*Targets sustainable non-oil export growth in 2026
*As Zenith Bank, GTBank, FirstBank lead NXP processing
WorldStage– Nigeria’s non-oil export value recorded $6.1 billion in 2025, about 11.5 per cent above the $5.46 billion recorded in 2024, reflecting diversification, higher volumes, and expanding markets, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) said.
Mrs Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director, NEPC disclosed this at a news conference on the 2025 Non-Oil Export Performance and 2026 Outlook, in Abuja.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
TARGETS SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN 2026
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) says it is targeting effective, sustained growth in non-oil exports in 2026, citing reforms, market expansion and strengthened exporter development initiatives.
Mrs Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director of NEPC said this at a news conference on the 2025 Non-Oil Export Performance and 2026 Outlook on Monday in Abuja.
Ayeni said that the sector showed consolidation and structural adjustment during 2025.
She said that increasing contributions from processed agricultural goods, semi-manufactured products, and solid minerals reflected gradual progress towards industrial exports.
According to Ayeni, NEPC will deepen value addition across agriculture, manufacturing and solid minerals through targeted incentives and infrastructure support.
She said that efforts would focus on reducing dependence on large exporters by supporting small and medium-scale enterprises.
Ayeni said that export governance in solid minerals would be strengthened through improved traceability, quality control and beneficiation frameworks.
She noted the country’s recognition at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Algiers, adding that Nigeria won Best Pavilion for transacting business.
She said that Nigeria was selected to host the 2027 IATF,adding that the selection affirmed its leadership role under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Partnerships with International Trade Centre (ITC), UK trade missions, among others, expanded market access for Nigerian exporters, ” she said.
Ayeni said that NEPC registered 1,129 new exporters in 2025 to ease documentation and improve business formalisation.
She said that engagement with financial institutions improved, with 30 banks participating and 19,975 export proceeds forms processed.
“Zenith Bank, GTBank, and First Bank led Nigerian Export Proceed form (NXP) processing during the year.
“Approximately 94 per cent of exports exited through seaports, supported by airports and land borders.
“NEPC will continue mainstreaming informal trade for improved data accuracy and policy making,” she said.
Ayeni identified the Nigeria-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (UAE CEPA) as critical, noting tariff elimination on over 7,300 Nigerian products.
She said NEPC would sustain collaboration with stakeholders to reduce export rejects and cancellations.
She expressed appreciation to exporters, partners and the media for supporting non-oil export growth, and expressed the council’s commitment to advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda through inclusive export-led economic growth.
