NEPC reports 11.5% growth as cocoa, sesame, urea drive export earnings
The Federal Government says Nigeria’s non-oil exports reached $6.1 billion in 2025, reflecting continued efforts to diversify the country’s export base beyond crude oil.
The figure was disclosed on Monday by the Executive Director of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nonye Ayeni, during a media briefing. According to her, the performance represents an 11.5 per cent increase from the $5.4 billion recorded in December 2024.
Ayeni said the Netherlands, Brazil, and India emerged as Nigeria’s top non-oil export destinations during the year. She added that 1.23 million metric tonnes of goods were exported to 11 countries within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin accounting for the largest share.
However, she noted that regional trade declined following the exit of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS, a development that affected export volumes within the sub-region and across Africa.
A detailed breakdown of the 2025 export data showed that 281 non-oil products were shipped during the year, spanning agricultural commodities as well as processed and semi-processed goods.
Among the leading export products were cocoa, sesame seeds, urea, soya beans, and rubber, underscoring the growing role of agriculture and agro-processing in Nigeria’s external trade.
The NEPC said the latest figures highlight steady progress in expanding Nigeria’s non-oil export portfolio and strengthening its position in global and regional markets.
