NBS: Nigeria’s exports outpace imports, trade surplus hit N3.5trn in 9 months

By Abubakar Yunus

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says Nigeria recorded a N3.5 trillion trade surplus between January and September of 2023.
NBS made this known in its foreign trade report for the third quarter (Q3) of 2023 on Monday.
In the nine months of the year, according to the bureau, Nigeria’s exports totalled N23.3 trillion and total imports stood at N19.7 trillion — which gives a trade surplus of N3.5 trillion.
A trade surplus is an economic indicator of a positive trade balance in which the exports of a nation outweigh its imports.
On foreign trade for Q1 2023, NBS said total exports were N6.49 trillion, and imports value was N5.56 trillion.
The nation’s total trade was N12.05 trillion in Q1 — higher than the value (N7.86 trillion) recorded in the corresponding period (Q1) of 2022.
In Q2 2023, the country’s entire trade stood at N12.16 trillion, with total exports at N6.44 trillion and imports amounting to N5.73 trillion.
In Q3 2023, there was an improvement as the total trade stood at N18.80 trillion, with exports and imports totalling N10.35 trillion and N8.46 trillion respectively.
“Nigeria’s total trade in the third quarter of 2023 stood at N18,804.29 billion. Exports were valued at N10,346.60 billion while total imports stood at N8,457.68 billion,” the report reads.
“Total exports increased by 60.78% compared to the amount recorded in the second quarter of 2023 (N6,435.13 billion) as well as by 74.36% compared to the corresponding quarter in 2022 (N5,934.15 billion).
“Similarly, total imports increased by 47.70% compared to the value recorded in the second quarter of 2023 (N5,726.25billion) and by 33.33% when compared to the value recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2022 (N6,343.53 billion).”
Nigeria’s export landscape underwent a significant shift in the third quarter of 2023, with Spain emerging as the country’s top export destination, accounting for a remarkable 12.31 percent of total exports, valued at N1.27 trillion.
This was followed by India with N1.02 billion (9.81 percent), Netherlands with N988.66 billion (9.56 percent), Indonesia with N758.59 billion (7.33 percent) and France with N720.45 billion (6.96 percent) of total exports.
These five countries collectively accounted for 45.98 percent of Nigeria’s total exports, demonstrating the country’s growing presence in diverse global markets.