Nigeria’s non-oil export sector recorded a significant leap in the first half of 2025, reaching a value of $3.225 billion, according to new figures released by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) on Sunday.
The figure represents a 19.59% increase compared to the $2.696 billion posted during the same period in 2024, signaling continued growth in Nigeria’s efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil.
Presenting the H1 2025 Progress Report in Abuja, the NEPC Executive Director/CEO, Nonye Ayeni, attributed the impressive performance to sustained global demand, strategic government interventions, and growing market access under international trade frameworks.
“I am pleased to announce that non-oil products exported in the first half of 2025 were valued at $3.225 billion, marking a substantial increase over last year’s figures,” Dr. Ayeni said.
In terms of volume, Nigeria shipped 4.04 million metric tonnes of goods abroad between January and June 2025 up from 3.83 million metric tonnes recorded in the same period in 2024.
High Demand, AfCFTA Boost Exports
The growth was largely driven by heightened demand for Nigerian commodities like cocoa, cashew, sesame, and aluminium particularly from markets in India, Brazil, Vietnam, and other African countries.
Ayeni cited improved logistics, enhanced quality control, and wider market access under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as major contributors to the sector’s performance.
“The AfCFTA has provided significant tariff relief and expanded market reach for Nigerian exporters,” she noted.
“The Council’s capacity-building initiatives on packaging, certification, and standards have also helped position Nigerian products for international competitiveness.”
Q1 Set the Pace for Strong H1 Growth
In Q1 2025 alone, non-oil exports were valued at $1.791 billion, representing a 24.75% rise over the $1.436 billion posted in Q1 2024. Export volumes for that quarter hit 2.416 million metric tonnes, up 24.3% from the 1.937 million metric tonnes recorded the previous year.
Cocoa Tops Export Chart
Nigeria exported a total of 236 distinct products in the first half of the year an increase from 202 products exported during the same period in 2024, reflecting growing diversity in the sector.
Cocoa beans emerged as the most valuable export, accounting for 34.88% of total export value, a sharp rise from 23.18% last year. Urea/fertilizer came in second at 17.65%, followed by cashew nuts at 12.35%, and sesame seeds at 4.23%.
Ayeni noted the growing shift from raw agricultural exports to semi-processed and manufactured products, describing it as a promising trend for value addition and increased revenue.
Leading Exporters and Key Destinations
Among the top exporting companies were:
- Indorama Eleme Fertilizer & Chemical Ltd – 11.92% of total export value
- Starlink Global & Ideal Ltd – 8.82%
- Dangote Fertilizer Ltd – 6.39%
In terms of destinations, The Netherlands, the United States, and India ranked as Nigeria’s top three non-oil export markets in H1 2025, accounting for 18.64%, 8.42%, and 8.36% of export value respectively.
Exports Across Africa
Nigeria exported 663 million metric tonnes of goods to 11 ECOWAS countries and 488 million metric tonnes to 21 other African nations outside ECOWAS, valued at $83.54 million.
Support for Farmers and SMEs
As part of efforts to enhance productivity and export readiness, the NEPC distributed 23,239 hybrid seedlings and farm inputs to 3,047 farmers nationwide. The initiative focused on key commodities like cocoa, sesame, and oil palm.
“This intervention has improved both the quality and quantity of Nigeria’s agricultural exports,” Ayeni said.
Outlook: Nigeria Poised for Record Year
Looking ahead, the NEPC boss expressed optimism that Nigeria could surpass its non-oil export record by the end of 2025 provided the current momentum is maintained through targeted policy support, better infrastructure, and improved access to financing.
“Our mission is clear, to ensure that Nigerian products compete globally while contributing to job creation, poverty reduction, and sustainable economic growth,” Ayeni concluded.
