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Nigeria’s Total Imports in 2017 Drop 8.5% as Exports Rise 59.47%

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By Dipo Olowookere

Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have shown that in 2017, Nigeria exported more goods than it imported in the year.

Nigeria is known to rely more on imported products especially from Europe, America and Asia, but since the present administration came into power in 2015, it had done more to change the narrative, making Nigeria export more than it imports.

Last week, chief executive of the state-owned oil firm, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Maikanti Baru, disclosed that Nigeria, one of the oil producing countries in the world, was the most importer of petrol in the globe. Crude oil produced in the country is taken out to be refined and bought to service the nation.

According to the data by the stats office, the total value of goods imported into Nigeria last year was N9.562 trillion, 8.5 percent lower than the 2016 trade import value of N8.817 trillion.

But in the fourth quarter of 2017, the total imports value was N2.1 trillion, was 15.1 percent less than Q3 2017 Figure which was N2.5 trillion and 8.5 percent lower than Q4, 2016, which was N2.3 trillion.

NBS said imported agricultural goods decreased by 1.7 percent in Q4 2017 (N227.4 billion) compared to Q3 2017 (N231.4 billion) but increased by 15.9 percent when compared to Q4, 2016 (N196.2 billion). For full year, 2017, imported agricultural goods increased by 35.09 percent to N886.7 billion from N656.4 billion in 2016.

Raw materials imports in Q4 2017 (N279.4 billion) were 2.1 percent lower than Q3, 2017 value (N285.3 billion), and 2.7 percent lower than Q4 2016 (N287.2 billion). For full year 2017, imported raw materials increased by 19.3 percent to N1.1 trillion from 945.7 billion in 2016.

Solid minerals imports grew by 5.19 percent in Q4 2017 (N15.2 billion) over the Q3, 2017 value (N14.5 billion), and 9.2 percent over Q4 2016 (N13.9 billion). For full year 2017, imported solid minerals increased by 372.2 percent to N235.1 billion from N49.7 billion in 2016.

Energy goods imports grew significantly by 950 percent in Q4 2017 (N138.1 million), higher than Q3, 2017 value (N13.15 million), and 57176 percent over Q4 2016 (N0.24 million). For full year 2017, imported energy goods increased to N187.17 million from N8.07 million in 2016.

Manufactured goods imports declined in Q4 2017 by 0.28 percent (N1.2 trillion) in comparison to Q3 2017 (N1.2 trillion), but grew by 10 percent in comparison to Q4 2016 (N1.1 trillion). For full year 2017, imported manufactured products decreased by 0.06 percent to N4.6 trillion from N4.7 trillion in 2016.

Other oil products imports were 48.86 percent lower in value in Q4 2017 than Q3 2017, and 46.5 percent lower than the value recorded in Q4 2016 and for full year 2017, other oil product imports increased by 5.93 percent over 2016.

However, the total value of export stood at N3.9 trillion in Q4 2017, growing by 9.35 percent over Q3 2017, and by 31.27 percent over Q4 2016. For full year 2017, total exports of N13.6 trillion were 59.47 percent higher than for 2016 with a value of N8.5 trillion.

Agricultural goods exports grew in value by 54.9 percent in Q4 2017 (N44.7 billion) in comparison to Q3 2017 (N28.8 billion), and by 170.9 percent in comparison to Q4 2016 (N16.5 billion). For full year 2017, agriculture exports grew 180.7 percent (N170.4 billion) above the value in 2016 (N60.7 billion).

Raw material exports in Q4 2017 (N37.8 billion) were 43.2 percent more in value than Q3, 2017 (N26.4 billion) and 71.7 percent more than Q4, 2016 (N22 billion). For full year 2017, raw material exports grew 154.2 percent (N112.9 billion) above the value in 2016 (N44.4 billion).

Solid minerals exports in Q4 2017 grew by 55 percent in value when compared to Q3 2017, and by 473.5 percent in value when compared to same period last year Q4 2016. For full year 2017, solid minerals exports grew 565 percent (N77.2 billion) above the value in 2016 (N11.6 billion).

Manufactured goods exports in Q4, 2017 (N55.3 billion) were 28.1 percent more than the value attained in Q3, 2017 (N43.2 billion) but declined by 18.03 percent in comparison to Q4 2016 (N67.5 billion). For full year 2017, exports of manufactured goods grew 26.8 percent (N232.05 billion) above the value in 2016 (N182.9 billion).

Crude Oil exports in Q4 2017 were 9.51 percent more than the value recorded in Q3 2017 and 34.2 percent higher than Q4, 2016. For full year 2017, crude oil exports grew 57.6 percent above the value in 2016.

Other oil products exports increased by 0.45 percent over Q3 2017 and by 9.3 percent over the same period last year (Q4 2016). For full year 2017, exports of other oil products grew 57.75 percent above the value in 2016.

The stats office said total trade recorded for Q4 2017 was N6 trillion which represented a decline of 0.7 percent over the Q3 2017, and an increase of 13.9 percent over the same period last year Q4 2016). For full year 2017, total trade was N23.2 trillion which is 33.5 percent higher when compared to the value in 2016 of N17.4 trillion.

Trade balance, accordingly, stood at a surplus of N1.8 trillion in Q4 2017 compared to the surplus of N1.1 trillion recorded in the preceding quarter and the surplus of N671.30 billion in the corresponding quarter last year. For full year 2017, trade balance stood at N4 trillion compared to a negative trade balance of -N290.1 billion in 2016.

