Nigeria recorded N2.03 trillion in agricultural imports during the first half of 2026, an 8.5% year-on-year decline from the N2.22 trillion reported in the same period of 2025. The figures are drawn from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Foreign Trade Statistics reports for the first and second quarters, as analysed by Nairametrics.
On a quarterly basis, agricultural imports stood at N827.72 billion in Q1 2026, below the N1.04 trillion posted in Q1 2025. In Q2 2026, inbound agricultural products climbed to N1.20 trillion, slightly above the N1.18 trillion recorded in Q2 2025. The second-quarter performance represented a 45.4% quarter-on-quarter increase from the opening three months of the year.
Agricultural imports accounted for 6.08% of Nigeria's total imports in Q1 2026, down from 6.71% in the corresponding quarter of 2025. The share rose to 8.35% in Q2 2026, which remained higher than the 7.75% recorded in Q2 2025.
The decline in half-year import value coincided with continued agricultural export activity. Key commodities shipped out in Q2 2026 included standard quality cocoa beans valued at N154.31 billion, sesame seeds at N96.03 billion, superior quality cocoa beans at N58.82 billion, and soya beans excluding seeds at N50.22 billion. Other exports comprised soya bean flours and meals worth 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.
While lower agricultural imports may signal stronger domestic supply or shifting demand, the data alone do not establish that local production has replaced inbound shipments.
Separately, agriculture remains Nigeria's largest employer. NBS data indicate that 25,341,219 people were engaged in agriculture, forestry, and fishing activities, equivalent to 30.1% of the total workforce. Wholesale and retail trade followed with 23,133,193 workers, or 27.5%.
On investment flows, the agricultural sector attracted $167.25 million in capital importation in 2025. Nigeria's total capital importation reached $6.44 billion in Q4 2025, a 26.61% year-on-year increase from $5.09 billion recorded in Q4 2024.
