Nigeria rice imports are forecast to hit 3 million tons in the 2025-26 season, making it one of the top global importers of the food staple according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Other top importers include the Philippines with 5.4 million tons, Vietnam at 4.1 million tons, China at 2.6 million tons and Iraq at 2.2 million tons.
Nigeria’s annual rice production is estimated to be about 7.9 to 8.7 million metric tons for the 2024–2025 period.
According to a U.S. government report, rice production in Nigeria is expected to decrease slightly by 5 percent to around 7.9 million metric tons in the marketing year 2025/26, with imports increasing to bridge the supply gap.
Nigeria aims for self-sufficiency in domestic rice production by 2025, targeting around 6 million metric tons of milled rice (approximately 10 million metric tons of paddy rice).
While production has steadily increased over recent decades, challenges such as high production costs and supply-demand gaps persist, leading to continued rice imports despite high local output.
The cost of a pot of jollof rice in Nigeria, as tracked by SBM Intelligence, has significantly increased.
According to SBM Intelligence, the average cost rose by 153% between March 2023 and June 2025, reaching N27,527.85.
This surge is attributed to various factors including currency devaluation, rising transportation and energy costs, supply chain disruptions, and increased prices for essential ingredients.
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