Strengthening partnership, Nigeria, China present 2025 commodities expo
China-Nigeria Expo
… hosting over 250 Chinese manufacturers, 5,000 business reps.
Nigeria and China are set to deepen their trade and economic relations through the 2025 edition of the China Commodities Expo-Nigeria, scheduled from Wednesday, November 5, to Friday, November 7, 2025, in Lagos, organisers said on Tuesday.
The annual Expo, organised by the Trade Development Bureau of China’s Ministry of Commerce in collaboration with Brightway International Exhibition, enjoys the support of various Chinese provinces, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria, and the Nigerian federal and state governments. The 2025 edition is expected to host over 250 Chinese manufacturers and more than 5,000 business representatives.
Chief Representative Officer of Brightway International Exhibition, Muheez Ojulari, described the Expo as a vital platform for promoting economic cooperation across diverse sectors. “This Expo matters because it gives Nigerian firms direct visibility in front of Chinese manufacturers who control global supply chains. It’s a chance to negotiate better terms, secure financing, and diversify our exports,” he said.
The exhibition will feature products across multiple sectors, including automobiles, motorcycles and spare parts; machine tools; food processing and packaging machinery; fashion, textiles and beauty products; construction and building materials; agricultural machinery; electrical and electronic products; medical equipment; home appliances; household items; and power and renewable energy products, among others.
CCE offers free entry to all participants and provides well-equipped B2B meeting rooms to facilitate face-to-face discussions between Nigerian enterprises and Chinese manufacturers. This allows businesses to explore trade opportunities, access new markets, and engage with venture capital for innovative business solutions.
The Expo has received wide support from key Nigerian chambers of commerce and trade associations, including Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association, National Automotive and Technical Association, Motor Mechanics and Technicians Association of Nigeria, Computer and Allied Product Dealers Association of Nigeria, Building Materials Association of Nigeria, Sokoto Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria, Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria, National Association of Small Scale Industrialists, Ogun State Chamber of Commerce and Industry, National Coffee and Tea Association of Nigeria, among others.
The Expo targets a diverse audience, including importers and exporters, captains of industry, government officials, entrepreneurs, employees, and graduates. It offers opportunities to expand business networks, forge partnerships with leading Chinese manufacturers, diversify businesses, attract foreign direct investment, and improve standards of living, thereby contributing to poverty reduction and economic growth.
Since its inception in 2007, the China Commodities Expo has grown into one of Nigeria’s largest trade events. The 2025 edition comes amid rapidly increasing bilateral trade, with Chinese customs data showing trade between Nigeria and China reaching $23.9bn in 2022, including $22.3bn in Chinese exports to Nigeria and $1.6bn in imports from Nigeria.
In the first three quarters of 2023, bilateral trade hit $17.25bn, with Chinese imports from Nigeria rising 22.5 per cent year-on-year. From January to July 2025, trade reached $15.483bn, marking a 34.7 per cent year-on-year increase, making Nigeria China’s second-largest trading partner in Africa.
Beyond trade, the Expo aims to attract foreign investment and venture capital, particularly among Nigerian youths, supporting entrepreneurship, job creation, and poverty reduction. China’s investment footprint in Nigeria continues to grow, with over $1.5bn committed to the Lekki Free Trade Zone and Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone, creating more than 7,000 jobs.
Mr Ojulari highlighted that the Expo plays a significant role in promoting China-Africa economic relations, facilitating technology transfer, and strengthening the mutually beneficial bilateral relationship. The event provides a platform for participants to assess investment and developmental potentials while enhancing business visibility and access to global supply chains.
Through trade, investment, technology transfer, and entrepreneurial support, the 2025 China Commodities Expo is expected to contribute significantly to economic growth, job creation, improved standards of living, and poverty reduction in both Nigeria and China.
