By Abiola Olawale
Nigeria’s non-oil export sector has achieved a milestone, reaching $3.225 billion in the first half of 2025, a 19.59% increase from $2.696 billion recorded in the same period of 2024, according to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
This was revealed in the NEPC’s H1 2025 Non-Oil Export Performance Report presented by Director-General Nonye Ayeni in Abuja.
Ayeni said Nigeria also recorded an export volume of 4.04 million metric tons, in H1 2025.
According to her, the growth reflects Nigeria’s strategic shift toward higher-value goods, moving beyond raw agricultural products to processed and semi-processed commodities.
Breaking down the report, Ayeni emphasized that 663 million metric tons of products were exported within West Africa, signaling strengthened regional trade ties.
She disclosed that cocoa beans emerged as the top-performing export, reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a key player in the global cocoa market.
Other notable products include sesame seeds, hibiscus, and manufactured goods, which contributed to the diverse export portfolio.
She also credited this success to deliberate policies aimed at expanding market access, particularly in the face of international trade challenges such as U.S. tariffs.
Ayeni stated: “I am pleased to inform you that non-oil products exported in the first half of 2025 were valued at $3.225 billion. This shows an increase of 19.59 per cent as against the sum of $2.696 billion recorded for the first half of the year 2024.”
Ayeni stressed that in the first half of 2025, Nigeria exported 236 different products, representing an increase of 16.83 per cent from the 202 products recorded in the same period of 2024.
She added: “However, it is pertinent to state here that the non-oil export of Nigerian products is gradually diversifying from traditional agriculture exports to semi-processed/manufactured products.
“In the same vein, Nigeria exported 488 million metric tonnes of products worth $83.538 million to 21 African countries outside ECOWAS. This reflects an increase of 2.59 per cent of the total export value as compared to 1.96 per cent for the same period of 2024.
“It also lends credence to the fact that the AfCFTA holds the key to intra-African trade. Indeed, Nigeria’s active participation in the AfCFTA is a testament to the significant opportunity it offers to exporting companies, as well as Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).”
