Nigeria’s importation of passenger motor cars rebounded strongly in 2025 as relative stability in the foreign exchange market eased pressure on dealers and buyers, according to foreign trade statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics.
Data from the NBS showed that the value of passenger motor car imports rose to N1.01tn in the first nine months of 2025, compared with N894.09bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.
This represents an increase of N113.15bn or 12.66 per cent year on year, signalling a clear turnaround after months of weak demand driven by currency volatility and rising landing costs. A closer examination of the quarterly figures shows that the recovery gathered momentum only in the second half of the year.
In the first quarter of 2025, passenger motor car imports were valued at N224.58bn, down from N238.73bn in the same period of 2024. This reflected a decline of N14.15bn or about 5.9 per cent, indicating that importers were still grappling with the impact of earlier exchange rate instability.
The second quarter followed a similar trajectory. Imports stood at N254.67bn between April and June 2025, compared with N291.93bn in the corresponding quarter of 2024. The difference of N37.26bn translated to a contraction of roughly 12.8 per cent, suggesting that caution persisted despite gradual improvements in FX liquidity.
The trend reversed sharply in the third quarter. Between July and September 2025, the value of passenger motor car imports jumped to N527.98bn, from N363.42bn in the same period of the previous year. This represented an increase of N164.56bn or about 45.3 per cent, more than offsetting the declines recorded in the first half of the year and driving the overall nine-month growth.
Country-level data shows the scale of the rebound. In the first quarter of 2025, imports of used vehicles with diesel or semi-diesel engines and a cylinder capacity above 2,500cc from the United States were valued at N93.51bn, making the United States Nigeria’s largest source of passenger vehicles in that period.
South Africa followed with N25.84bn worth of vehicles for goods transport, while imports from Angola and Liberia were marginal. In the second quarter, imports from the United States remained elevated at N99.18bn, while South Africa accounted for N21.43bn.
Liberia and Equatorial Guinea contributed smaller values, reflecting limited volumes in those categories. The surge became more pronounced in the third quarter. Used diesel vehicles above 2,500cc imported from the United States alone were valued at N184.21bn, nearly double the level recorded in the first quarter.
Additional imports included N38.15bn worth of used vehicles with engine capacity between 1,500cc and 2,500cc from the US market. The United Arab Emirates also emerged as a key source, with imports valued at N13.67bn, alongside N12.68bn worth of petrol engine vehicles imported in completely knocked down form.
The PUNCH further observed that vehicles traced to the US were valued at about N415.05bn in the first nine months of 2025, which means that the US accounted for 41.21 per cent of Nigeria’s total passenger motor car imports during the period under review.
South Africa followed at a distant level, with total imports valued at N47.27bn, representing 4.69 per cent of total imports for the period. The United Arab Emirates featured prominently in the third quarter, with imports totalling about N26.35bn, which was 2.62 per cent of the nine-month import value.
Overall, the data shows that while passenger motor car imports in the first half of 2025 were N51.41bn lower than the same period of 2024, the third quarter alone exceeded its 2024 equivalent by N164.56bn. This swing explains why the nine-month import value closed higher by more than N113bn.
Analysts speak
Analysts say the figures reflect renewed confidence among importers as exchange rate volatility eased and access to foreign exchange improved, even though vehicle prices remain high. The rebound in vehicle imports was consistent with developments in the foreign exchange market in the third quarter of 2025.
According to an economic and financial markets review by FCSL Research, the naira maintained a strong and stable performance in Q3 2025, appreciating by 3.2 per cent to N1,480.66 to the dollar as improved dollar inflows, sustained interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria, and a $2.87bn increase in external reserves to $42.23bn helped anchor market confidence.
“Naira maintained a strong and stable performance in Q3 2025, appreciating by 3.2 per cent to N1,480.66/$ as improved dollar inflows, consistent CBN interventions, and a $2.87bn rise in external reserves to $42.23bn anchored market confidence,” the analysts at FCSL Research stated.
