In the first half of 2025, the total value of non-oil products exported from Nigeria stood at $3.22 billion, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has revealed.
According to a statement from the agency, this is 19.59 per cent higher than the $2.69 billion achieved between January and June 2024.
It was also disclosed that the volume of non-oil goods went up by 5.48 per cent to 4.04 million metric tonnes in the period under review from the 3.83 million metric tonnes posted in the first half of last year.
The NEPC stated that during the period, Nigeria exported 236 different products, 16.83 per cent higher than the 202 products exported in the corresponding period of last year, with the items ranging from agricultural commodities, extractive industries, and manufactured as well as semi-processed products.
Business Post reports that the three major exporters were Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemical Limited, Starlink Global and Ideal Limited, and Dangote Fertiliser Limited, accounting for 11.92 per cent, 8.82 per cent, and 6.39 per cent, respectively, mainly from the sale of fertilisers and cocoa products.
The statement revealed that the improvement in the non-oil exports was due to a rise in global demand for Nigerian products, wider market access, and tariff relief provided under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
It was stated that efforts by NEPC to educate Nigerian exporters like capacity building on quality and standards, packaging and labelling, export documentation and certifications also contributed to the increase.
The statement quoted the chief executive of NEPC, Ms Nonye Ayeni, as saying, “I am pleased to inform you that non-oil products exported in the first half of 2025 were valued at $3.225 billion. This shows an increase of 19.59 per cent as against the sum of $2.696 billion recorded for the first half of the year 2024.”
She said the country has witnessed a growth in value-added exports, as more Nigerian exporters adopted value-addition practices, as well as growing demand from emerging economies, such as India, Brazil, Vietnam, and some African countries.
“However, it is pertinent to state here that the non-oil export of Nigerian products is gradually diversifying from traditional agriculture exports to semi-processed/manufactured products,” Ms Ayeni added.
She also noted that, “Nigeria exported 488 million metric tonnes of products worth $83.538 million to 21 African countries outside ECOWAS. This is reflecting an increase of 2.59 per cent of the total export value as compared to 1.96 per cent for the same period of 2024.
“It also lends credence to the fact that the AfCFTA holds the key to intra-African trade. Indeed, Nigeria’s active participation in the AfCFTA is a testament to the significant opportunity it offers to exporting companies, also Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs).”
“A total of 10,214 Nigeria Export Proceed Forms (NXPs) were opened through these banks for non-oil exports with Zenith Bank Plc leading the pack with 31.98 per cent of the total NXPs for non-oil export.
“First Bank Nigeria Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc came second and third, with 12.44 per cent and 11.47 per cent, respectively,” she disclosed.