Nigeria’s net foreign exchange (forex) inflow increased by 23.2 per cent year-on-year to $35.77 billion in the first half of 2026 (H1 2026), up from $29.77 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
An analysis of data from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Quarterly Statistical Bulletin showed that total forex inflow rose by 12.7 per cent to $63.82 billion in H1 2026, compared with $56.62 billion in H1 2025.
However, total forex outflow fell by 25.5 per cent to $19.98 billion from $26.85 billion recorded in the same period of 2025.
The report showed that forex inflow through the CBN declined marginally by 0.27 per cent to $18.28 billion from $18.33 billion in H1 2025.
In contrast, inflow through autonomous sources increased by 18.7 per cent to $45.5 billion in the first half of 2026, compared with $38.3 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Forex outflow through the CBN also dropped by 40.4 per cent to $12.2 billion from $20.47 billion in H1 2025.
Meanwhile, outflow through autonomous sources rose by 21.8 per cent to $7.8 billion from $6.4 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
Consequently, autonomous sources recorded a net forex inflow of $37.7 billion in H1 2026, up from $31.89 billion in H1 2025.
The CBN, meanwhile, recorded a net forex inflow of $6.12 billion during the period, reversing the net outflow of $2.13 billion recorded in the first half of 2025.