Nigeria exported a total of 663 million metric tonnes of products to
11 ECOWAS member states in the first half of 2025, according to data released
by the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
The figure represents a notable increase compared to
the same period in 2024, underscoring the country’s growing role in regional
trade.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Sunday, Mrs.
Nonye Ayeni, Director-General of NEPC, presented the council’s 2025
Half-Year Non-Oil Export Performance Report. She described the results as a
positive signal of Nigeria’s expanding footprint in West Africa’s economic
landscape.
Exports Beyond ECOWAS
Ayeni revealed that Nigeria also exported 488
million metric tonnes of products valued at $83.54 million to 21
African countries outside the ECOWAS bloc. This marks a 2.59% increase in
total export value, up from 1.96% recorded during the same period in
2024.
“It also lends credence to the fact that the African
Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) holds the key to intra-African trade,”
Ayeni said.
She noted that Nigeria’s active participation in the
AfCFTA provides significant opportunities for exporting companies and Small and
Medium Enterprises (SMEs), while boosting inclusive economic growth across the
continent.
Top Exporters and Banks Driving Trade
According to the report, Indorama Eleme Fertiliser
and Chemical Ltd and Starlink Global and Ideal Ltd maintained their
positions as Nigeria’s top non-oil exporters, contributing 11.92% and 8.82%
of total non-oil export volume respectively.
The NEPC disclosed that 29 banks facilitated export
transactions within the review period. A total of 10,214 Nigeria Export
Proceed Forms (NXPs) were processed, with Zenith Bank Plc leading by
handling 31.98% of the total. First Bank Nigeria Plc followed
with 12.44%, and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc with 11.47%.
Export Infrastructure and Capacity
Building
Eighteen exit points were utilized for non-oil
exports, comprising eight seaports, three international airports, and seven
land borders. Seaports accounted for 94.15% of total export traffic,
reaffirming their vital role in Nigeria’s export logistics chain.
To further strengthen export readiness, NEPC conducted
252 capacity-building programmes nationwide, reaching 27,352
participants. These trainings covered export documentation, procedures,
standards, and best practices, including Good Agricultural Practices (GAP),
Good Warehousing Practice (GWP), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), as well as
packaging and labeling.
Ayeni commended the Federal Ministry of Industry,
Trade, and Investment for its role in positioning Nigeria as a regional
trade hub and a key player in Africa’s economic development.
“The half-year report reflects Nigeria’s steady
progress in diversifying its economy through non-oil exports and leveraging
regional trade agreements to expand market access,” she added.
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