Nigeria’s non-oil export sector recorded a historic performance in 2025, generating $6.1 billion, the highest value ever achieved, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has said.

The figure represents an 11.5 per cent increase over the $5.46 billion recorded in 2024, signalling steady progress in the Federal Government’s economic diversification drive.

The NEPC Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Nonye Ayeni, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja, attributing the growth to improved export diversification, wider market access and sustained policy support for exporters.

Export Volume, Product Range Expand

According to data from pre-shipment inspection agencies, Nigeria’s non-oil export volume rose to 8.02 million metric tonnes in 2025, up from 7.29 million metric tonnes in the previous year.

Mrs Ayeni said Nigeria exported 281 different non-oil products during the period, covering agricultural commodities, manufactured and semi-processed goods, industrial products and solid minerals.

She added that Nigerian non-oil products were shipped to 120 countries, reflecting growing acceptance of local goods in international markets.

Top Export Destinations

The Netherlands emerged as Nigeria’s leading non-oil export destination, accounting for 17.53 per cent of total export value.

It was followed by Brazil with 10.35 per cent and India with 7.63 per cent, with major export items including cocoa beans, sesame seeds, cocoa butter and other agro-processed products.

Within Africa, Nigeria exported goods worth about $271.26 million to 11 ECOWAS countries, although performance was affected by the withdrawal of some Sahel states from the regional bloc.

Economic Impact and Policy Perspective

Economic analysts say the record performance is significant for foreign exchange inflows, reserve accretion and reduced dependence on crude oil revenues.

A senior official of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said sustained non-oil export growth would strengthen the external sector and improve macroeconomic stability.

Challenges and 2026 Outlook
Despite the milestone, the NEPC noted that official figures do not fully capture Nigeria’s export potential due to informal cross-border trade.

Mrs Ayeni said the council is working with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and other stakeholders to integrate informal trade into official data and expand support for exporters.

She added that in 2026, the council would prioritise value-added exports, market expansion and opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to sustain growth.