Economy
Manufactured Goods Imports into Nigeria Drop 5.1%
By Sodeinde Temidayo David
The value of manufactured goods imports into Nigeria in the second quarter of 2021 depreciated by 5.1 per cent to N4.3 trillion, though it accounted for 61.86 per cent of the total imports of N7.0 trillion in the period under review.
Data analysed by Business Post from the figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) last week showed that used vehicles were mainly imported from the United States and Italy worth N33.8 billion and N5.7 billion respectively.
Also, during the quarter, machines for reception, conversion and transmission were imported from China, Sweden and Hong Kong in values worth N118.7 billion, N9.0 billion and 5.2 billion, while motorcycles worth N32.7 billion and N61.8 billion were imported from China and India.
It was further discovered that Herbicides worth N81.2 billion were imported from China, while polypropylene worth N35.8 billion, N15.5 billion and N9.5 billion came into the country from South Africa, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.
Between April and June 2021, the stats office said the value of raw material imported into the country increased by 25.6 per cent compared to Q1 2021 and 47.3 per cent compared to Q2 2020, while imported agricultural products increased by 3.5 per cent on a quarter-on-quarter basis and rose by 56.9 per cent on a year-on-year basis.
In a similar trend, there was a 21.4 per cent increase in the value of solid minerals imports compared to Q1 2021 and 68.3 per cent year-on-year, while other oil products imports rose by 13.3 per cent quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year by 218.5 per cent, with the value of energy goods imports decreasing by 94.6 per cent in Q2, 2021 against the worth recorded in Q1,2021 and 88.7 per cent compared to the corresponding quarter of 2020.
The NBS said the total value of imports in the period under consideration rose year-on-year by 67.5 per cent as the chunk of the country’s trade came from imports, accounting for 57.8 per cent.
On a quarter-on-quarter basis, trade grew by 1.5 per cent, driven further by the opening of the Nigerian borders after the pandemic and as foreign relationships continued to stabilize.
Breaking down the value of imports by the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC), it was revealed that machinery and transport equipment was responsible for the major increase in import value as it accounted for N2.5 trillion or 35.9 per cent of total import trade.
This was followed by chemicals and related products at N1.3 trillion or 18.3 per cent, as well as mineral fuel at N1.1 trillion or 15.98 per cent.
Also, imported food and live animals recorded N951.28 billion or 13.7 per cent, while manufactured goods accounted for N640.5 billion or 9.2 per cent.
In terms of the imports trading partners, the majority of the goods imported during the quarter was from China with a value of N2.1 trillion or 29.9 per cent, followed by India at N570.01 billion or 8.20 per cent, the Netherlands at N557.2billion or 8.02 per cent, and the United States at N526.92 billion or 7.58 per cent.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc kept the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange in the green territory by 0.04 per cent on Friday, July 16.
The securities depository company added N2.50 to its share price to settle at N95.14 per unit from the preceding session’s N92.64 per unit.
However, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc slid during the session by N5.85 to N141.81 per share from N147.66 per share.
But when the bourse closed for the day, the market capitalisation increased by N1.08 billion to N2.593 trillion from N2.592 trillion, while the NASD Security Index (NSI) appreciated by 1.80 points to 4,320.67 points from 4,318.87 points.
During the session, the value of securities slid by 38.9 per cent to N63.5 million from N104.1 million, the volume of securities went down by 34.5 per cent to 1.2 million units from 4.8 million units, and the number of deals declined by 15.4 per cent to 33 deals from 39 deals.
Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc was the most traded stock by value on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units valued at N8.4 billion, followed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units worth N6.5 billion, and CSCS Plc with 75.4 million units traded for N5.3 billion.
GNI Plc also ended the day as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units exchanged for N8.4 billion, followed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units sold for N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units transacted for N415.7 million.
By Dipo Olowookere
The bulls regained control of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited on Friday after surrendering power to the bears a day earlier as a result of mild selling pressure.
