Nigeria’s Non-Oil Exports Surge 24.75% in Q1 2025, Valued at $1.79 Billion
Cocoa Beans Lead the Charge with 45% Share of Total Non-Oil Exports
Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s non-oil export sector has demonstrated remarkable growth in the first quarter of 2025, recording a 24.75% increase compared to the same period in 2024. According to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), non-oil products valued at $1.791 billion were exported between January and March 2025, up from $1.436 billion in Q1 2024.
Significant Volume and Value Growth
Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, revealed these findings during a press briefing in Abuja. “The volume of exports increased to 2.416 million metric tonnes, representing a 243.44% surge from 1.937 million metric tonnes recorded in Q1 2024,” Ayeni stated.
This growth follows Nigeria’s record non-oil export performance in 2024, which reached $5.456 billion – a 20.77% year-on-year increase from $4.517 billion in 2023.
Top Export Products and Companies
The export basket expanded to 197 distinct products in Q1 2025, up from 162 products in the same period last year. The product range included:
- Manufactured goods
- Semi-processed goods
- Industrial extracts
- Agricultural commodities
Cocoa and its derivatives dominated exports, accounting for 45.02% of total non-oil exports. Other top performers included:
- Urea Fertiliser (19.32%)
- Cashew Nuts (5.81%)
- Sesame Seeds
- Gold Dore
Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemical Limited and Starlink Global & Ideal Limited emerged as the top exporting companies, contributing 12.07% and 10.00% respectively to the total export value.
African Trade Expansion
Exports to ECOWAS member states grew by 223.10% to $63.060 million, while other African nations imported $32.732 million worth of Nigerian products. Ayeni emphasized the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in driving intra-African trade.
Government Commitment to Export Growth
The NEPC remains committed to supporting exporters through:
- Capacity building programs
- Standardization initiatives
- Market access enhancement
These efforts align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the strategic “Double Your Exports” campaign.
Ayeni concluded: “We’re working diligently to position Nigeria as Africa’s leading trade hub and maintain our status as the Giant of Africa.”
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