Light cotton fabric imports in Nigeria: data, top suppliers and prices
Nigeria imported $443.3 million of light cotton fabric in 2024 (64.9 thousand tonnes). It ranks 3rd of 214 countries for imports of this product. Value rose 22% on 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2021, at $1.07 billion.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
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Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $443.3M | 64.9K t |
| 2023 | $361.9M | 33.6K t |
| 2022 | $412.6M | 34.8K t |
| 2021 | $1.07B | 93.1K t |
| 2020 | $849.6M | 89.3K t |
| 2019 | $416.5M | 38.4K t |
| 2018 | $376.1M | 39.1K t |
| 2017 | $259.7M | 24.6K t |
Where Nigeria imports light cotton fabric from
China alone supplied 56% of it. Among the main suppliers, Austria grew fastest (+49% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $247.8M | 56% |
| India | $110.8M | 25% |
| United Kingdom | $37.7M | 8.5% |
| Austria | $36.0M | 8.1% |
| Switzerland | $3.9M | 0.9% |
| Cote d'Ivoire | $3.3M | 0.8% |
| Netherlands | $1.4M | 0.3% |
| Germany | $1.1M | 0.3% |
| Niger | $441K | 0.1% |
| Egypt | $340K | 0.1% |
Product types under HS 5208
| 5208.39 | Dyed light woven cotton fabric (other weaves) | 57% |
| 5208.52 | Printed medium plain cotton fabric | 25% |
| 5208.29 | Bleached light woven cotton fabric (other weaves) | 4.7% |
| 5208.13 | Unbleached light twill cotton fabric | 3.6% |
| 5208.32 | Dyed medium plain cotton fabric | 2.9% |
| 5208.59 | Printed light woven cotton fabric (other weaves) | 1.7% |
| 5208.11 | Unbleached light plain cotton fabric | 1.6% |
| 5208.12 | Unbleached medium plain cotton fabric | 1.3% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 5208.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $6.83 per kg, 27% below the world average of $9.39, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Light cotton fabric exports from Nigeria
Exports of light cotton fabric by Nigeria reached $1.3 million in 2024 (613 tonnes). One buyer market dominates: Niger accounted for 68% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, Cameroon grew fastest (+144% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Niger | $860K | 68% |
| Cameroon | $216K | 17% |
| Cote d'Ivoire | $74K | 5.9% |
| Benin | $47K | 3.7% |
| France | $39K | 3.1% |
| Colombia | $11K | 0.9% |
| Brazil | $9K | 0.7% |
| South Africa | $4K | 0.3% |
| Kenya | $3K | 0.3% |
| United States | $2K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in Nigeria?
The shipment records behind Nigeria light cotton fabric imports (HS 5208): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 5208: Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, weighing not more than 200 g/m2.
Common questions
What is the value of light cotton fabric imported by Nigeria?
Nigeria imported light cotton fabric worth $443.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 64.9 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 3rd of 214 countries worldwide, with 5% of world imports. The value was up 22% on 2023.
Which countries supply light cotton fabric to Nigeria?
China was the largest supplier with 56% of the value ($247.8 million), followed by India (25%) and the United Kingdom (8%). The top three together account for 89%, out of 29 supplier countries in total. Egypt grew fastest among the top ten, up 594% on the year.
What is the average import price of light cotton fabric per kg?
The average declared import value was about $6.83 per kg in 2024, 27% below the world average of $9.39 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of light cotton fabric to Nigeria changed since 2017?
Imports went from $259.7 million in 2017 to $443.3 million in 2024, an increase of 71%. The peak was 2021 at $1.07 billion. Over 8 years the average was $523.5 million a year.
Does Nigeria also export light cotton fabric?
Yes. Nigeria exported $1.3 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Niger, Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire. On balance Nigeria is a net importer of this product, by about $442.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for light cotton fabric?
The HS code for light cotton fabric is heading 5208. In Nigeria the largest six-digit codes were 5208.39 (57% of the value) and 5208.52 (25%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX has a direct customs feed for Nigeria, so the importers and exporters behind these totals are visible by name, shipment by shipment. Ask for a live look at your product.
Same product, other countries
World light cotton fabric trade: top importers and exporters
Light cotton fabric product types in Nigeria
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