Non-oil exports boom, hit $3.2bn in six months

Nigeria’s non-oil exports surged to $3.225 billion in the first half of 2025, a 19.59% increase from the $2.696 billion recorded in the same period last year, according to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).

NEPC Executive Director/CEO, Nonye Ayeni, disclosed the figures in Abuja on Sunday while presenting the council’s Half-Year Progress Report. Export volumes also rose to 4.04 million metric tonnes, up from 3.83 million metric tonnes in H1 2024, driven by strong global demand from markets including India, Brazil, Vietnam, and other African countries.

Ayeni said the growth reflects higher demand for key commodities such as cocoa, sesame, cashew, and aluminium, as well as benefits from wider market access and tariff relief under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). She noted that NEPC-led interventions — including training on quality standards, packaging, labelling, export documentation, and certification — have boosted value-added exports and global visibility for Nigerian products.

“In the first half of 2025, Nigeria exported 236 distinct products, up 16.83% from 202 products last year,” she said. “Cocoa beans led with 34.88% of total export value, followed by urea/fertiliser at 17.65% and cashew nuts at 12.35%.”

Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemical Limited was the top exporter, accounting for 11.92% of total export value, followed by Starlink Global & Ideal Limited (8.82%) and Dangote Fertilizer Limited (6.39%).

The Netherlands, United States, and India were the top destinations, with 18.64%, 8.42%, and 8.36% of total export value respectively. Within Africa, Nigeria shipped 663 million metric tonnes to 11 ECOWAS countries, and 488 million metric tonnes worth $83.54 million to 21 other African nations outside ECOWAS.

Ayeni added that the NEPC distributed 23,239 hybrid seedlings and farm inputs to 3,047 farmers nationwide to improve quality and increase production for export. She expressed optimism that Nigeria could surpass its 2025 non-oil export record with sustained policy support, better infrastructure, and improved financing access.

“Our mission is to ensure Nigerian products compete favourably anywhere in the world while contributing to job creation, poverty reduction, and sustainable growth,” she said.