Market research

Milk and cream 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

The volume of Nigeria's milk and cream market expanded gradually from 734 thousand tons in 2018 to 750 thousand tons in 2023, reflecting consistent annual growth. This increase was primarily driven by rising domestic production, which climbed from 731 thousand tons to 749 thousand tons over the same period.

Key policy measures supported this production growth. In 2019, the Central Bank of Nigeria imposed foreign exchange restrictions on dairy imports, reducing import volumes and encouraging local output. The following year, an import ban with exemptions for companies investing in backward integration further stimulated domestic production. By 2023, the launch of the National Dairy Policy provided a framework for long-term investments aimed at achieving self-sufficiency.

The market also saw the implementation of marketing regulations for breast-milk substitutes in 2019, which influenced consumer behavior. Despite challenges such as low productivity in local dairy farming, the overall market volume continued its steady upward trajectory throughout the period.

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, K 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, K 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, K 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 milk and cream in Nigeria

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of milk and cream, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of milk and cream, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Nigeria's milk and cream production has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 741.8 K t of milk and cream, marking a slight gain of 0.8% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, production grew by 2.2%, which equates to an annualized rate of 0.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.8%	0.7%	0.8%	0.7%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports milk and cream 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, Namibia played a dominant role in Nigeria's milk and cream exports in kind, consistently accounting for 100.0% of total flows.

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

Throughout 2017–2020, Namibia remained the almost exclusive buyer of milk and cream from Nigeria, with a share of 100.0% of total exports in value terms.

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 milk and cream to Nigeria

Imports in kind, t

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 2 296 t, while imports peaked in 2017, showing a 4.1-fold variation between these years. In 2020, milk and cream shipments to Nigeria from abroad reached 2 433 t, marking an advance of 6.0% versus the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 70.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(70.1%)	(18.9%)	6.0%	(36.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

Over 2017–2020, Germany (30.4% of imports in kind), Belgium (29.3% of imports in kind), and the Netherlands (21.4% of imports in kind) made the biggest contribution to imports in kind, jointly accounting for 81.1% of total flows.

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

After a two-year decline, milk and cream imports to Nigeria increased. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 1 829 K $ US. In 2020, imports tallied 1 894 K $ US, reflecting a gradual rise of 3.5% compared to 2019. Over the period 2017-2020, imports decreased by 65.3%, with a CAGR of 29.7%. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 53.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(53.7%)	(27.6%)	3.5%	(29.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

Over 2017–2020, Belgium (30.1% of imports in value terms), Germany (28.2% of imports in value terms), and the Netherlands (17.9% of imports in value terms) were the main suppliers of milk and cream to Nigeria, together comprising 76.2% of total imports in value terms.

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