Nigeria recorded a notable increase in non-oil exports in the first quarter of 2025, reaching a total value of $1.791 billion, according to the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC). The figure represents a 24.75% rise compared to $1.436 billion during the same period in 2024, reflecting growing momentum in the country’s diversification efforts.
The announcement was made by NEPC Director-General Dr. Nonye Ayeni during the council’s first-quarter report presentation on Monday in Abuja.
Export Volume Soars
In addition to the rise in export value, the volume of non-oil goods exported surged significantly to 2.416 million metric tonnes—up 243.44% from the 1.937 million metric tonnes reported in Q1 2024. Ayeni highlighted this jump as a sign that more stakeholders are actively engaging in the non-oil export space.
“A total of 197 different products were exported in Q1 2025, up from 162 products in the same period last year,” she said. “These include processed and semi-processed goods, industrial materials, and agricultural produce.”
Top Products and Leading Exporters
Cocoa and its by-products remained Nigeria’s leading non-oil export item, contributing 45.02% of the total export value. Other top-performing exports included:
- Urea/Fertiliser (19.32%)
- Cashew Nuts (5.81%)
- Sesame Seeds
- Gold Dore
- Aluminium and Copper Ingots
- Soya Beans/Meal
- Rubber
Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemical Ltd and Starlink Global and Ideal Ltd were named the top-performing exporters, contributing 12.07% and 10.00% of the total export value, respectively. Their performance was largely tied to strong outputs in fertiliser and cocoa-related products.
Regional Export Breakdown
Exports to ten member nations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) totaled $63.060 million, accounting for 3.52% of total non-oil exports. This marked a sharp 223.10% increase from the $19.517 million recorded in Q1 2024. Meanwhile, exports to other African nations amounted to $32.732 million, representing 1.83% of the total for the quarter.
Strategic Direction and National Agenda
Dr. Ayeni noted that these figures align with the broader goal of reducing Nigeria’s dependency on oil revenue. She referenced the NEPC’s report from January, which documented the council’s highest non-oil export value in nearly five decades—rising from $4.517 billion in 2023 to $5.456 billion in 2024, a 20.77% year-on-year increase.
She reaffirmed the council’s commitment to working with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and other stakeholders to support President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The growth we’re seeing shows that Nigerian exporters are tapping into the enormous opportunities in the non-oil sector,” Ayeni stated. “Our strategy is to ensure a more sustainable, export-driven economy that supports long-term national development.”
