Significant increase in demand for Nigerian non- oil products across the globe, including African region earned the country $3.225 billion in non oil export value in the first half of 2025.
The amount represents an increase of 19.59% against the sum of $2.696 billion recorded for the first half of the year 2024.
The volume also increased to 4.04 million metric tonnes compared to the 3.83 million metric tonnes recorded in the same period of 2024, Nigeria Export Promotion Council ( NEPC) non oil export commodities data presented over the weekend by the Executive Director of the Council/ CEO Mrs. Nonye Ayeni revealed.
In April 2025, Nigeria’s non-oil products exported in the first quarter of 2025 recorded a significant value of $1.791 billion indicating a 24.75% increase over the $1.436 billion reported in the first quarter of 2024.
In the period under reference ( first half of 2025) 236 different products were exported, representing an increase of 16.83% when compared to the 202 distinct products exported in the first half of 2024.
The exported non oil products range from agricultural commodities, extractive industries, and manufactured and semi-processed products.
According to Ayeni, top 20 products exported in the first half of 2025 included , cocoa bean with 34.88% value in terms of total export compared to 23.18% for same period in 2024. Urea/Fertilizer, came second with 17.65% as against 13.78% for the first half of 2024 while Cashew Nuts, with 12.35% of the total exported products as against 8.62% for the same period in 2024 was third on the log respectively. In the first half of 2025 as Sesame seed came 4th accounting for 4.23%.
Cocoa and its derivatives topped Nigeria’s non-oil exports in the first half of 2025, accounting for 41.11% of total export value due largely to rising global demand, higher prices, and increased local processing capacity.
” The export of value-added products such as cocoa butter, liquor, and cake reflects Nigeria’s progress in exporting value-added products. This growth is driven by improved product quality, investment in agro-processing, and access to premium markets like the Netherlands and Germany. More importantly, Government-backed trade facilitation and compliance with international standards have further enhanced competitiveness and increased export earnings”, said NEPC CEO.
Top 20 non exporting companies are Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemical Limited and Starlink Global & Ideal Limited maintained their position as the first and second, with 11.92% and 8.82%, respectively while Dangote Fertilizer Limited was third on the log with 6.39%. l
During the period, the country’s non oil commodities were exported to
African countries/Ecowas Sub-Region. Nigeria exported is said to have exported products worth 663 million metric tonnes to eleven ECOWAS countries showing an increase in exported products as against the same period in 2024.
In the same vain Nigeria exported 488 million metric tonnes of products worth $83.538 million to 21 African countries outside ECOWAS reflecting an increase of 2.59% of the total export value as compared to 1.96% for the same period of 2024.
“It also lends credence to the fact that the African Continental Free Trade Area (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 export companies, especially SMEs, to boost regional trade and drive economic growth across the African continent”, she said.
