By Atoyebi Nike
Nigeria’s non-oil exports rose to $3.225 billion in the first half of 2025, marking a 19.6% increase from the $2.696 billion recorded in the same period last year, according to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
Presenting the H1 2025 report in Abuja, NEPC Executive Director/CEO Nonye Ayeni attributed the growth to robust global demand, improved logistics, market expansion under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and targeted government interventions.
Between January and June, Nigeria exported 4.04 million metric tonnes of goods, up from 3.83 million tonnes in 2024. Key commodities driving the surge included cocoa, cashew, sesame, and aluminum, with strong demand from India, Brazil, Vietnam, and African markets.
Cocoa beans topped the export chart, accounting for 34.88% of total value, followed by urea/fertilizer (17.65%), cashew nuts (12.35%), and sesame seeds (4.23%). The top corporate exporters included Indorama Eleme Fertilizer & Chemical Ltd (11.92%), Starlink Global & Ideal Ltd (8.82%), and Dangote Fertilizer Ltd (6.39%).
The Netherlands, the United States, and India emerged as Nigeria’s leading non-oil export destinations, representing 18.64%, 8.42%, and 8.36% of export value, respectively.
Ayeni highlighted a growing shift towards semi-processed and manufactured goods, alongside initiatives such as distributing 23,239 hybrid seedlings and farm inputs to over 3,000 farmers to boost output and quality.
With Q1 2025 already showing a 24.75% year-on-year jump, Ayeni said Nigeria could break its non-oil export record by year-end if the current trajectory is maintained through policy backing, better infrastructure, and financing access.
