$15m American-wheat unloads in Lagos as U.S-Nigeria agricultural trade gross $700m

By: Chidozie Nwali

A massive shipment of 50,000 metric tons of American-grown wheat, valued at approximately $15 million, is currently unloading on Tuesday at the Apapa Port in Lagos, underscoring the robust and rapidly expanding agricultural trade partnership between the United States and Nigeria.

This is according to a statement from the U.S mission in Nigeria; highlighting that  Nigeria is currently the third-largest export market for U.S. wheat globally. The wheat was purchased by Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN), one of the nation’s foremost food and agro-allied companies and a major importer of U.S. wheat.

FMN is a pioneer wheat miller in Nigeria, with its first mill commissioned at Apapa in 1962.

The unloading was overseen by high-level U.S. officials, including Consul General Rick Swart and U.S. Agricultural Counselor Chris Bielecki, who emphasized the bilateral benefits of this trade.

 “U.S. agricultural trade with Nigeria supports American farmers, helps Nigerian businesses create jobs in value-added agricultural processing, and provides Nigerian consumers with high-quality food ingredients,” the U.S. Mission noted.

The U.S. mission, however, announced that the U.S.-Nigeria agricultural trade is on track to more than double in 2025 to over $700 million.

The surge is attributed to various factors, including competitive U.S. pricing and a more stable macroeconomic environment in Nigeria, which has been encouraged by government policies like the temporary waiving of import duties on wheat.

US-Nigeria trade relationship is not just about raw material supply; it supports Nigeria’s economy by providing the necessary input for local businesses, such as flour mills, to create jobs and produce staple foods like bread, pasta, and noodles for the Nigerian populace.

The continued demand for high-quality U.S. wheat is essential for Nigerian millers to produce flour that meets the west African country’s growing food consumption needs.

While Nigeria’s primary exports to the U.S. have historically been dominated by crude oil, the increase in agricultural trade marks a broader economic diversification effort. The U.S. remains a vital market for Nigeria’s non-oil exports, including cocoa, rubber, and urea fertiliser.

In 2024 total goods and services between the US and Nigeria grossed $13 billion, making  a 16.5% increase from $11.2 billion recorded in 2023.

Industrial supplies and materials were the largest export, valued at approximately $2.42 billion in 2024.

Both nations are actively working to strengthen and diversify their commercial ties for mutual economic growth.