Nigeria, S'Africa drive Russia-Africa $27bn trade boom
Russia-Africa trade reached over $27 billion in 2025, with Nigeria and South Africa serving as key partners. Moscow is focusing on food security, fertilizer exports, and security cooperation to strengthen its economic influence on the continent.
Why it matters
Highlights the growing geopolitical and economic alignment between Russia and various African nations amidst global trade shifts.
Nigeria and South Africa have emerged among the leading drivers of Russia-Africa’s trade which exceeded $27 billion in 2025, even as Moscow outlined five- point strategic plans to deepen economic ties with the continent.
Director, Information and Press Department and Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Maria Zakharova, disclosed this at the Russia-Africa Media Forum ahead of the third Russia-Africa Summit billed for October 28 and 29 in Moscow.
Zakharova said Russia’s largest trading partners traditionally were Egypt and Algeria, while economic ties were actively developing with other African states, including Nigeria, Morocco, South Africa, and Tunisia, among others.
“Following the results of 2025 of last year, the trade turnover of Russia with the countries of Africa exceeded $27 billion.
“Our largest trading partners traditionally are Egypt, and Algeria, economic ties are actively developing with Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia, Nigeria, other states.”
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