According to the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), a total of 663 million metric tonnes of goods were shipped to 11 ECOWAS member states between January and June 2025. The latest figures also reflect an increase compared to the same period in 2024, underscoring Nigeria’s deepening trade links within the subregion.
Beyond ECOWAS, Nigerian exporters moved 488 million metric tonnes of products worth $83.54 million to 21 other African countries, representing a 2.59% share of total export value — up from 1.96% in the corresponding period of 2024.
NEPC Director-General, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, who presented the mid-year non-oil export performance report in Abuja, said the growth trend validates the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement to transform intra-African commerce. She noted that Nigerian companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), are beginning to seize the opportunities offered by the free trade framework.
“Our active participation in AfCFTA is already opening doors for businesses. It is a pathway to increased regional trade and a driver of economic growth for the continent,” Ayeni remarked, commending the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment for its role in positioning Nigeria as a major player in African trade.
The export performance report also spotlighted the top players in the sector. Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemical Ltd retained its position as Nigeria’s largest non-oil exporter, accounting for 11.92% of total exports, followed by Starlink Global and Ideal Ltd with 8.82%.
Financial institutions played a crucial role in facilitating transactions, with 29 banks processing a total of 10,214 Nigeria Export Proceed Forms (NXPs) during the period. Zenith Bank Plc led the ranking with 31.98% of all non-oil export NXPs, while First Bank Nigeria Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc followed with 12.44% and 11.47%, respectively.
On the logistics front, 18 exit points were used to move goods out of the country — comprising eight seaports, three international airports, and seven land borders. Seaports remained the dominant channel, handling 94.15% of all non-oil export volumes.
In addition to monitoring export performance, NEPC intensified capacity-building efforts, conducting over 252 training programmes for 27,352 participants nationwide. The workshops covered export documentation, procedures, readiness, and compliance with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Warehousing Practice (GWP), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), as well as packaging and labelling standards.
Ayeni emphasized that these interventions are aimed at equipping Nigerian exporters to meet global market requirements, thereby boosting the country’s competitiveness and diversifying its economic base.