Soap imports in Nigeria: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Nigeria imported soap worth $45.6 million (28.8 thousand tonnes). Value fell 54% from 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 7% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2023, at $99.4 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $45.6M | 28.8K t |
| 2023 | $99.4M | 65.7K t |
| 2022 | $91.3M | 60.0K t |
| 2021 | $81.6M | 61.8K t |
| 2020 | $76.9M | 68.6K t |
| 2019 | $94.5M | 88.2K t |
| 2018 | $70.4M | 61.2K t |
| 2017 | $75.5M | 85.5K t |
Where Nigeria imports soap from
The largest suppliers were Malaysia (21%), Cote d'Ivoire (18%), Thailand (18%). Among the main suppliers, Cote d'Ivoire grew fastest (+107% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysia | $9.6M | 21% |
| Cote d'Ivoire | $8.3M | 18% |
| Thailand | $8.1M | 18% |
| Indonesia | $7.1M | 16% |
| China | $4.4M | 9.8% |
| France | $2.7M | 5.9% |
| Benin | $1.1M | 2.3% |
| Poland | $641K | 1.4% |
| India | $599K | 1.3% |
| Philippines | $489K | 1.1% |
Product types under HS 3401
| 3401.11 | Toilet bar soap | 43% |
| 3401.20 | Liquid and cream soap | 26% |
| 3401.30 | Liquid skin wash | 21% |
| 3401.19 | Industrial bar soap | 9.4% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 3401.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.59 per kg, 31% below the world average of $2.31, 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.
Soap exports from Nigeria
Exports of soap by Nigeria reached $7.0 million in 2024 (4.6 thousand tonnes). One buyer market dominates: Ghana accounted for 62% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, Senegal grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Ghana | $4.3M | 62% |
| United States | $435K | 6.2% |
| Benin | $347K | 5% |
| Niger | $264K | 3.8% |
| Senegal | $238K | 3.4% |
| Saudi Arabia | $158K | 2.3% |
| United Kingdom | $140K | 2% |
| Singapore | $136K | 1.9% |
| Netherlands | $129K | 1.9% |
| Cote d'Ivoire | $110K | 1.6% |
Who is behind these numbers in Nigeria?
The shipment records behind Nigeria soap imports (HS 3401): 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 3401: Soap; organic surface-active preparations used as soap, skin washing, in bars, cakes, moulded pieces, shapes, liquid or cream, containing soap or not; for retail, paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent.
Common questions
What is the value of soap imported by Nigeria?
Nigeria imported soap worth $45.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 28.8 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 68th of 225 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 54% on 2023.
Which countries supply soap to Nigeria?
Malaysia was the largest supplier with 21% of the value ($9.6 million), followed by Cote d'Ivoire (18%) and Thailand (18%). The top three together account for 57%, out of 50 supplier countries in total. Cote d'Ivoire grew fastest among the top ten, up 107% on the year.
What is the average import price of soap per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.59 per kg in 2024, 31% below the world average of $2.31 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of soap to Nigeria changed since 2017?
Imports went from $75.5 million in 2017 to $45.6 million in 2024, a fall of 40%. The peak was 2023 at $99.4 million. Over 8 years the average was $79.4 million a year.
Does Nigeria also export soap?
Yes. Nigeria exported $7.0 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Ghana, the United States and Benin. On balance Nigeria is a net importer of this product, by about $38.6 million a year.
What is the HS code for soap?
The HS code for soap is heading 3401. In Nigeria the largest six-digit codes were 3401.11 (43% of the value) and 3401.20 (26%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; the company-level detail sits in EximDataX, which has a direct customs feed for Nigeria. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
Soap product types in Nigeria
More trade data for Nigeria
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