Economy
Nigeria Grows Total Trade by 14% to N36.2trn in 2019
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s total trade rose by 14 percent in 2019 as the country recorded a total of N36.2 trillion in both its import and export for the year.
This was disclosed in the Foreign Trade in Good Statistics for the fourth quarter released on Friday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), where it showed that there were higher exports value than imports in the year despite imports recording a higher rate.
In the year 2019, there was a total of N19.2 trillion in exports while total imports stood at N16.9 trillion, resulting in a trade balance of N2.3 trillion.
According to the country’s statistical authority, imports rose by 28.8 percent in 2019 over 2018 while exports rose by only 3.6 percent and the trade balance was 58.4 percent less than what was published in 2018.
In the fourth quarter of 2019, the value of total trade was N10.1 trillion, or 10.2 percent higher than the value recorded in quarter three, 2019 and 25.9 percent higher than in quarter four, 2018.
According to the NBS report, Nigeria’s merchandise trade grew in Q4 2019 but imports rose faster, exceeding falling exports.
It stated in the report that the increase in imports recorded during the year led the nation to record a first negative trade balance in almost three years.
“The faster increase in imports resulted in a negative trade balance of N579.06 billion during the quarter under review, the first since mid- 2016,” the report said.
It was disclosed that the value of the export component totalling N4.8 trillion, fell by 9.8 percent compared to Q3 2019 but rose by 7.1 percent when compared with Q4 2018.
On the other hand, the import, with a total of N5.3 trillion increased by 37.2 percent in last year’s fourth quarter compared to Q3 2019 and 49.3 percent against the fourth quarter of 2018.
Giving a further break down of imports, the NBS report stated that, “The value of imported agricultural goods decreased by 2.8 percent in quarter four, 2019 compared to quarter three, but rose 6.6 per cent compared to the corresponding quarter in 2018.
“The value of agricultural imports in 2019 was 12.7 percent higher than in 2018.
“Raw material imports were 1.63 percent higher in quarter four, 2019 compared to quarter three and 8.47 percent higher compared to quarter four, 2018.
“Imports of raw materials grew 19.2 percent in 2019 compared to 2018,” it said.
The report also said that solid minerals imports decreased in value by 6.98 percent in quarter four, 2019 relative to quarter three, 2019 but were higher by 5.11 percent relative to quarter four, 2018.
However, the value of solid minerals imports rose by 28.1 percent in 2019 compared to 2018.
The NBS said that the value of imported manufactured goods was 40.74 percent higher in quarter four, 2019 than the level attained in quarter three 2019 and 77.50 percent more than in quarter four, 2018.
The report noted that this was due to the importation of other electrodiagnostic apparatus during the last quarter of the year.
It added that for 2019, the value of imported manufactured goods imports was 60 percent higher than in 2018.
According to the report, the value of energy goods imports decreased by 65.27 percent in quarter four, 2019 compared to quarter three, 2019 and by 75.86 percent compared to quarter four of 2018.
It added that for 2019, the value of energy goods imports fell by 56.2 percent compared to 2018.
On other oil products imports, the NBS said that they were 60.59 percent higher in value in quarter four, 2019 than in quarter three and 2.11 percent higher than quarter four, 2018.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange closed higher by 1.41 per cent on Friday, May 15, supported by four securities on the platform.
During the session, FrieslandCampina Wamco Plc added N14.24 to its share price to sell for N159.00 per unit, in contrast to the previous day’s N144.76 per unit.
Further, Central Securities and Clearing System (CSCS) Plc appreciated by N1.34 to N72.34 per share from N71.00 per share, Geo-Fluids Plc improved its price by 4 Kobo to N2.94 per unit from N2.90 per unit, and Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc gained 1 Kobo to trade at 61 Kobo per share compared with Thursday’s closing price of 60 Kobo per share.
As a result, the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) rose by 58.20 points to 4,188.41 points from 4,130.21 points, and the market capitalisation soared by N34.82 billion to N2.506 trillion from N2.471 trillion on Thursday.
During the session, the volume of trades went up by 180.8 per cent to 1.2 million units from 417,349 units, and the value of transactions increased by 29.8 per cent to N29.8 million from N23.2 million, while the number of deals fell by 22.6 per cent to 24 deals from 31 deals.
Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc ended the day as the most traded stock by value on a year-to-date basis with 3.4 billion units sold for N8.4 billion, followed by CSCS Plc with 60.8 million units exchanged for N4.1 billion, and Okitipupa Plc with 27.9 million units valued at N1.9 billion.
