Nigeria to Boost Corn Imports Sixfold by 202627

Nigeria is poised to dramatically increase its corn imports, with projections indicating a sixfold jump to 900,000 tons by the 2026/27 marketing year. This surge is primarily driven by declining domestic production, rising consumption, and potential government interventions to combat food inflation. The USDA forecasts Nigeria's corn production at 11.1 million tons, a 5% year-over-year decrease, while consumption is expected to grow by 3% to 12.1 million tons, fueled by demand from the poultry, aquaculture, and livestock sectors.

The decline in corn output is attributed to higher operating costs, unstable farmgate prices, and reduced incentives for farmers. Some producers may even reduce planted areas or abandon corn production entirely. Additionally, Nigeria's rice production is forecast to drop by 6% to 8.8 million tons, with consumption rising by 6% to 9.1 million tons, leading to an 11% increase in rice imports to 3.1 million tons.

Wheat production in Nigeria is expected to fall by 8% to 120,000 tons, though imports may decrease by around 5% to 5.6 million tons due to higher import prices, weaker consumer purchasing power, and logistics disruptions affecting Black Sea shipments.