Economy
Redefining Trade Relations Between Nigeria and China
By Stanbic IBTC Bank
Stanbic IBTC Holdings, a member of Standard Bank Group, has continued to serve as a connecting link in facilitating trade transactions between Nigerian and Chinese importers, thereby fostering international trade.
As part of its efforts to boost trade relations between the two nations, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, through its banking subsidiary, has developed several solutions for boosting favourable business deals and trade relationships between Nigerian business owners and their Chinese counterparts.
In August 2022, the organisation held its 2022 Africa-China Trade Expo to promote trade relations and boost economic prosperity in the two regions.
The expo themed Synergy for Growth featured a masterclass and an Africa-China Trade Solutions (ACTS) presentation. One of the initiatives through which Stanbic IBTC Bank has been redefining trade relations between Nigeria and China is the ACTS propositions, aimed at allowing African enterprises to explore new markets, expand their customer base and create a mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries.
Ade Otukomaya, Head, Africa China Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, said that the financial institution was always exploring opportunities to add value to its clients’ businesses.
He said: “The Nigerian agricultural sector is replete with diverse opportunities. Being able to effectively harness these opportunities will drive agricultural development and expand agricultural export. Overall, agriculture experts are of the view that the country has the potential to generate substantial FX inflows for the country, thereby reducing trade deficits.”
As part of the ACTS offerings, the Standard Bank China Trade Desk sources for capable Nigeria exporters of produce and finished products in demand by the Chinese public. The Trade desk receives demands from Chinese entities who want to order large quantities of agro-allied products from Nigeria. The desk also matchmakes buyers and suppliers under favourable prices, conditions and general terms in line with approved protocols between the two countries.
With the increasing demand for Nigerian goods on store shelves in China for the Chinese public to consume, Stanbic IBTC has developed a partnership with Pacific International Lines, a logistics service provider that will transport goods sourced from Nigerian exporters for export to China.
“Stanbic IBTC is harnessing these opportunities that Nigeria possesses by providing a platform for Nigerian and Chinese businesses to flourish. We have established market leadership in several financial services segments, our goal is to continually leverage our connections, knowledge, and experience in delivering impeccable service and value that makes our customers not just get ahead but emerge leaders in their respective business segments,” Ade added.
Despite the growth in trade, most Nigerian importers still face a myriad of challenges that limit their ability to order goods and services from a handful of trusted Chinese suppliers. In addition to that, language and cultural barriers also pose a challenge for African importers and Exporters when travelling and negotiating supplier agreements in China.
Through ACTS Solutions, Stanbic IBTC, via its parent company, Standard Bank of South Africa, has leveraged its partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) to connect African importers, especially in Nigeria, with a dedicated trade agent in China as well as enable them to tap into the vast opportunities that China presents as a trading partner.
Apart from eliminating language barriers, ACTS aims to assist Nigerian importers source and validating quality goods, safely and efficiently from the most competitive and verified suppliers in China.
The Agent Zhejiang International Trading Supply Chain Company Limited, otherwise known as Guomao, ensures that Nigerian importers get the best deals in areas such as sourcing the right suppliers for their businesses, negotiating the best prices and trade conditions on behalf of the clients, providing translators to facilitate trade negotiations and discussions, validate and ensure the quality of goods from the suppliers meet the agreed and required standards by clients, handle the shipping logistics and delivery to destination, depending on clients’ preference, amongst others.
Through this solution, Stanbic IBTC remains committed to connecting Nigerian and Chinese businesses, which will boost the volume of trade between both countries.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Three bellwether stocks weakened the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange by 1.31 per cent on Monday, May 18.
This brought the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) by 54.71 points to 4,133.70 points from 4,188.41 points, and shrank the market capitalisation by N32.73 billion to N2.473 trillion from N2.506 trillion.
Yesterday, FrieslandCampina Wamco Plc contracted by N12.45 to sell at N146.55 per share compared with last Friday’s closing price of N159.00 per share, Central Securities and Clearing System (CSCS) Plc declined by N2.34 to N70.00 per unit from N72.34 per unit, and NASD Plc lost 50 Kobo to trade at N34.50 per share versus N35.00 per share.
The trio overpowered the N5.56 gained Newrest Asl Plc. This stock ended the trading session at N61.15 per unit, in contrast to the previous session’s N55.59 per unit.
During the trading day, the volume of securities traded by investors slid by 56.1 per cent to 514,142 units from 1.2 million units, and the value of securities dropped 29.8 per cent to close at N17.4 million versus N29.8 million, while the number of deals jumped 12.5 per cent to 27 deals from 24 deals.
Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc remained 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 traded for N1.9 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 worth N8.4 billion, trailed by Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units valued at N415.7 million, and Infrastructure Guarantee Credit Plc with 400 million units transacted for N1.2 billion.
By Adedapo Adesanya
It was a horrible day for the Nigerian Naira in the different segments of the foreign exchange (FX) market on Monday, May 15, as its value further weakened against the United States Dollar.
In the black market window, the Naira lost N5 against the Dollar yesterday to sell for N1,390/$1 compared with the previous value of N1,385/$1, but at the GTBank forex counter, it remained unchanged at N1,383/$1.
In the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX), the Nigerian currency depreciated against the greenback by N2.66 or 0.19 per cent to sell for N1,373.70/$1 compared to last Friday’s rate of N1,371.04/$1.
Equally, it fell against the Pound Sterling in the same market segment by N9.05 to trade at N1,839.66/£1 versus N1,830.61/£1, and lost N5.42 on the Euro to close at N1,600.49/€1 versus N1,595.07/€1.
The performance of the local currency during the session indicates early worries despite all signals pointing to stability, amid improved Dollar sales by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), with steady, higher oil receipts to bolster the nation’s reserves.
Activity at the market showed that turnover rose 57.3 per cent to $76.29 million on Monday from $48.49 million posted on Friday.
Over the weekend, S&P raised Nigeria’s credit ratings for the first time since 2012 and highlighted improved FX market liquidity and $10 billion turnover recorded in April 2026 as one of the major gains of the CBN-led FX reforms.
The agency said the liberalisation of the exchange rate has bolstered access to foreign currency and enabled a market-driven exchange-rate environment while supporting investor and consumer confidence.
Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency market was bullish on Monday as investors monitored developments in the Iran conflict and weighed the impact of surging oil prices on inflation and US interest-rate expectations.
Ethereum (ETH) gained 0.7 per cent to trade at $2,134.10, Cardano (ADA) rose by 0.6 per cent to $0.2515, Solana (SOL) expanded by 0.3 per cent to $85.11, Binance Coin (BNB) jumped 0.2 per cent to $643.29, TRON (TRX) increased by 0.03 per cent to $0.3565, and Bitcoin (BTC) advanced by 0.02 per cent to $76,912.12.
On the flip side, Dogecoin (DOGE) slid by 1.5 per cent to $0.1044, and Ripple (XRP) decreased by 0.5 per cent to $1.38, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) traded flat at $1.00 apiece.
By Dipo Olowookere
A marginal 0.05 per cent loss was recorded by Customs Street on Monday, as sell-offs by market participants remained.
This was driven by the desire of investors to book profits, having witnessed a significant price appreciation on the stocks in their portfolios.
Yesterday, bargain-hunting in the banking space, which resulted in the sector closing 0.17 per cent higher, could not prevent the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited from going down.
Data showed that the consumer goods segment lost 0.26 per cent, the insurance counter depreciated by 0.20 per cent, the industrial goods index shed 0.09 per cent, and the energy industry retreated by 0.03 per cent.
As a result, the All-Share Index (ASI) eased by 126.09 points to 250,204.83 points from 250,330.92 points, and the market capitalisation contracted by N81 billion to N160.363 trillion from N160.444 trillion.
NCR Nigeria and Zichis declined by 9.99 per cent each to sell for N161.20 and N26.49, respectively, Industrial and Medical Gases shrank by 9.93 per cent to N38.10, Sovereign Trust Insurance depreciated by 9.86 per cent to N2.65, and DAAR Communications slipped by 9.78 per cent to N2.03.
On the flip side, Oando gained 10.00 per cent to finish at N51.70, University Press also rose by 10.00 per cent to N5.50, Deap Capital soared by 9.96 per cent to N5.96, May and Baker expanded by 9.94 per cent to N52.00, and Trans-Nationwide Express grew by 9.92 per cent to N7.76.
Yesterday, 800.5 million equities worth N37.1 billion exchanged hands in 87,096 deals compared with the 1.1 billion equities valued at N44.3 billion traded in 65,744 deals last Friday. This showed that the number of deals went up by 32.48 per cent, while the trading volume and value went down by 27.23 per cent and 16.25 per cent, respectively.
The most active stock on the first trading session of this week was UBA with a turnover of 65.0 million units worth N2.8 billion, Fidelity Bank traded 57.3 million units for N1.3 billion, Access Holdings sold 42.3 million units valued at N1.1 billion, DAAR Communications exchanged 36.7 million units for N81.8 million, and Secure Electronic Technology transacted 36.6 million units worth N33.0 million.
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