NEPC: Non-oil exports hit $3.22bn in six months — up by 19%

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) says non-oil products exported in the first half (H1) of 2025 were valued at $3.22 billion.

Nonye Ayeni, executive director and chief executive officer (CEO) of the NEPC, spoke on the council’s half-year progress report on Nigeria’s non-oil export performance.

Presenting the figures in a statement dated August 8, Ayeni said the value represents a 19.59 percent increase compared to the $2.69 billion recorded in the same period of 2024.

“Gentlemen of the press, it is on this note that I am pleased to inform you that non-oil products exported in the first half of 2025 were valued at $3.225bn,” Ayeni said.

“This shows an increase of 19.59 per cent as against the sum of $2.696bn 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 for the same period of 2024.”

The NEPC chief attributed the growth to several factors including a significant increase in global demand for Nigerian products, wider market access, and tariff relief provided under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

“The council-led export intervention programmes such as capacity building on quality and standards, packaging and labelling, export documentation and certifications,” she said.

Other drivers, according to Ayeni, include a rise in value-added exports as more Nigerian exporters adopt value-addition practices, as well as growing demand from emerging economies such as India, Brazil, Vietnam, and other African countries.

In the first half of 2025, she said Nigeria exported 236 different products — an increase of 16.83 percent from the 202 products recorded in the same period of 2024.

The CEO said the products ranged from agricultural commodities, extractive industries, and manufactured, and semi-processed products.

“However, it is pertinent to state here that the non-oil export of Nigerian products is gradually diversifying from traditional agriculture exports to semi-processed/manufactured products,” she said.

On company performance, Ayeni said Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemical Limited, and Starlink Global and Ideal Limited retained their positions as the top two exporters, with 11.92 percent and 8.82 percent of total exports, respectively.

She added that Dangote Fertiliser Limited ranked third with 6.39 percent, driven by a strong sale of fertilisers and cocoa products.