Nigeria’s crude oil exports played a significant role in raising total trade between Nigeria and the United Kingdom to £7.6bn in 2025, according to the new trade and investment figures released by the UK Department for Business and Trade.
A fact sheet seen in Abuja on Wednesday showed that crude was still Nigeria’s biggest export to the UK. The UK bought £719.2m worth of crude from Nigeria, making up almost half of all goods imported from the country. The UK also imported £514.3m worth of refined oil products and £167.8m worth of gas from Nigeria.
Other Nigerian exports into the UK market included coffee, tea, and cocoa valued at £17.9m, alongside processed fertilisers worth £17.2m. The report revealed that total trade in goods and services between both countries rose by 10.8 per cent or £737m in current prices compared with the four quarters to the end of Q4 2024.
UK imports from Nigeria amounted to £2.1bn during the period, representing an increase of 11.3 per cent or £216m in current prices. Goods accounted for £1.5bn or 71.0 per cent of imports, while services contributed £614m or 29.0 per cent.
Imports of goods from Nigeria rose significantly by 18.8 per cent or £238m, while imports of services declined by 3.5 per cent or £22m over the same period.
On the export side, the UK exported goods and services valued at £5.5bn to Nigeria, up by 10.5 per cent or £521m in current prices from the previous year. Goods accounted for £1.8bn or 32.3 per cent of exports, while services made up £3.7bn or 67.7 per cent.
UK exports to Nigeria were led by refined oil products valued at £1.1bn, accounting for more than 60 per cent of all goods exports. Other export categories included toilet and cleansing preparations at £70.2m, textile fabrics at £45.7m, general industrial machinery at £42.2m, and beverages and tobacco products at £34.6m.
The report also showed that the UK recorded a total trade surplus of £3.3bn with Nigeria, compared with £3.0bn in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2024. While the surplus in goods declined to £259m from £332m, the services surplus increased to £3.1bn from £2.7bn in the corresponding period.
The fact sheet read: “Total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between the UK and Nigeria was £7.6bn in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2025, an increase of 10.8 per cent or £737m in current prices from the four quarters to the end of Q4 2024. Of this £7.6bn:
“Total UK exports to Nigeria amounted to £5.5bn in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2025 (an increase of 10.5 per cent or £521m in current prices, compared to the four quarters to the end of Q4 2024;
“Total UK imports from Nigeria amounted to £2.1bn in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2025 (an increase of 11.3 per cent or £216m in current prices, compared to the four quarters to the end of Q4 2024,” the report stated.
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