Nigeria’s non-oil export sector recorded strong growth last year, with total export earnings rising to $6.1 billion.

This represents an 11.5 per cent increase compared to the $5.4 billion achieved in 2024, underscoring the country’s ongoing efforts to diversify its economy away from reliance on crude oil.

This was revealed by the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nonye Ayeni, during her annual progress report and the 2026 export outlook briefing held yesterday .

According to her, the achievement reflects both higher export volumes and broader access to international markets for Nigerian goods, indicating deeper integration of the country’s non-oil sector into global trade systems.

Figures from pre-shipment inspection agencies, cited by the NEPC, confirm the record performance of the non-oil export sector.

“The non-oil export sector rose to approximately 6.1 billion U.S. dollars, representing a year-on-year growth of about 11.5 per cent over and above the 5.4 billion U.S. dollars recorded in 2024,” Ayeni stated.

She noted that this outcome represents the highest value ever recorded for Nigeria’s formal non-oil exports since the establishment of the NEPC nearly 50 years ago, surpassing the previous record set in 2024.

She also explained that the improved export value was supported by increased volumes.

Total non-oil exports reached 8.02 million metric tonnes in 2025, up from 7.29 million metric tonnes in 2024, reflecting a 10 per cent growth.

The 2025 data show that Nigeria exported 281 non-oil products, indicating a gradual shift toward value addition and broader participation in global trade.

Export activities covered several sectors, including agriculture, processed products and solid minerals.

The rise in export volumes suggests improvements in production capacity and stronger integration across supply chains.

However, despite impressive growth in the formal sector, a substantial portion of Nigeria’s non-oil trade continues to take place informally across land borders, limiting the country’s ability to fully capture its export potential.