Nigeria’s non-oil exports rose to $3.225bn in the first half of 2025, showing a strong performance in the country’s drive to diversify its economy. This figure is a 19.59 per cent jump from the $2.696bn recorded in the same period of 2024, according to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, Nonye Ayeni, revealed the figures in Abuja on Sunday while presenting the council’s First Half-Year Progress Report. She said the total volume of goods shipped abroad also increased, hitting 4.04 million metric tonnes, up from 3.83 million metric tonnes last year. This growth was driven by higher demand from countries like India, Brazil, Vietnam, and several African nations.
“In the first half of 2025, non-oil products exported from Nigeria were valued at $3.225bn. This represents an increase of 19.59 per cent compared to the same period in 2024,” Ayeni stated. She also recalled that in Q1 2025 alone, exports were worth $1.791bn, a 24.75 per cent rise from Q1 2024, with shipment volumes up by over 24 per cent.
The NEPC chief explained that the growth was boosted by strong global demand for Nigerian cocoa, sesame, cashew, and aluminium, as well as benefits from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which offers wider market access and tariff relief. She also credited NEPC’s interventions, which included training exporters on quality standards, packaging, labelling, documentation, and certification.
“The rising demand from emerging economies increased Nigeria’s non-oil export volumes and diversity. Many exporters are also adding value to their products, which has improved earnings,” Ayeni noted.
Data from the report showed that Nigeria exported 236 different products in H1 2025, up 16.83 per cent from 202 products in the same period of 2024. Cocoa beans remained the top export, accounting for 34.88 per cent of the total export value, followed by urea/fertiliser at 17.65 per cent and cashew nuts at 12.35 per cent. Sesame seeds contributed 4.23 per cent.
The top exporters in the period were Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemical Limited (11.92 per cent of total export value), Starlink Global & Ideal Limited (8.82 per cent), and Dangote Fertilizer Limited (6.39 per cent).
On the regional front, Nigeria exported 663 million metric tonnes of goods to 11 ECOWAS countries in H1 2025. Exports to 21 other African countries outside ECOWAS stood at 488 million metric tonnes worth $83.54m.
The Netherlands, the United States, and India were the top three destinations for Nigerian non-oil exports, with shares of 18.64 per cent, 8.42 per cent, and 8.36 per cent, respectively.
As part of its efforts to boost agricultural exports, NEPC distributed 23,239 hybrid seedlings and other farm inputs to 3,047 farmers across the country, focusing on cocoa, sesame, and oil palm. Ayeni said this initiative has improved quality and increased production for the export market.
“This programme has significantly enhanced the quality of produce and increased the production of these commodities for export into the global market,” she said.
Looking ahead, Ayeni expressed confidence that with continued policy support, better infrastructure, and improved access to finance, Nigeria could surpass its current export record by the end of 2025.
“Our mission is to ensure Nigerian products compete anywhere in the world while contributing to job creation, poverty reduction, and sustainable economic growth,” she concluded.
