Nigeria’s non-oil export sector recorded a record $6.1 billion in 2025, signaling growth in market reach, product diversification, and global competitiveness, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) announced on Monday.
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director of NEPC, said the performance marked an 11.5 percent increase over the $5.46 billion recorded in 2024, setting a historic high for formally documented non-oil trade.
“This achievement underscores the growing resilience of Nigeria’s non-oil exports and their increasing relevance to the national economy,” Ayeni said, noting that significant volumes continue to leave the country informally through various borders, highlighting further growth potential.
In volume terms, total non-oil exports reached 8.02 million metric tonnes, up 10 percent from 7.29 million metric tonnes in 2024. NEPC data show 281 non-oil products were exported, spanning agriculture, processed and semi-processed goods, industrial inputs, and solid minerals, reflecting progress in value addition and global market integration.
The council reported that Nigerian products reached 120 countries, with the Netherlands (17.53%), Brazil (10.35%) and India (7.63%) emerging as the top destinations. Cocoa beans, cocoa butter, sesame seeds, cashew, urea, gold dore, aluminium ingots, rubber, and copper ingots were among the highest-performing commodities.
Ayeni attributed the success to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which has prioritized economic diversification, job creation, and poverty alleviation, as well as supportive policies from the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. NEPC initiatives, including capacity building, certification support, and market access facilitation, were also credited for enhancing export compliance and competitiveness.
Despite challenges—including logistics constraints, regulatory pressures, and declining ECOWAS trade due to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger exiting the bloc—NEPC highlighted the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a critical opportunity for expanding intra-African trade and establishing Nigeria as a regional hub.
Ayeni concluded that improved documentation, reduced export rejects, and strong global demand have strengthened the sector’s outlook, and she expressed confidence that continued reforms would cement non-oil exports as a strategic pillar of Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.