Yesterday, the Nigerian bourse rebounded by 0.54 per cent, mainly due to the gains recorded by First Holdco and others.
Data harvested by Business Post indicated that the industrial goods and energy sectors were flat, while the banking index chalked up 3.13 per cent. The insurance space expanded by 1.08 per cent, and the consumer goods counter rose by 0.21 per cent.
Consequently, the All-Share Index (ASI) went up by 1,316.52 points to 243,462.13 points from 242,145.61 points, and the market capitalisation grew by N850 billion to N157.057 trillion from N156.207 trillion.
The market breadth index was bullish during the last trading session of this week, printing 31 appreciating stocks and 23 depreciating stocks, representing strong investor sentiment.
First Holdco led the advancers’ log after it climbed 9.97 per cent to N95.95, Haldane McCall appreciated by 9.94 per cent to N3.65, LivingTrust Mortgage Bank soared by 9.73 per cent to N3.72, LASACO Assurance jumped by 5.26 per cent to N2.00, and Thomas Wyatt gained 5.10 per cent to quote at N3.09.
On the flip side, Red Star Express declined by 9.50 per cent to N20.00, Omatek slipped by 6.08 per cent to N1.70, C&I Leasing shrank by 5.93 per cent to N5.55, Jaiz Bank crashed by 5.03 per cent to N8.50, and Livestock Feed fell by 3.89 per cent to N8.65.
As for the activity chart, market participants bought and sold 685.9 million equities for N42.7 billion in 44,134 deals on Friday versus the 498.5 million equities worth N34.9 billion traded in 39,484 deals on Thursday, implying a rise in the trading volume, value, and number of deals by 37.59 per cent, 22.35 per cent, and 11.78 per cent, respectively.
Investors’ darling for the day was First Holdco, with a turnover of 225.9 billion units valued at N21.0 billion, Guinea Insurance sold 53.4 million units for N45.2 million, Zenith Bank traded 41.5 million units worth N4.7 billion, Access Holdings exchanged 29.1 million units valued at N720.6 million, and UBA exchanged 27.5 million units for N1.2 billion.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has appealed to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to deepen its sensitisation on the newly introduced Green Tax Surcharge Policy.
The chairman of APFFLON, Mr Akeem Ayobiojo, made this plea on behalf of his colleagues on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at the Customs House in Abuja, during a stakeholders’ engagement with the agency.
He also called for improvements in the administration of Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports and Post Clearance Audit and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Mr Ayobiojo stated that freight forwarders were happy to work with the customs, commending the organisation for implementing Chapter 99, describing it as a major relief for manufacturers.
He, however, emphasised that a deeper understanding of the new tax was necessary for his members, saying more predictable procedures would reduce delays and unexpected costs for importers and freight forwarders.
In his remarks, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Adewale Adeniyi, assured manufacturers, freight forwarders and other players in the nation’s trade sector that the NCS would continue to engage them on fiscal policies affecting their businesses, saying sustained dialogue remains key to resolving implementation challenges and improving the country’s trading environment.
He also promised them the service’s resolve to enhance and facilitate trade, acknowledging that, “Your feedback is important because it helps us understand what is happening in the field, and where necessary, we will take your concerns to the Federal Ministry of Finance and other relevant government institutions.”
Speaking about Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), Mr Adeniyi further explained that Nigeria would not lower the standards required under the Authorised Economic Operator Programme as the initiative is guided by global benchmarks established by the World Customs Organisation (WCO).
On her part, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs for Tariff and Trade, Ms Caroline Niagwan, clarified that electric vehicles can be imported without payment of duty only by holders of Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC) issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
She also urged importers facing classification disputes to take advantage of the Advance Ruling system, noting, “Once an Advance Ruling is issued based on genuine documentation, importers have certainty on classification, valuation or origin before the goods arrive, thereby reducing unnecessary disputes during clearance.”
