Economy
Nigeria’s Total Imports in 2017 Drop 8.5% as Exports Rise 59.47%
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.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
To revive the local industry and create jobs to boost the economy, the Senate has advised the federal government to ban textile imports.
The upper chamber of the federal parliament made this suggestion on Tuesday at the plenary presided over by the Deputy Senate President, Mr Jibrin Barau.
They noted that to resuscitate textile industries in the country, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture should immediately implement investment-friendly policies.
The red chamber of the National Assembly recalled when Nigeria used to have a vibrant textile industry, but lamented that the influx of foreign fabrics destroyed the sector.
The Senate emphasised that to stimulate economic growth and tackle insecurity in the country, there must be a total ban on the importation of textile materials into Nigeria.
“With the lifting of the ban on textile importation in 2010, Nigeria now has almost 80 per cent of its textiles imported from China, Indonesia, Taiwan and other countries.
“This trend is definitely not helping the Nigerian economy in terms of employment generation and the conservation of foreign exchange,” Mr Katung Marshall, who co-sponsored a motion on the Urgent Need to Revive the Textile Industries in Nigeria, said on the floor of the Senate yesterday.
The Senator informed his colleagues that the government protection policies in the 1960s and 1970s, particularly the restrictions on textile imports, attracted investors and helped the sector to flourish.
According to him, during the period, Nigeria’s textile industry accommodated about 167 mills and directly employed over 500,000 people, making it the nation’s second-largest employer after the federal government.
But he said this went south in the late 1990s due to obsolete machinery, inadequate capital and persistent power supply challenges, adding that by 2007, major companies, including Kaduna Textile Limited, Arewa Textiles and United Nigerian Textiles Limited, had shut down operations, leading to the loss of over 7,000 jobs.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Six securities led by FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc further weakened the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange by 0.48 per cent on Tuesday, June 9.
The notable dairy firm lost N7.87 during the trading day to close at N173.81 per unit compared with the previous session’s N181.68 per unit, Nitrox Industrial Gases Plc depreciated by N2.42 to N21.88 per share from N24.30 per share, Afriland Properties Plc dipped by N1.25 to N15.55 per unit from N16.80 per unit, Food Concepts Plc stumbled by 27 Kobo to N2.48 per share from N2.75 per share, UBN Property Plc dropped 9 Kobo to settle at N2.11 per unit versus N2.20 per unit, and Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc crashed by 4 Kobo to 50 Kobo per share from 54 Kobo per share.
As a result of these losses, the market capitalisation went down by N12.50 billion to N2.593 trillion from N2.606 trillion, and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) declined by 20.89 points to 4,335.31 points from 4,356.20 points.
Business Post reports that there was a price gainer yesterday, and this was Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, which improved its value by N2.65 to N81.13 per unit from N78.48 per unit.
The volume of transactions soared on Tuesday by 644.3 per cent to 1.6 million units from 213,188 units, the value of trades increased by 208.6 per cent to N62.3 million from N20.2 million, and the number of deals surged by 64 per cent to 41 deals from 25 deals.
The most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis remained Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc, with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, trailed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units transacted for N6.5 billion, and CSCS Plc with 65.1 million units sold for N4.4 billion.
GNI Plc was also the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units valued at N8.4 billion, followed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units exchanged for N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units traded for N415.7 million.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Naira was exchanged at N1,360.55/$1 in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) on Tuesday, June 9, compared with the N1,362.84/$1 it was exchanged a day earlier, indicating an appreciation of N2.29 or 0.17 per cent against the United States Dollar.
It also gained 74 Kobo against the Euro in the same market segment to quote at N1,573.61/€1, in contrast to Monday’s closing price of N1,574.35/€1, but lost N1.71 against the Pound Sterling to trade at N1,823.00/£1 versus the preceding day’s N1,821.29/£1.
At the black market window, the Nigerian currency maintained stability against the greenback during the session at N1,380/$1, and also traded flat at the GTBank FX counter at N1,373/$1.
Market analysts say the ongoing implementation of the fourth edition of the Foreign Exchange Manual by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) since June 1 has strengthened the Naira and the country’s foreign reserves, bolstering confidence in the market.
The new manual is expected to deepen FX transparency, improve liquidity and strengthen market confidence and liquidity, as it aligns with the apex bank’s broader vision of ensuring that businesses and individuals have equal access to FX in a transparent and liquid market.
The gross external reserves have climbed to a record $50.04 billion, reinforcing investor confidence and boosting the CBN’s capacity to support the local currency.
As for the cryptocurrency market, expectations for higher interest rates sapped demand for non-yielding assets. The latest crypto pullback appears driven by a short squeeze rather than fresh buying, as more than $500 million in bearish bets were liquidated and spot demand.
Cardano (ADA) depreciated by 5.5 per cent to $0.1603, Ripple (XRP) declined by 5.2 per cent to $1.11, Solana (SOL) fell by 4.6 per cent to $64.05, Ethereum (ETH) tumbled by 3.5 per cent to $1,626.51, Dogecoin (DOGE) crashed by 3.6 per cent to $0.0835, Bitcoin (BTC) dropped 3.2 per cent to trade at $61,292.98, Binance Coin (BNB) slumped by 2.9 per cent to $585.26, and TRON (TRX) slipped by 0.9 per cent to $0.3220, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) remained unchanged at $0.9997 and $0.9998, respectively.
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