Nigeria imported raw materials worth N1.72tn from Asia in the first half of 2025, according to new figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics. The number shows how strongly the country still depends on foreign supplies to run its industries. The figure represents 48.84 per cent of all raw material imports recorded within the period.
The amount from Asia was also 138.8 per cent higher than the next major import region, America, which recorded N722.29bn during the period. Economists and manufacturers who spoke with the source said the trend shows that Nigeria’s industrial sector lacks the capacity to extract and process raw materials locally. They warned that the situation could worsen the country’s trade imbalance, weaken the naira, and increase the cost of production for local factories.
They explained that Nigeria’s industries depend too heavily on foreign markets for basic inputs, and without a solid plan to grow local extraction and processing, the country would remain exposed to global supply shocks and price fluctuations.
A breakdown of the NBS data showed that Nigeria imported N3.53tn worth of raw materials in the first six months of the year. This included N1.81tn in the first quarter and N1.72tn in the second quarter. Asia dominated the sources of these imports, followed by Europe with N683.27bn, Africa with N395.08bn, and Oceania with N5.02bn.
Among the major items imported was cane sugar for refining, valued at N158.96bn, mainly from Brazil. Additives for lubricating oils followed, including N33.63bn from the United States, N26.60bn from the United Kingdom, and N16.53bn from France. Sheets for veneering, imported mostly from China, were valued at N55.86bn and ranked among the major goods brought in from Asia.
The Director of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, said the dominance of Asia—especially China—was not surprising. He explained that China has become Nigeria’s biggest supplier of industrial raw materials because of its strong manufacturing capacity and cheaper production costs.
“Asia is Nigeria’s leading trade partner, and China is our biggest import partner,” he said. “Most chemicals and plastics used by our industries come from China and India because they are cheaper there. Nigerian businesses make decisions based on cost.”
He added that while relying too much on one region poses a “concentration risk,” companies often choose suppliers that offer the lowest prices. Yusuf encouraged manufacturers to consider developing alternative supply routes to avoid future disruptions.
A former Vice President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, John Aluya, said China’s dominance in global manufacturing is so strong that even advanced countries depend on its factories. He stressed that the challenge facing Nigeria is not the importation itself but the country’s weak extraction and processing systems.
Aluya explained that Nigeria has several natural resources but lacks modern extraction equipment. He added that poor electricity supply also affects the ability of factories to process raw materials efficiently.
“Our extraction system is crude, and our processing capacity is low,” he said. “Energy is a major challenge. You cannot run machines effectively without stable power.”
A professor of mechatronics and agricultural machinery at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Ozoemena Ani, said the high level of import dependence reflects years of failed industrialisation. He explained that the huge import bill weakens foreign exchange earnings and contributes to the devaluation of the naira.
Ani said Nigeria has the human resources and natural endowments needed to industrialise but suffers from inconsistent government policies and weak political will. He mentioned the non-functional Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Company as an example of abandoned industrial potential.
He advised the government to consider adopting stronger protectionist policies similar to the early industrial strategy used by China. According to him, China boosted its manufacturing sector by prioritising local production and reducing reliance on foreign goods in the early stages of its economic development.
The experts agreed that Nigeria needs to strengthen local extraction, processing, and manufacturing capacity urgently. They warned that if necessary reforms are not implemented, the country’s heavy dependence on imported raw materials will continue to grow and put more pressure on the economy.
