Nigeria’s non-oil exports grew by 19.6% to $3.225 billion in the first half of 2025, driven by strong global demand for cocoa and urea, as well as government trade initiatives and regional trade agreements, the country’s export promotion agency said on Monday.
According to Nonye Ayeni, chief of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, export volumes rose to 4.04 million metric tons from 3.83 million tons in the same period of 2024.
Cocoa beans, urea/fertiliser, and cashew nuts were the leading products, with cocoa accounting for about 35% of the total export value.
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“Cocoa and its derivatives topped Nigeria’s non-oil exports, driven by rising global demand, higher prices, and increased local processing capacity,” Ayeni said.
The African Continental Free Trade Area boosted Nigeria’s exports by expanding market access and offering tariff relief, while government-backed initiatives, including training programmes, helped exporters meet international standards, as reported by Reuters.
Ayeni noted that Indorama Eleme Fertilizer Ltd. was the top exporter, followed by Starlink Global and Dangote Fertilizer Ltd.
Nigeria is pushing to diversify its economy away from oil, which currently provides around two-thirds of government revenue and about 80% of its foreign currency earnings.
The Netherlands, the United States, and India were the main destinations for Nigeria’s non-oil exports, with the Netherlands accounting for 18.64% of the total.
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Image Credit: Reuters
