China’s imports from Nigeria surged by 36.1 percent from January to September 2024, with bilateral trade between the two countries reaching a remarkable $15.1 billion in the same period, according to Mr. Jin Mingyu, Acting Consul-General of China.

Mr. Mingyu disclosed these figures at a reception in Lagos celebrating the arrival of the first vessel on COSCO’s new maritime route, which recently docked at Lekki Port. This new route, introduced by China COSCO Shipping Corporation, aims to bolster trade efficiency and connectivity between the two nations, bringing Nigerian exports closer to Chinese markets.

He revealed that as of September, Lekki Port had already handled over 160,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo in 2024, highlighting the port’s growing importance as a trade hub. “We look forward to seeing more merchant ships transporting unique Nigerian products to China,” he stated, underscoring the Chinese government’s interest in increasing imports of Nigerian goods.

The trade relationship between the two countries has been growing steadily, with total trade reaching $22.56 billion in 2023. This placed Nigeria as China’s third-largest trading partner in Africa, following South Africa and Angola. In 2024, the continued trade momentum underscores both nations’ commitment to economic partnership, with China increasingly sourcing diverse Nigerian goods to meet its domestic demand.

Lekki Port, the centerpiece of this expansion, is expected to play a crucial role in accommodating more trade traffic, enabling Nigeria to broaden its exports to the Asian market. This marks a significant development in the growing economic ties between China and Nigeria, which experts say could pave the way for increased investments and infrastructure development in West Africa.