Nigerian manufacturers continued to face borrowing costs above 30 per cent across all major industrial sectors in 2025, showing the high financing burden confronting the real sector despite a modest easing in interest rates.
According to data from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, the average interest rate administered to manufacturers stood at 32.1 per cent in 2025, compared with 35.6 per cent in 2024.
The average rate was 32.5 per cent in the first half of 2025 before moderating to 31.8 per cent in the second half.
Despite the marginal improvement, the cost of credit remained elevated, with every sector surveyed recording an annual average borrowing rate of at least 30.4 per cent
The chemical and pharmaceuticals sector had the lowest average rate at 30.4 per cent in 2025, although this remained substantially higher than rates typically associated with cheaper long-term industrial financing.
Wood and wood products, including furniture, recorded an average rate of 30.8 per cent, while textile, wearing apparel, carpet, leather and leather footwear manufacturers paid an average of 31.6 per cent.
Metal, iron, steel and fabricated metal manufacturers faced an average rate of 32.3 per cent, while electrical and electronics recorded 32.4 per cent.
Food, beverage and tobacco manufacturers borrowed at an average rate of 32.5 per cent, while domestic and industrial plastic, rubber and foam recorded 32.6 per cent rate.
Motor Vehicle and Miscellaneous Assembly recorded 32.8 percent, the same rate as Pulp, Paper and Paper Products, Printing, Publishing and Packaging.
Non-metallic mineral products had the highest annual average borrowing cost at 33 per cent.
The data showed that borrowing costs generally moderated during the year.
MAN said the moderate easing reflected improving economic conditions, including softer headline inflation, more stable energy prices and sustained appreciation of the local currency.
Nevertheless, the association noted that financing costs remained high and continued to pose a substantial hurdle to manufacturing competitiveness and output growth.
The data suggests that while credit conditions showed some improvement in 2025, manufacturers were still paying prohibitively high rates to finance production, working capital and expansion, limiting the ability of businesses to scale operations and invest in new capacity.