Nigeria UK Trade Hits £7.6bn in 2025 as Crude Oil Exports Lead the Charge
By Aboki Forex —
Trade between Nigeria and the United Kingdom climbed to £7.6 billion in 2025, driven largely by rising crude oil exports. New figures from the UK Department for Business and Trade show that Britain imported £719.2 million worth of Nigerian crude oil, accounting for nearly half of all goods imported from Africa’s largest oil producer.
The UK also bought £514.3 million worth of refined petroleum products and £167.8 million worth of gas from Nigeria. Total trade in goods and services between the two countries rose by 10.8 per cent, or £737 million, compared with the previous reporting period ending in the fourth quarter of 2024.
British exports to Nigeria also rose sharply, led by refined fuel products valued at £1.1 billion. Other top UK exports included toilet and cleansing products worth £70.2 million, textile fabrics valued at £45.7 million, industrial machinery worth £42.2 million, and beverages and tobacco products totalling £34.6 million.
Analysts say the numbers reinforce Nigeria’s strategic importance to the UK’s energy security, especially as European economies look to diversify energy sources amid global disruptions and geopolitical tensions.
Beyond oil and gas, Nigerian exports to the UK remained limited. Agricultural commodities such as coffee, tea, and cocoa generated £17.9 million, while processed fertilisers contributed £17.2 million. Overall, UK imports from Nigeria stood at £2.1 billion in 2025, an 11.3 per cent increase from the previous year. Goods accounted for £1.5 billion, or 71 per cent of total imports, while services contributed £614 million.
Trade Surplus Widens
The UK maintained a significant trade surplus with Nigeria, which widened to £3.3 billion in 2025 from £3.0 billion recorded a year earlier. The UK’s goods surplus with Nigeria fell slightly to £259 million, but its services surplus rose strongly to £3.1 billion, reflecting the growing role of finance, consulting, education, and other professional services in the bilateral relationship.
The latest figures come as Nigeria intensifies efforts to expand non-oil exports and reduce dependence on crude revenues, even as petroleum products continue to dominate its international trade profile.