14 billion to $2.76 billion. This $1.3 billion swing flipped the trade balance decisively in favor of Washington.

The monthly data highlights the intensity of the shift. In June 2025, U.S. exports to Nigeria soared 196% to $919 million, compared to $310 million a year earlier, while imports inched up 29% to $639 million. This reversal transformed a $182 million deficit in June 2024 into a $280 million surplus in June 2025.

Analysts attribute the reversal to Nigeria’s growing dependence on U.S. manufactured goods, machinery, vehicles, and pharmaceuticals, driven by foreign exchange constraints that have stifled local production. A trade expert noted, “Nigeria’s shift is among the most dramatic across African markets, signaling Washington’s deeper commercial penetration.”

Despite Nigeria’s turnaround, the overall U.S.–Africa trade balance remains negative, with a $3.69 billion deficit in H1 2025, up from $3.61 billion in 2024. Washington introduced “reciprocal tariffs” on August 7, 2025, placing Nigeria’s country rate at 15%, slightly higher than April’s 14% under the “Liberation Day” order. Experts warn this surplus underscores Nigeria’s vulnerability: “The country imports more finished goods than it exports crude and other products, a trend that threatens long-term economic stability.”

source: The sun