Nigeria’s non-oil export sector recorded an all-time high of approximately US $6.1 billion in 2025, marking the highest formally documented non-oil export value in the nation’s history, according to official data released by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
During a press briefing in Abuja on January 19 2026, Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director and CEO of NEPC, described the results as “an impressive year” in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to diversify its economy away from crude oil dependence and broaden its global trade footprint.
Export Value and Growth Trends
According to NEPC data, Nigeria’s non-oil export earnings in 2025 reached US $6.1 billion, representing an 11.5 per cent increase over the US $5.4 billion recorded in 2024. This performance underscores sustained progress in economic diversification and export market expansion.
In terms of volume, total non-oil export shipments rose to 8.02 million metric tonnes, up 10 per cent from 7.29 million metric tonnes in 2024. Export diversification remains broad, with Nigeria exporting 281 different non-oil products across agriculture, semi-processed goods, industrial inputs, and solid minerals.
Expanded Market Reach and Product Leadership
NEPC reported that Nigerian non-oil exports reached 120 countries in 2025, reflecting expanded global market access and increased competitiveness. The top export destinations by value included:
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Netherlands – ~17.5 % of total value
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Brazil – ~10.3 %
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India – ~7.6 %
This demonstrates growing demand for Nigerian products in Europe, South America, and Asia.
Leading non-oil export products in 2025 included agricultural commodities (e.g., cocoa and derivatives), cashew and sesame seeds, urea fertilizer, and other industrial inputs, driven by targeted value-addition efforts and increased capacity building for exporters.
Role of Financial and Export Infrastructure
Financial institutions played a critical role in supporting this growth. According to NEPC data, Zenith Bank Plc emerged as the leading bank facilitating non-oil export documentation and financing, accounting for 32.31 per cent of Nigeria Export Proceeds (NXP) documentation transactions in 2025 — the highest share among the 30 banking institutions involved.
This leadership position underscores the importance of efficient export financing, compliance systems, and streamlined documentation processes in driving competitive international trade flows.
Diversification Strategy and Economic Implications
Nigeria’s strong non-oil export performance aligns with the federal government’s broader economic diversification agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope framework, focused on reducing dependence on petrol revenues and expanding foreign exchange earnings from goods such as agricultural products, solid minerals, and manufactured exports.
NEPC highlighted that improved monitoring systems, quality assurance reforms in collaboration with international bodies such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), and expanded market access initiatives have strengthened Nigeria’s export credibility and reduced the risk of rejection in foreign markets.
Despite these gains, NEPC cautioned that a significant portion of non-oil trade still occurs through informal channels across Nigeria’s extensive land borders. Strengthening data capture and formalising informal exports remain key priorities for 2026 to further elevate Nigeria’s overall export footprint.
A Step Forward for African Trade Integration
Nigeria’s record non-oil export performance in 2025 represents a strategic milestone for African economic diversification. As countries deepen regional value chains and pursue intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), expanded export capacity from Nigeria strengthens the continent’s participation in global supply networks.
This strong performance sets the stage for export growth in 2026 and offers a blueprint for other African nations seeking to reduce reliance on traditional commodity exports and develop competitive non-oil trade sectors.
