Nigeria’s soybean export potential is facing an unexpected test in one of the world’s major agricultural markets, as Indian customs authorities investigate an increase in shipments declared as originating in neighbouring Niger, amid suspicions that some cargoes may have been sourced from Nigeria and mislabelled to secure duty-free access.
The investigation follows a record rise in India’s soybean imports, which reached 909,606 metric tonnes in the first seven months of 2026, compared with just 1,996 tonnes in the corresponding period a year earlier. Of that volume, 380,868 tonnes were declared as originating in Niger, a country whose soybean production is understood to be extremely limited.
The discrepancy has prompted Indian customs authorities to demand additional evidence from importers to establish the true origin of the consignments, according to notices and documents reviewed by Reuters.
India’s import data reveal the scale of the anomaly. Shipments declared as originating in Niger rose from zero in the first seven months of 2025 to 380,868 tonnes in the corresponding period of 2026, making the country India’s largest declared soybean supplier during the period.
The increase is striking given Niger’s negligible soybean production compared with Nigeria’s established position in West Africa’s oilseed industry.
Indian customs authorities have questioned whether the declared import volumes are consistent with Niger’s production and export capacity. In notices to importers, the department said the country’s soybean production was very limited and that import quantities appeared to exceed its usual production and export capacity.
Although the investigation has not established that the shipments originated in Nigeria, the suspected mislabelling places the country’s agricultural trade within the scope of a wider examination of commodity origin and preferential tariff treatment.
Indian customs initially cleared the consignments after importers submitted certificates of origin, phytosanitary certificates and other documents required for duty-free treatment. Authorities are now seeking further evidence that the goods genuinely qualify for the preference.
Some importers have said they lack the additional information requested and have contacted their overseas suppliers to obtain supporting records. The probe has already affected trading activity. A Dubai-based exporter said importers had stopped purchasing soybeans declared as originating in Niger after receiving customs notices late in the previous month.
The investigation comes as Nigeria seeks to expand domestic soybean output and capture more value from agricultural production.
In 2025, the federal government unveiled the National Soyabean Production and Expansion Policy and Strategy, targeting increased production, higher revenue and job creation.
However, Nigeria’s agricultural trade position has recently weakened. The country’s agricultural trade balance shifted from a N740.27 billion surplus in the first half of 2025 to a N56.13 billion deficit in the first half of 2026, according to figures cited by Nairametrics.
India’s investigation is expected to create opportunities for legitimate suppliers elsewhere in West Africa, including Nigeria, Togo and Benin, if importers seek alternative sources with verifiable production and export documentation.
However, converting that opportunity into sustained market access will require more than available farmland and production capacity. Exporters will need credible certificates of origin, traceable procurement records, consistent quality standards and transparent logistics arrangements.
