Market research

Cheese and curd market in Nigeria

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, the cheese and curd market in Nigeria expanded, with volume rising from 20.0 thousand t to 21.7 thousand t. This growth was primarily fueled by increasing urbanization and a growing middle class seeking premium and international food products, which boosted demand. However, local production remained small-scale and constrained by inadequate dairy farming practices and limited modern facilities, causing imports to surge—particularly in 2020 when they reached 2.5 thousand t—to meet the rising consumption.

From 2021 to 2023, market volume stabilized around 20.3 thousand t as production increased only marginally to 19.1 thousand t. Local milk supply remained critically low—less than 1% of demand—while inflation, insecurity, and high production costs limited sector expansion. Although the government and industry stakeholders renewed efforts to boost local dairy production and reduce import reliance, these initiatives had not yet translated into significant output growth by the end of the period.

In 2024, major policy shifts aimed at transforming the dairy sector were implemented. The Federal Government launched the National Dairy Policy (2023–2028), the Central Bank lifted foreign exchange restrictions on milk and dairy imports, and the Ministry of Livestock Development was established. These measures improved market access and competition, reflected in a rise of cheese imports to 1.6 thousand t. However, persistent challenges such as low local milk yield, infrastructure gaps, and high food inflation continued to shape the market environment.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Nigeria
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Nigeria in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Nigeria in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nigeria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nigeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nigeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nigeria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nigeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nigeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nigeria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nigeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nigeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nigeria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nigeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nigeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production cheese and curd in Nigeria

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of cheese and curd, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of cheese and curd, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Nigeria's cheese and curd production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2019, production stood at 18,850 tonnes, rising slightly to 19,114 tonnes in 2020—a modest increase of 1.4%. Over the four-year period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 3.1%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Nigeria in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.8%	0.8%	1.4%	1.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports cheese and curd from Nigeria

Exports in kind, t

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nigeria in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Spain was the nearly exclusive buyer of cheese and curd from Nigeria, accounting for 100.0% of total exports in volume.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Nigeria in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nigeria in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017–2020, 100.0% of Nigeria's cheese and curd exports by value went to Spain, making this market overwhelmingly dominant.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Nigeria in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports cheese and curd to Nigeria

Imports in kind, t

Nigeria's cheese and curd imports have risen for the third consecutive year. In 2019, imports were 1,410 tonnes, surging to 2,544 tonnes in 2020—a sharp increase of 80.4%. Over the 2017–2020 period, imports grew by 199.6%, with an average annual growth rate of 44.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nigeria in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	62.6%	2.1%	80.4%	44.2%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Denmark (42.4% of imports by volume), France (26.6%), and Lebanon (6.4%) were the main sources for Nigeria's cheese and curd imports, together making up 75.4% of total volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Nigeria in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2019, foreign cheese and curd supplies to Nigeria were valued at 4,095 thousand US dollars, climbing to 6,865 thousand US dollars in 2020—a rise of 67.6%. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 74.3%, equating to an average annual rate of 20.3%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 2.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nigeria in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	6.9%	(2.7%)	67.6%	20.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Over 2017–2020, Denmark (51.6% of imports by value), France (28.2%), and Germany (5.8%) led the ranking of suppliers to Nigeria, with their combined share reaching 85.6% of total import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Nigeria in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io