Malaysia’s exports to Nigeria surge 20.7% to $664m in 2025

By Chioma Obinagwam
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‎Malaysia’s exports to Nigeria climbed 20.7 percent in 2025 to reach $664 million, a development Confiance News has learned reflects deepening trade ties between both countries amid shifting global trade patterns.
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‎Palm oil and palm oil-based agricultural products drove the growth, rising 33.7 percent, according to figures obtained by Confiance News. Transport equipment recorded the sharpest jump at 1,260 percent, while machinery, equipment and parts grew 44.8 percent and processed food rose 28.1 percent.
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‎Nigeria’s exports to Malaysia over the same period were dominated by agricultural products (54.7 percent), petroleum products (22.9 percent), metalliferous ores and metal scrap (10.3 percent) and crude petroleum (4.3 percent), Confiance News gathered from trade data.
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‎Total bilateral trade between the two countries hit $1.23 billion in 2025, positioning Nigeria as Malaysia’s fourth-largest trading partner in Africa and its 43rd-largest globally, it was confirmed.
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‎High Commissioner of Malaysia to Nigeria, Aiyub Omar, described the trajectory as a strong foundation for deeper strategic and economic cooperation. He noted that Malaysian firms are contributing not just goods but services and technical expertise to Nigeria’s priority sectors, particularly palm oil development, through arrangements spanning Build-Operate-Transfer models, plantation management, infrastructure and technology transfer.
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‎Confiance News understands that Malaysian companies are currently developing about 151,800 hectares of oil palm plantations across Nigeria, underscoring the country’s growing footprint in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
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‎Halal Trade and Medical Tourism Emerge as Growth Frontiers
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‎Omar also flagged Halal industry collaboration as a priority, aligning with Nigeria’s push to build a national Halal ecosystem. Malaysia’s global Halal exports were sighted at $13.43 billion in 2024, with projections of $18.98 billion by 2030.
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‎The Malaysia International Halal Showcase, set for September 23 to 26, 2026, remains central to this push. The 2025 edition drew participation from 80 countries, facilitated over 4,000 business meetings and generated $1.53 billion in sales, Confiance News confirmed.
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‎Jude Bryan S. Dass, Counsellor (Trade) at MATRADE Lagos, said Nigerian buyer interest in MIHAS 2026 is strong. Eight Nigerian buyers and 21 from West Africa participated in the 2025 edition, with stronger turnout expected this year.
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‎Dass further pointed to medical tourism as an untapped opportunity, noting Nigerians spend an estimated $1.5 billion to $3 billion annually seeking treatment abroad, mostly in India, the UAE and the UK. Malaysia, he said, offers competitively priced, high-quality healthcare through a network of 194 private hospitals and 17,832 beds, with strength in gastroenterology, surgical oncology, orthopaedics, fertility treatment and bariatric care.
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‎Malaysia’s medical tourism sector, currently valued at $687.35 million, is projected to grow to $2 billion by 2030, a trend industry watchers say could position the country as a preferred destination for Nigerian patients.
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