The report noted that FX trading remained within a narrow N1,480 to N1,540 per dollar band during the quarter, supported by robust oil receipts, the clearance of FX forwards, and renewed foreign portfolio inflows, creating what it described as one of the most orderly quarters for the naira since FX market reforms began.
Looking ahead, the analysts said the naira’s stability was expected to hold into the fourth quarter on the back of sustained portfolio inflows, steady oil earnings, and better coordination between monetary and fiscal policies, although they warned that mild volatility could still emerge around import cycles or swings in global oil prices.
“The naira’s stability is expected to hold into Q4, supported by sustained portfolio inflows, steady oil earnings, and coordinated monetary-fiscal policy execution. However, mild volatility may surface around import cycles or global oil price swings,” the report read.
Analysts have projected that the naira would close the year within the 1,400.00-1,450.00/$ band on the back of moderating inflation. In a macroeconomic update titled ‘Moderating inflation bodes well for Nigeria’s currency valuation’, the analysts at CardinalStone Research anticipate that the deceleration in inflation will strengthen the national currency.
CardinalStone said, “The ongoing disinflationary trends bode well for currency valuation. Combined with a sustained current account surplus and a steady build-up in FX reserves, this is expected to underpin further naira appreciation. We project FX to close the year within the range of N1,400.00/$ – N1,450.00/$.
In September 2025, The PUNCH reported that the naira appreciated and stayed below the 1,500/$ threshold for 10 consecutive trading sessions at the official market, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The domestic currency had traded below the N1,500/$ threshold for the first time in over six months on September 15, when it closed trading at 1,497/$. Since then, the naira has strengthened and closed Friday’s trading at 1,480/$. At the parallel market, the currency had recorded some positive sentiments too, as it appreciated 0.13 per cent to an average of 1,510/$.
Reviewing the performance of the naira in the past week, AIICO Capital highlighted improved liquidity from local participants, oil inflows, and offshore portfolio investors as providing the base for the continued rally of the currency.
It maintained that the recent stability in the FX market will be sustained in the near term, as the CBN continues to fine-tune its policies alongside fiscal measures by the FGN aimed at supporting liquidity.
Cowry Asset Management Limited echoed similar sentiments, saying, “Looking ahead, the naira is expected to stay relatively stable across markets, supported by stronger FX inflows, reserve build-up, and sustained Central Bank of Nigeria interventions.”
Earlier, dealers and economists noted that the previous decline in car imports was not only a reflection of weak demand but a sign of deeper structural challenges in Nigeria’s economy, high inflation, rising taxes, and limited credit access.
However, as foreign exchange conditions become more predictable, there appears to be renewed demand for foreign cars. Speaking earlier with The PUNCH, an official at Ports & Terminal Multipurpose Limited, one of the country’s busiest car-importing terminals, attributed this surge in car imports to exchange rate stability, which has enabled importers to plan more effectively.
“Unlike before, the exchange rate is now more predictable. Importers can plan ahead, inflation is slowing, and businesses are finding room to expand. This has encouraged more vehicle importation compared to the uncertainty that plagued the market in 2023 and 2024,” the source said in confidence due to a lack of authorisation to speak on the matter.
The PTML Chapter Chairman of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Mr Thomas Alor, also confirmed the increase. “There is a clear rise in vehicle importation this year compared to last year. While I cannot give an exact percentage, the volume of vehicles arriving at the ports has significantly grown,” he said.
Similarly, the Apapa Chapter Chairman of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, Mr Abayomi Duyile, earlier said that the surge is noticeable. He attributed part of the growth to changes in the assessment of customs duties on vehicles.
“Last year, car clearance was slowed because duties were extremely high. The imputed values in the Customs system inflated costs. But with the introduction of the 846 valuation method, duties were reviewed downward. This has provided some relief for importers,” Duyile explained.
He further noted that customs now factor in depreciation, mileage, and wear-and-tear in valuing used vehicles, which has brought duties more in line with market realities.
punch.ng
FOLLOW US ON:
