The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has reported that Nigeria exported 663 million metric tonnes of products to 11 member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the first half of 2025. This marks a significant increase compared to the same period in 2024, highlighting Nigeria’s growing role in regional trade and its continued shift away from oil dependence.
According to NEPC, the exports comprising sesame seeds, cocoa, cashew nuts, manufactured goods, and processed minerals reflect deepening trade integration within West Africa. Major destinations included Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and the Niger Republic.
NEPC Director-General, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, revealed that Nigeria also exported 488 million metric tonnes of products worth $83.54 million to 21 other African countries outside ECOWAS, representing a 2.59% increase in value from H1 2024. She attributed the improved performance to better trade facilitation, targeted exporter training, and enhanced logistics infrastructure. She further noted that agreements under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and ECOWAS have boosted market access and reduced trade barriers.
Top Exporters and Financial Support
Leading exporters during the period were:
- Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemical Ltd -11.92% of total export volume
- Starlink Global and Ideal Ltd – 8.82%
Twenty-nine banks supported export transactions. Zenith Bank Plc processed 31.98% of all Nigeria Export Proceed Forms (NXPs), followed by First Bank Nigeria Plc (12.44%) and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (11.47%).
Export Infrastructure and Capacity Building
Eighteen exit points facilitated non-oil exports: eight seaports, three international airports, and seven land borders. Seaports handled 94.15% of total export traffic.
To boost compliance and readiness, NEPC organised over 252 capacity-building programmes for 27,352 participants. Training focused on export documentation, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), warehousing, packaging, and labelling standards.
Outlook
With new export terminals and upgraded trade corridors set to launch, NEPC projects that export volumes to ECOWAS could exceed 1 billion metric tonnes by year-end, reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a leading economic power in the region.