GNI Plc also closed the session as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, followed by Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units transacted for N415.7 million, and Infrastructure Guarantee Credit Plc with 400 million units traded for N1.2 billion.
By Dipo Olowookere
The bears overpowered the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited on Friday, sinking it further by 0.76 per cent when the closing gong was struck by 4 pm.
The nation’s flagship equity market was under selling pressure during the session, as investors booked profits after the shares witnessed price appreciation in the past trading sessions.
The energy sector was the most impacted, as it shed 4.43 per cent. The consumer goods index declined by 0.90 per cent, the banking counter decreased by 0.15 per cent, and the industrial goods sector lost 0.08 per cent, while the insurance counter gained 2.42 per cent, which was not enough to salvage the situation.
Consequently, the All-Share Index (ASI) contracted by 1,912.19 points to 250,330.92 points from 252,243.11 points, and the market capitalisation moderated by 1.225 trillion to N160.444 trillion from N161.669 trillion.
Zichis was the worst-performing stock for the session after it gave up 9.97 per cent to close at N29.43, FTN Cocoa slipped by 9.95 per cent to N8.96, The Initiates slumped by 9.90 per cent to N32.30, LivingTrust Mortgage Bank tumbled by 9.88 per cent to N3.83, and International Energy Insurance dropped 9.71 per cent to trade at N2.79.
The best-performing stock was ABC Transport, which grew by 10.00 per cent to N6.27. May and Baker also appreciated by 10.00 per cent to N47.30, SCOA Nigeria surged by 9.98 per cent to N33.05, Trans-Nationwide Express expanded by 9.97 per cent to N7.06, and DAAR Communications jumped 9.76 per cent to N2.25.
Yesterday, investors traded 1.1 billion shares worth N44.3 billion in 65,744 deals compared with the 1.0 billion shares valued at N41.6 billion transacted in 74,822 deals a day earlier. This indicated a dip in the number of deals by 12.13 per cent, and a rise in the trading volume and value by 10.00 per cent and 6.49 per cent, respectively.
Chams was the busiest equity for the day, with 328.5 million units sold for N1.1 billion. UBA traded 61.6 million units worth N2.7 billion, First Holdco transacted 58.7 million units valued at N4.2 billion, Secure Electronic Technology exchanged 51.9 million units worth N45.0 million, and Access Holdings traded 51.8 million units valued at N1.3 billion.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The last trading session of the week at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) ended on a negative note for the Naira on Friday, May 15, as it lost N15 Kobo or 0.1 per cent against the Dollar to trade at N1,371.04/$1 compared with the previous day’s N1,370.89/$1.
However, it further appreciated against the Pound Sterling in the same market segment yesterday by N20.77 to close at N1,830.61/£1 versus Thursday’s value of N1,851.38/£1, and gained N7.91 against the Euro to settle at N1,595.07/€1 versus N1,602.98/€1.
At the GTBank FX desk, the Naira lost N2 against the US Dollar during the session to sell at N1,383/$1 compared with the preceding session’s N1,381/$1, and at the black market, it remained unchanged at N1,385/$1.
The Naira is forecast to be broadly stable, supported by Dollar sales by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) amid steady, higher oil receipts, with the market settling into a balance.
Policy direction is also expected to give the market some boost as the CBN said the new edition of the FX market guidelines will deepen liquidity, improve transparency and strengthen confidence in the country’s foreign exchange market.
According to the Governor of the CBN, Mr Yemi Cardoso, the update is due to changing global economic realities, domestic reforms and the need for a more coherent and forward-looking regulatory framework. According to him, the last edition of the FX manual was issued in 2018, making the latest review both timely and necessary.
Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency market plunged into the red zone as rising bond yields hit risk assets across markets, while traders are increasingly betting the Federal Reserve may need to raise rates again. Rising energy prices and resurging inflation could force central banks back into tightening mode.
Cardano (ADA) shrank by 4.4 per cent to $0.2557, Dogecoin (DOGE) slid by 3.7 per cent to $0.1104, Ripple (XRP) depreciated by 3.5 per cent to $1.41, Solana (SOL) crashed by 3.5 per cent to $87.81, and Binance Coin (BNB) slumped by 3.4 per cent to $659.64.
Further, Bitcoin (BTC) declined by 2.6 per cent to $78,547.49, Ethereum (ETH) lost 2.1 per cent to quote at $2,209.19, and TRON (TRX) tumbled by 0.7 per cent to $0.3509, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) traded flat at $1.00 each.
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