Trade Surplus Drops By 50.8% In April

According to the Central Bank of Nigeria, in its Monthly Economic Report for April, Nigeria’s trade surplus declined month-on-month by 50.8 percent in April 2022.

This is a drop to $930 million from $1.89 billion in March. This is as a result of an 8.4 per cent fall in total trade to $10.79 billion in April from $11.78 billion in March.

CBN stated that crude oil export receipts fell MoM by 15 per cent to $4.51 billion in April from $5.32 billion in March.

CBN said: “Weaker global growth concerns amid global inflation pressures and uncertainties in the international crude oil market, led to a decline in general trade performance in April 2022.

“Consequently, Nigeria’s total trade declined by 8.4 per cent to $10.79 billion from $11.78 billion in March 2022.

“The development led to a decline in the trade surplus by 50.8 per cent to $0.93 billion in the review period from $1.89 billion in the preceding month.

“A disaggregation showed that aggregate export receipts fell by 14.3 per cent to $5.38 billion from $6.29 billion in March. Similarly, merchandise import fell marginally by 0.3 per cent to $4.07 billion, from $4.08 billion in the preceding month.

“Accordingly, aggregate crude oil and gas export receipts of $5.12 billion was recorded, compared with $5.92 billion in March, indicating a decrease of 13.6 per cent.

“A disaggregation shows that crude oil export receipts fell by 15.3 per cent to $4.51 billion, relative to $5.32 billion in March, driven, majorly, by the decrease in the price of Nigeria’s reference crude, the Bonny Light.’’

On non-oil exports it stated: “The performance of non-oil export was dampened by weakened global demand following uncertainties in Eastern Europe. Hence the data reflected 18.5 per cent reduction in non-oil export receipts to $0.74 billion, relative to its value in March.’’

On imports, the CBN said: “Growing supply chain disruptions and attendant commodity price increases moderated merchandise import during the review period. Aggregate import decreased marginally by 0.3 per cent to $4.93 billion in April 2022, compared with $4.94 billion in March.’’