Nigeria’s non-oil export value recorded 6.1 billion dollars in 2025 reflecting diversification, higher volumes and expanding markets, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) said on Monday.

Nonye Ayeni, executive director, NEPC disclosed this at a news conference on the 2025 Non-Oil Export Performance and 2026 Outlook, in Abuja.

Ms Ayeni said that the NEPC was in partnership with National Bureau of Statistics, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other stakeholders to mainstream informal trade.

According to her, based on records obtained from the pre-shipment inspection agencies, Nigeria’s non-oil export performance in 2025 reached an all-time high.

“Non-oil export value rose to approximately 6.1 billion dollars, representing a year-on-year increase of about 11.5 per cent over and above the 5.46 billion dollars recorded in 2024.

“This marks the highest non-oil export value achieved in the country for formal documented trade since the inception of the council.

“This beats our own record and underscores the growing resilience and relevance of the non-oil export sector to Nigeria’s economy.

“This outstanding performance is not the total story as a lot export still goes out informally through our various borders,’’ she said.

Ms Ayeni said that in volume terms, total non-oil exports stood at 8.02 million metric tonnes, reflecting a 10 per cent increase compared to the 7.29 million metric tonnes recorded in the previous year.

She said that the growth in both value and volume demonstrated improved export activity across multiple value chains and market destinations.

“In 2025, Nigeria exported a total of 281 non-oil products. 

“These products cut across agricultural commodities, processed and semi-processed goods, industrial inputs and solid minerals.

“These reflect gradual progress toward value addition and broader product representation in global markets,” she said.

She said that Nigeria’s non-oil exports reached markets across 120 countries, with the Netherlands contributing 17.53 per cent, Brazil -10.35 per cent, and India – 7.63 per cent.

“These three countries emerged as the top three destinations by value.

“Export to Netherlands increased by 32.46 per cent with products including cocoa beans, cocoa butter, sesame seeds and others..

“Export to Brazil increased by 19.07 per cent,” she said. 

The NEPC boss said that the achievement reflected sustained economic diversification under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

She said that the agenda had delivered tangible results in job creation, poverty alleviation, and strengthening Nigeria’s position within global trade through deepened non-oil export development.

She said that supportive policies of the federal ministry of industry, trade and investment, also contributed significantly to the improved export outcomes.

According to her, NEPC initiatives empowered exporters through capacity building, market access, certification support, and improved compliance across export value chains from production to shipment.

Ms Ayeni commended Nigerian exporters for their resilience and determination despite logistics constraints, regulatory pressures, and global market uncertainties encountered during the year under review.

She said that collaboration among government agencies, private sector operators, and development partner’s strengthened implementation of the “Double Your Export” mantra and related initiatives.

She said that cocoa beans, urea, cashew, sesame seed, gold dore, aluminium ingots, rubber,and copper ingots ranked among top-performing export products.

Ms Ayeni said that exports to ECOWAS declined slightly due to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger exiting the regional bloc, affecting intra-African trade figures.

She said that African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) remained critical for expanding intra-African trade, positioning Nigeria as a regional hub under continental market integration efforts.

The NEPC boss attributed the performance to reduced export rejects, improved documentation, better logistics recovery, and strong global demand for Nigerian commodities.

She expressed optimism that sustained reforms would further strengthen non-oil exports as a strategic pillar of Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda. 

(NAN)