Nigeria-China Trade Hits $18bn As Fish Exports Get Zero-Tariff Access

Nigeria-China trade reached $18bn in the first half of 2026 as Nigeria secured zero-tariff access for eligible aquatic products going into the Chinese market.

The new protocol gives Nigerian fish and other approved aquatic products access to China’s market of about 1.4 billion consumers. Nigerian officials are presenting it as a chance for exporters to earn more foreign exchange and expand non-oil trade.

Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe received the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, after the signing of the Nigeria-China Aquatic Products Protocol.

The ministry said the deal came after nearly five years of negotiations. Tegbe urged Nigerian exporters and businesses to move quickly so they can benefit from the market access.

Vanguard reported that bilateral trade between the two countries reached $18bn in the first half of 2026, compared with $28bn for the whole of 2025. It also reported that Nigerian exports to China rose by 80 per cent in the first half of the year.

Yu said the Chinese Embassy would support implementation of the protocol and help qualified Nigerian aquatic products enter the Chinese market.

Sources: Vanguard, Punch