Nigeria-EU Agritrade Falls 26% in July 2025

The European Union’s (EU) agrifood trade report for July 2025 shows a 26% year-to-date decline in agricultural exports to Nigeria, reflecting shifting trade patterns and sourcing decisions.

In the first half of 2024, Nigeria imported over €940 million worth of agricultural goods from EU member states. The bulk of these imports were durum wheat from Poland and Lithuania, alongside frozen processed fish from the Faroe Islands.

By the second quarter of 2025, however, Nigeria had diversified its import sources, turning to Canada and Russia for durum wheat, while continuing to rely on the Faroe Islands and the Netherlands for processed fish. This shift led to a sharp €248 million reduction in imports from the EU, a figure that, while seemingly positive, does not necessarily signal progress in local agricultural production or processing capacity.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s overall agricultural imports actually rose by 32.6% year-on-year in Q2 2025, and by 14.35% compared to the previous quarter. This indicates that the fall in EU trade is more about changing suppliers than reducing import dependence.

In contrast, the Ivory Coast continues to strengthen its trade position with the EU, buoyed by rising cocoa prices. The country’s export value to the bloc grew by 59% between January and July 2025, from €3.65 billion in 2024 to €5.8 billion.

Nigeria’s agricultural exports to the EU also saw some growth, reaching €1.79 billion during the same period—but that figure still pales beside its neighbour’s performance.

Looking Beyond Europe

Nigeria’s export focus in 2025 leaned heavily toward Asian markets, where a majority of its agricultural products were shipped. However, the data raises an important question: are these Asian destinations as profitable as Europe and other Western markets?

As global trade routes evolve, Nigeria faces a critical balancing act—diversifying markets without diminishing value. To remain competitive, the country must strengthen its agricultural value chains, improve export quality standards, and position itself to capture greater earnings, whether from Europe, Asia, or beyond.