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.
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.
“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.
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.
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. (NAN)
