Nigeria: Projected Level of Demand, Supply, and Imports of Farm Products in 1965 and 1975, with Implications for U.S. Agriculture

Report Summary: Nigeria is a republic within the British Commonwealth of independent nations. In 1962 total imports of foodstuffs (excluding fish), drink, and tobacco items were valued at $55.8 million. This represented 10 percent of that nation's imports of goods, a percentage which has not changed noticeably since 1954. A substantial part of Nigeria's agricultural imports of wheat and tobacco are from the United States. U. S. shipments of wheat and wheat flour to Nigeria have risen considerably during the past decade. They ranged from 1 to 2.6 million bushels, wheat equivalent, from 1954 through 1962. The recent opening of a flour mill near Lagos resulted in wheat replacing wheat flour as an import product. Imports of unmanufactured tobacco from the United States have been 2.8 million pounds per year, but there has been no tendency for imports of American leaf tobacco to rise, since Nigerian production has been expanding. Exports of U. S. dairy products to Nigeria have consisted almost entirely of milk powder donated under Public Law 480. U. S. wheat exports to Nigeria are projected to reach, at a minimum, 2.2 million bushels in 1965 and 4.2 million bushels by 1975. The United States may also export about 2.8 million pounds of unmanufactured tobacco to Nigeria in 1965 and in 1975, Projections show commercial exports of powdered milk reaching 3,100 metric tons by 1975. On a percentage basis the United States may expect to supply at least 67 percent of Nigeria's wheat and tobacco needs in 1965 and 1975 and at least 20 percent of her dry milk needs in 1975.