Nigeria’s non-oil exports rise to $6.1 billion in 2025, reflecting an 11.5 percent increase compared to the $5.4 billion recorded in 2024, according to the annual non-oil export performance report. The growth underscores renewed momentum in export diversification and expanding global market access for Nigerian products.
Mediaplusng.com reports that the Executive Director of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, disclosed the figures during a media briefing, noting that the 2025 performance signals stronger competitiveness for Nigeria’s non-oil sector despite regional and global trade challenges.
Mrs. Ayeni explains that Nigeria’s top export destinations in 2025 are the Netherlands, Brazil, and India, reflecting sustained demand for Nigerian commodities in Europe, South America, and Asia. She adds that Nigeria also exports 1.23 million metric tonnes of goods to 11 ECOWAS countries, with Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin emerging as the leading regional markets.
Mediaplusng.com further gathers that trade within the ECOWAS sub-region records a decline due to the exit of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, a development that impacts intra-African trade volumes and reduces overall exports to the West African market.
According to the NEPC report, the 2025 non-oil export basket includes 281 products, spanning agricultural commodities, processed goods, and semi-processed products. This wide product mix highlights Nigeria’s growing capacity to move beyond raw exports into value-added production.
The report identifies cocoa, sesame seeds, urea, soya beans, and rubber as the leading non-oil export products for the year. Other commodities also contribute significantly, driven by improved production, better quality control, and increased private sector participation.
Mrs. Ayeni notes that agricultural exports continue to dominate the sector, supported by stronger farmer participation, improved aggregation, and expanding access to international buyers. She adds that processed and semi-processed goods are gaining ground, signaling gradual progress in local value addition.
The NEPC boss stresses that sustaining growth in non-oil exports requires continued investment in infrastructure, logistics, quality assurance, and market intelligence, alongside stable trade policies. She also calls for stronger collaboration between government agencies and exporters to unlock new markets.
Analysts say the 2025 performance positions Nigeria on a stronger path toward reducing dependence on crude oil revenue, boosting foreign exchange earnings, and creating jobs across the agricultural and manufacturing value chains.
With non-oil exports now exceeding $6 billion annually, stakeholders believe Nigeria can achieve even higher figures in the coming years if structural reforms, regional trade stability, and export financing continue to improve.
