NEPC credits AfCFTA access, capacity building & emerging market demand for export growth
Nigeria’s non-oil export earnings rose to US$3.225 billion in the first half of 2025, representing a 19.59% increase over the comparable US$2.696 billion achieved in H1 2024, according to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) .
This growth was accompanied by a jump in export volumes, which climbed to 4.04 million metric tonnes, from 3.83 million metric tonnes in the same period last year .
Key highlights from NEPC’s performance report:
- First Quarter (Q1) 2025: Achieved US$1.791 billion in export earnings, a 24.75% year-on-year increase and exported 2.416 million metric tonnes, up 24.3% from Q1 2024 .
- Export Product Diversity: A total of 236 unique products were exported in H1 2025, expanding from 202 in H1 2024, a 16.8% increase .
- Growth Drivers: NEPC attributed this performance to improved access via the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), targeted capacity-building (e.g., quality, packaging, export documentation), as well as rising demand from emerging markets including India, Brazil, Vietnam, and other African nations .
Implications for Nigeria’s Export Strategy
- Economic Resilience: The uptick in non-oil exports reinforces efforts to diversify foreign exchange inflows and reduce reliance on crude oil revenue.
- Value-Chain Transformation: Increased export volumes and product variety indicate a shift toward higher-value, processed goods—a positive signal for domestic manufacturing and agricultural processing.
- Market Expansion through AfCFTA: Regional trade liberalization continues to open new avenues for Nigerian exporters, particularly SMEs, to access continental markets.
, NEPC, Nonye Ayeni, AsCFTA, export diversification, Nigeria trade, H1 2025.
