Nigeria imported £1.1 billion worth of refined petroleum products from the United Kingdom in the year ending December 2025, highlighting the country’s continued reliance on fuel imports despite ongoing efforts to boost domestic refining capacity.
According to the latest Trade and Investment Factsheet released by the UK Department for Business and Trade, refined oil was the UK’s largest export to Nigeria during the period, accounting for 60.5 per cent of total British goods exports to the country. The value of these exports increased by 9.4 per cent compared to the previous year, reflecting sustained demand for imported fuel even as local refining initiatives expand.
The figures come amid the Federal Government’s drive to reduce fuel imports through increased production from domestic refineries, including the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and rehabilitated state-owned facilities.
The report showed that refined petroleum products far outpaced all other UK exports to Nigeria. Toilet and cleansing products ranked second at £70.2 million, representing just 4 per cent of total goods exports, followed by textile fabrics (£45.7 million), industrial machinery (£42.2 million), and beverages and tobacco (£34.6 million).
Overall, UK goods exports to Nigeria reached £1.8 billion in the four quarters ending Q4 2025, with refined oil contributing roughly three-fifths of that total.
Bilateral trade between both countries also recorded significant growth. Total trade in goods and services rose by 10.8 per cent to £7.6 billion, up from £6.8 billion in 2024. UK exports to Nigeria increased to £5.5 billion, while imports from Nigeria climbed to £2.1 billion.
Services remained the dominant component of UK exports, accounting for £3.7 billion or 67.7 per cent of total exports, while goods exports made up the remaining £1.8 billion.
The UK recorded a trade surplus of £3.3 billion with Nigeria during the review period, an increase from £3.0 billion a year earlier.
Nigeria ranked as the UK’s 38th-largest trading partner globally and emerged as its 28th-largest export destination and 48th-largest source of imports.
The report further revealed steady growth in bilateral trade over the past decade, with the UK increasing its share of Nigeria’s import market to 10.9 per cent in 2024, up from 9.7 per cent in 2023. Its share of Nigeria’s goods imports also rose from 4.1 per cent to 5.1 per cent.
The trade figures come as the Nigerian government intensifies engagement with British businesses and investors. Recently, the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) met with representatives of 30 UK companies to advance trade and investment agreements reached during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the UK, with the aim of converting diplomatic commitments into tangible business opportunities.
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