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

Economy

NASD Exchange Falls 0.22% After Investors Lose N4.8bn

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NASD securities exchange

By Adedapo Adesanya

The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange weakened by 0.22 per cent on Tuesday, April 28, with the market capitalisation down by N4.8 billion to N2.420 trillion from N2.425 trillion, and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) down by 9.01 points to 4,044.96 points from 4,053.97 points.

During the session, the price of Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc went down by N1.82 to N767.05 per share from N78.87 per share, while FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc appreciated by N1.90 to N100.00 per unit from N98.10 per unit.

According to data, the value of trades increased by 265.7 per cent to N27.1 million from N7.4 million units, and the volume of transactions surged by 305.2 per cent to 1.3 million units from 319,831 units, while the number of deals decreased by 6.9 per cent to 27 deals from 29 deals.

Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc remained the most traded stock by value on a year-to-date basis, with the sale of 3.4 billion units valued at N8.4 billion, followed by CSCS Plc with 59.8 million units exchanged for N4.0 billion, and Okitipupa Plc with 27.8 million units traded for N1.9 billion.

GNI Plc also finished as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with a turnover of 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, trailed by Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units transacted for N415.7 million, and Infrastructure Guarantee Credit Plc with 400 million units sold for N1.2 billion.

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Economy

Naira Crashes to N1,380/$ at Official Market, N1,390/$1 at Black Market

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forex black market

By Adedapo Adesanya

Pressure is beginning to mount on the Nigerian Naira in the different segments of the foreign exchange (FX) market despite an oil windfall triggered by the Middle East crisis.

On Monday, April 27, the domestic currency further weakened against the United States Dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) by N16.47 or 1.2 per cent to N1,380.71/$1 from the previous day’s N1,364.24/$1.

It was not different against the Pound Sterling in the same market window, as it lost N16.04 to trade at N1,863.76/£1 versus Monday’s closing rate of N1,847.72/£1, and against the Euro, it slipped by N12.72 to close at N1,615.01/€1 versus N1,602.29/€1.

The Naira also depreciated against the Dollar at the black market yesterday by N5 to quote at N1,390/$1 compared with the previous price of N1,385, and at the GTBank forex counter, it further crashed by N9 to settle at N1,379/$1 compared with the preceding session’s N1,370/$1.

The continued decline of the Naira comes as traders increasingly seek other safe-haven currencies amid continued global disruptions.

The benefit awash in the global market is making foreign portfolio investors stay short in Nigerian markets. Despite this, the daily FX publication released showed that interbank turnover rose to $98.829 million across 78 deals, up from $76.65 million.

Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency market remained cautious, with Bitcoin (BTC) trading at $77,216.66 despite surging oil prices and geopolitical tensions over a potential extended US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Analysts say the supply overhang has finally dried up, and the sellers who were spooked by macro shifts or quantum fears have already exited, leaving the market much thinner on the sell-side.

Investors will await decisions made by central banks this week. The US Federal Reserve will announce its rate decision later on Wednesday, while the European Central Bank (ECB) follows on Thursday.

Ethereum (ETH) gained 1.5 per cent to trade at $2,324.59, Dogecoin (DOGE) chalked up 1.4 per cent to sell for $0.1016, Solana (SOL) appreciated by 0.6 per cent to $84.85, Cardano (ADA) grew by 0.5 per cent to $0.2483, and Binance Coin (BNB) advanced by 0.2 per cent to $627.15.

However, TRON (TRX) depreciated by 0.6 per cent to $0.3224, and Ripple (XRP) lost 0.03 per cent to sell at $1.39, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) were unchanged at $1.00 each.

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Economy

Oil up 3% as Hormuz Disruption Outweighs UAE OPEC Exit

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Oil Licensing Round

By Adedapo Adesanya

Oil was up by nearly 3 per cent on Tuesday as persistent worries about supply constraints from the closed Strait of Hormuz continued, with Brent futures for June rising by $3.03 or 2.8 per cent to $111.26 a barrel, and the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures growing by $3.56 or 3.7 per cent to $99.93 a barrel.

An earlier round of negotiations between the United States and Iran collapsed last week after face-to-face talks failed.

Ship-tracking data showed significant disruptions in the region, with six Iranian oil tankers forced to turn back due to the US blockade, but some traffic is still moving.

Prices trimmed some of the advances after the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the fourth-largest producer in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), said on Tuesday it would exit the group on this Friday, May 1, 2026.

This dealt a blow to the oil-exporting group and its de facto leader, Saudi Arabia.

The UAE could quickly ⁠add between 1 million and 1.5 million barrels per day of output. However, with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, analysts said that there’s nowhere for that supply to go.

The UAE joined OPEC in 1967, but tension with Saudi Arabia over production quotas has been building for years.

Under the OPEC+ deal, the country has been held to roughly 3 million barrels per day while sitting on capacity above 4 million. It has been pushing toward 5 million barrels per day by 2027, and that target is hard to achieve with quotas built around someone else’s view of the market.

The war in Yemen broke whatever was left of diplomatic patience.

President Donald Trump said he was unhappy with the latest Iranian proposal to end the war. The proposal would avoid addressing the nuclear programme until hostilities cease and Gulf shipping disputes are resolved.

The Idemitsu Maru, ‌a Panama-flagged ⁠tanker carrying 2 million barrels of Saudi oil, and an LNG tanker managed by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) crossed the Strait on Tuesday, shipping data showed.

Vortexa data showed that the amount of crude oil held around the world on tankers that have been stationary for at least seven days rose to 153.11 million barrels as of April 24.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) estimated that crude oil inventories in the United States fell by 1.79 million barrels in the week ending April 24. The official data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) will be released later on Wednesday.

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