…As Implementation Of Zero-Tariff Policy Gains Momentum
Chinese imports from Nigeria surged by 81 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to $2.25 billion in the first half of this year, following the country’s implementation of a zero-tariff policy on products from 53 African countries, including Nigeria.
The Consul-General of China in Lagos, Yan Yuqing, who made this disclosure on at the 2026 Nigeria International New Energy and Power Industry Expo and Nigeria International Lighting Expo Lunch Conference, confirmed the policy was already producing tangible results barely three and a half months of its implementation.
The envoy disclosed that total bilateral trade between China and Nigeria rose to $17.4 billion in H1 2026, representing a 35 per cent increase compared with the corresponding period of 2025.
- Advertisement -
According to her, “Chinese imports from Nigeria accounted for $2.25 billion of the trade, rising by 81 per cent year-on-year, with monthly growth exceeding 40 per cent in both May and June.”
Yan said the figures showed the potential of the zero-tariff policy to expand market access for Nigerian products and further strengthen economic ties between both countries.
The Consul-General recalled that China commenced the full implementation of the zero-tariff policy on May 1, covering all tariff lines for products from 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations.
She explained that the fiscal measure was part of China’s broader efforts to deepen economic cooperation with Sub-Saharan African countries and promote the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan for 2025–2027.
Yan said that the policy came at the beginning of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period and was aimed at boosting the momentum of shared pursuit of modernisation between China and African countries.
The Consul General also highlighted the broader expansion in China-Nigeria economic relations. She said bilateral trade exceeded $28 billion in 2025, representing growth of more than 28 per cent, YoY while China’s direct investment in Nigeria reached $690 million, an increase of 103 per cent over the previous year.
Yan described Nigeria as China’s largest engineering contracting market in Africa, its second-largest export market, second largest trading partner and a major investment destination in the continent.
