‘Products mapping’ and trade in agri-food products between Nigeria and the EU28

摘要

This paper investigates the?dynamics of?comparative advantage in?agri-food products between Nigeria and?the?European Union (EU28). Using ‘products mapping’ approach based on trade balance index (TBI), Balassa index (BI), Lafay index (LFI) and other descriptive approaches, the?findings show that?Nigeria substantially recorded adverse TBI in?trading both with the?world and the?EU28. The?share of?total Nigerian food exports and imports which the?EU28 accounted for, declined from 72% and 40% to?37% and 27% between 1995 and 2017, respectively. The?findings of?both BI and LFI reveals that?between 1995 and 2017, Nigeria’s comparative advantages in?trading in?the world market declined from 12/46 to?8/46 food products. Similarly, Nigeria’s trade with the?EU28 comparative advantages reduced from 12/46 to?9/46 food products. Inversely, the?food products that?Nigeria has?comparative disadvantages and negative TBI in?trading with the?EU28 rose from 31/46 to?35/46. For?Nigeria, to?boost its exports and competitiveness, especially in?products that?the country has?natural advantages in?producing, there is an?urgent need for?increasing investment and?implementing policies on domestic agricultural and food value chains.