In Nine Months, Nigeria Imports N143bn Solid Minerals

Nigeria imported solid minerals worth N143.1bn from January to September this year, according to data collated from the National Bureau of Statistics.

The NBS data also show that the country exported N42.5bn solid minerals in the nine-month period, less than 30 per cent of what it imported.

It said, “The total value of trade in solid mineral goods in Q1 2021 stood at N49.5bn. The export component of this trade stood at N9.3bn while the import was valued at N40.2bn.

“The leading exported mineral products were other cement exported to Niger Republic and Togo worth N2.7bn and N1.3bn respectively. Lead ores and concentrates worth N2.9bn were exported to China, as were zinc ores and concentrates worth N0.8bn.”

It said plasters of calcined gypsum sulphate was imported from Turkey and Egypt, worth N8.9bn and N3.5bn.

“Gypsum anhydrite was also imported from Spain and Turkey, valued at N5.8bn and N3.4bn respectively. Others were crude salt worth N4.5bn imported from Brazil, etc.” it added.

The NBS said total trade was N63.68bn in Q2, with export at N14.93bn and import at N48.75bn.

It said, “The leading exported mineral products were other cement exported to Niger Republic and Togo in values worth N3.12bn and N2.32bn. Another product under this sector was zinc ores and concentrates exported to China in the value worth N4.15 bn.

“In terms of imports, plasters of calcined gypsum was imported from Turkey and Egypt in values worth N8.35bn and N3.69bn. During the period under review, there was the importation of gypsum anhydrite worth N7.78bn from Spain and Turkey N5.22bn.

“Others were other salt (including crude salt) worth N6.04bn imported from Brazil. There was the importation of salt for human consumption (including table salt) from Namibia in the value worth N2.52bn and granite, cut into a square or rectangular shape from China (N2.25bn).”

The statistics office said the total trade was at N72.4bn, with exports at N18.3bn and imports at N54.1bn.

It said solid minerals exports increased by 22.7 per cent in Q3 compared to Q2, while imports increased by 10.93 per cent.

It said, “Some of the products exported under this sector include other cement exported to Niger republic (N3.6bn) and Togo (N2.5bn). Zinc ores and concentrates were exported to China in the value worth N3.3bn and lead ores and Concentrate worth N2.7bn were also exported to China.

“In the same period, gypsum worth N10.3bn and N4.7bn were imported from Spain and Turkey. Other products imported include; Plasters of calcined gypsum imported from Turkey (N3.2bn) and Tunisia (N2.5bn). There were other Coals imported from Mozambique and Brazil in values worth N5.6bn and N2.1bn respectively.”