Nigerian exporters moved more cargo through APM Terminals Apapa in the first half of 2026, as the country’s largest container terminal recorded a six per cent increase in export volumes amid renewed efforts to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of non-oil trade.
The increase, according to the terminal, reflects sustained growth in exports over the past five years and comes as operators and other stakeholders seek to address some of the logistical bottlenecks that have historically affected Nigerian businesses seeking access to international markets.
For exporters dealing in agricultural commodities such as cocoa, cashew nuts, soybeans and hibiscus, as well as solid minerals, the speed and reliability with which cargo gets from production areas to the port can determine whether shipments reach overseas buyers in good condition and within agreed timelines.
The Terminal Managing Director, Kamal Alhraishat, said the latest growth was driven by the resilience of Nigerian exporters as well as measures introduced by the terminal to make the export process more efficient.
“Over the last five years, exports through our terminal have maintained a positive growth trajectory. This reflects both the resilience of Nigerian exporters and the targeted improvements we have made to facilitate export trade, simplify cargo flows and improve access to international markets,” Alhraishat said.
He said the terminal had introduced a number of measures aimed at making it easier for exporters to move cargo into the port, including dedicated export lanes at the terminal gate.
The initiative, he explained, was part of a broader strategy to reduce delays and improve the movement of export cargo from the point of entry into the terminal to the point of shipment.
“Our role goes beyond handling containers. We want to make it easier, faster and more competitive for Nigerian exporters to access global markets. Dedicated export lanes and our rail connectivity are all designed around that objective,” he said.
Rail alternative to road transport
One of the key areas highlighted by the terminal is the use of rail to move export cargo, particularly against the backdrop of persistent congestion and heavy dependence on road transportation around the Lagos port corridor.
Alhraishat said the rail connection between Lagos and Moniya in Ibadan currently operates three times a week, offering exporters an alternative means of transporting cargo to the port.
The rail option, he said, could help reduce the pressure on trucks and provide greater predictability for exporters moving goods over long distances.
“By reducing reliance on trucks and exposure to interstate and Apapa traffic, we can improve the predictability of cargo movement and help exporters reach international markets more efficiently,” he added.
The terminal also receives export cargo through the Ebute Metta rail corridor, providing a connection for cargo originating from different parts of Lagos.
According to the terminal, the route gives exporters an additional option for moving goods while helping them avoid some of the traffic challenges associated with road transportation in and around Apapa.
For exporters of agricultural products, where delays can have consequences beyond additional logistics costs, reducing transit time is particularly important.
Exporters seek efficiency across supply chain
Beyond infrastructure and cargo-handling improvements, APM Terminals Apapa said it was also working to bring exporters and other participants in the trade ecosystem together to identify practical solutions to challenges affecting Nigeria’s export performance.
A major component of this effort is the terminal’s Exporters Forum, which is now in its third year.
The forum brings together exporters, government agencies, shipping lines, logistics providers and other stakeholders involved in moving Nigerian goods to international markets.
Alhraishat said the forum was designed to move discussions beyond identifying problems to developing practical responses.
“Through our Exporters Forum, now in its third year, we are creating a platform where exporters, government agencies, shipping lines, logistics partners and other stakeholders can come together to address real challenges across the export value chain,” he said.
He added that the initiative was intended to ensure that concerns raised by exporters and other stakeholders resulted in concrete operational improvements.
“The objective is not only to discuss these challenges, but to translate the feedback into practical actions that make Nigerian exports more efficient and competitive. Our next session is scheduled to hold at the terminal on Wednesday, September 2.”
Time critical for agricultural exports
The importance of reducing delays across the export chain was further emphasised by the terminal’s Head of Commercial, Kayode Olufemi-Daniel.
He said the quality and marketability of agricultural exports could be affected when cargo spends too much time moving through the supply chain.
“Time is a critical factor in export trade, particularly for agricultural products. Delays within the supply chain can affect the quality of goods and, in some cases, render them unsuitable for export by the time they reach their destination,” Olufemi-Daniel said.
His comments underline the broader challenge facing Nigeria’s drive to increase non-oil exports. While the country has significant agricultural and mineral resources, exporters must contend with transportation costs, port processes, documentation, logistics coordination and other supply-chain constraints before their products can reach international buyers.
Olufemi-Daniel said APM Terminals Apapa continued to review its processes and engage stakeholders to identify areas where delays could be reduced.
He said such engagement was necessary to ensure that improvements at the terminal translated into a more efficient export chain overall.
The terminal’s focus on exports also comes as Nigeria seeks to diversify its economy and reduce dependence on crude oil earnings by increasing the contribution of agriculture, manufacturing and solid minerals to foreign exchange earnings.
Strengthening Nigeria’s export ecosystem
APM Terminals Apapa said its export-focused initiatives were aimed not only at increasing cargo throughput but also at improving the experience of Nigerian businesses participating in international trade.
Olufemi-Daniel said the terminal remained committed to working with exporters, government agencies and other industry players to strengthen the country’s export ecosystem.
The terminal currently handles a range of Nigerian export commodities, including soybeans, cashew nuts, cocoa, hibiscus flowers and solid minerals.
The six per cent increase in export volumes recorded in the first half of 2026 therefore provides an indication of growing activity among exporters using the facility, while the terminal’s management continues to push for improvements in cargo movement and stakeholder coordination.
For Nigerian businesses competing in international markets, however, the ultimate test will be whether improvements in port operations, rail connectivity and supply-chain coordination can consistently translate into lower delays, greater reliability and more competitive delivery of Nigerian products to overseas buyers.