Nigeria’s External Trade Drops to $26.74 Billion
By Roseline Okere
Nigerian Guardian
July 28, 2015
Nigeria recorded an estimated total external trade of $26.74 billion in the first quarter of 2015, representing a decline of 17.1 per cent and 27.2 per cent, respectively, from their levels recorded in the preceding and corresponding quarters in 2014.
Specifically, crude oil and gas exports component declined from $18.96 billion and $20.85 billion in fourth quarter of 2014 and first quarter of 2014 to $13.30 billion and accounted for 92.9 per cent of aggregate exports in the review period.
The slide in the external trade profile has therefore been attributed to the decline in crude oil receipts, occasioned by fall in prices at the international market from an average of $70.00 per barrel in fourth 2014 to $54.50 in first quarter 2015.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which made this disclosure in its first quarter Economic Report for 2015 released at the weekend, stated that the performance of the external sector deteriorated further in the first quarter due to the negative outcomes of 4.5, 3.4 and 1.1 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), recorded respectively, in the overall balance, current, and capital and financial accounts.
According to the apex bank, these developments could be attributed to the continued decline in the global oil prices, as well as the repatriation of investment income and lower foreign investment flows, associated with the unpredictable political environment, during the national electioneering in first quarter of 2015.
CBN also disclosed that aggregate merchandise exports declined by 13.7 per cent and 35.4 per cent, respectively, below their levels in fourth quarter of 2014 and first quarter of 2014 to $14.33 billion.
It stated: “Non-oil exports which recorded $1.02 billion, rose marginally by 2.0 per cent but declined by 8.9 per cent, respectively, when compared with the levels recorded in the preceding and corresponding quarters in 2014. “Aggregate imports (fob) fell by 18.3 per cent and 7.9 per cent respectively, below the levels recorded in the preceding and corresponding quarters in 2014 to $12.41 billion.
The drop was accounted for by both the oil and non-oil components. “Oil sector imports declined by 38.1 per cent and 24.4 per cent while non-oil component declined by 12.9 and 3.8 per cent, respectively when compared with fourth quarter of 2014 and fourth quarter of 2014. “Non-oil imports remained dominant, accounting for 83.7 per cent of total, while oil sector imports accounted for the balance.
Total exports exceeded imports (cif) which resulted in a trade surplus of $0.75 billion as against a deficit of $1.90 billion recorded in fourth quarter of 2014. It added that aggregate foreign capital inflows stood at $2.52 billion as against $2.64 billion and US$3.40 billion recorded in fourth Quarter of 2014 and first quarter of 2014, respectively.
It noted that of the aggregate foreign inflows, other investment inflows dominated by loans accounted for the largest share of 55.0 per cent while FDI inflows accounted for 28.7 per cent of total.
Nigerian Guardian
July 28, 2015
Nigeria recorded an estimated total external trade of $26.74 billion in the first quarter of 2015, representing a decline of 17.1 per cent and 27.2 per cent, respectively, from their levels recorded in the preceding and corresponding quarters in 2014.
Specifically, crude oil and gas exports component declined from $18.96 billion and $20.85 billion in fourth quarter of 2014 and first quarter of 2014 to $13.30 billion and accounted for 92.9 per cent of aggregate exports in the review period.
The slide in the external trade profile has therefore been attributed to the decline in crude oil receipts, occasioned by fall in prices at the international market from an average of $70.00 per barrel in fourth 2014 to $54.50 in first quarter 2015.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which made this disclosure in its first quarter Economic Report for 2015 released at the weekend, stated that the performance of the external sector deteriorated further in the first quarter due to the negative outcomes of 4.5, 3.4 and 1.1 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), recorded respectively, in the overall balance, current, and capital and financial accounts.
According to the apex bank, these developments could be attributed to the continued decline in the global oil prices, as well as the repatriation of investment income and lower foreign investment flows, associated with the unpredictable political environment, during the national electioneering in first quarter of 2015.
CBN also disclosed that aggregate merchandise exports declined by 13.7 per cent and 35.4 per cent, respectively, below their levels in fourth quarter of 2014 and first quarter of 2014 to $14.33 billion.
It stated: “Non-oil exports which recorded $1.02 billion, rose marginally by 2.0 per cent but declined by 8.9 per cent, respectively, when compared with the levels recorded in the preceding and corresponding quarters in 2014. “Aggregate imports (fob) fell by 18.3 per cent and 7.9 per cent respectively, below the levels recorded in the preceding and corresponding quarters in 2014 to $12.41 billion.
The drop was accounted for by both the oil and non-oil components. “Oil sector imports declined by 38.1 per cent and 24.4 per cent while non-oil component declined by 12.9 and 3.8 per cent, respectively when compared with fourth quarter of 2014 and fourth quarter of 2014. “Non-oil imports remained dominant, accounting for 83.7 per cent of total, while oil sector imports accounted for the balance.
Total exports exceeded imports (cif) which resulted in a trade surplus of $0.75 billion as against a deficit of $1.90 billion recorded in fourth quarter of 2014. It added that aggregate foreign capital inflows stood at $2.52 billion as against $2.64 billion and US$3.40 billion recorded in fourth Quarter of 2014 and first quarter of 2014, respectively.
It noted that of the aggregate foreign inflows, other investment inflows dominated by loans accounted for the largest share of 55.0 per cent while FDI inflows accounted for 28.7 per cent of total.
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