Growth Gateway: Developing Countries Trading Scheme in Nigeria, guidance for UK importers (summary)
Published 13 October 2025
The UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), launched in 2023, simplifies and expands trade preferences for 65 countries, including Nigeria, which now benefits from Enhanced Preference status. This grants duty-free access to at least 85% of eligible Nigerian exports, covering over 3,000 products such as cocoa, sesame, fertilisers, cotton, petrochemicals, and seafood. Tariff reductions, averaging 7 percentage points, are expected to save UK importers hundreds of thousands of pounds annually, while also improving product affordability and quality for UK consumers.
The scheme also simplifies rules of origin, allowing up to 75% non-originating content in many product categories and enabling regional cumulation across 95 countries. This supports regional supply chains and makes it easier for UK importers to source components from Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
Nigeria now enjoys preferential terms over major competitors like India and Indonesia on key products such as textiles, leather goods, and milled products. These changes are designed to reduce paperwork, improve transparency, and encourage UK businesses to diversify sourcing.
UK importers are encouraged to explore opportunities in high-potential Nigerian sectors, including cocoa (worth £250 million), petrochemicals (over £1 billion), and flowers (£600 million). Agencies such as the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria support compliance and quality assurance.
By leveraging the DCTS, UK importers can build more resilient, cost-effective supply chains while contributing to sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.