Nigeria’s non-oil exports reached N12.36 trillion in 2025, with shipments to more than 120 countries, as the Federal Government stepped up efforts to diversify exports and strengthen domestic production.

The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment disclosed this in a media update yesterday, adding that non-oil products accounted for 14.5 per cent of total exports in 2025, up from 11.7 per cent in 2024.

The number of distinct non-oil products exported also rose to 281 from 246, while Nigeria’s intra-African trade increased by 21 per cent. The number of certificates of origin issued under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) grew by 500 per cent during the period.

Despite the gains in exports, manufacturing and trade made a smaller combined contribution to Nigeria’s economic growth in 2025 than in the previous year.

According to the ministry, the two sectors contributed 0.43 percentage points to real gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 3.87 per cent in 2025, down from 0.46 percentage points in 2024, when the economy grew by 3.38 per cent.

Trade contributed 0.31 percentage points, compared with 0.35 percentage points in 2024, while manufacturing’s contribution increased to 0.12 percentage points from 0.10 percentage points. Manufacturing grew by 1.41 per cent in 2025, up from 1.2 per cent in 2024, while trade growth slowed to 1.77 per cent from 1.97 per cent.

The ministry said foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows improved to $920 million in 2025 from $680 million in 2024. Total capital importation rose to $23.22 billion from $12.32 billion, although the ministry acknowledged that direct investment remained modest.

It also reported stronger manufacturing performance in the first quarter of 2026, when the sector grew by 3.29 per cent. Cement production expanded by 11.53 per cent, pharmaceuticals by 6.15 per cent, automotive assembly by 5.44 per cent, and food, beverage and tobacco by 4.10 per cent.

Vehicle assembly increased by 40.6 per cent in 2025, while cassava starch production rose by 474.74 per cent and light electronics production by 16.67 per cent.

To deepen domestic value addition, the ministry is developing a framework to guide the allocation of shea nuts to local processors before any surplus is exported. The current ban on raw shea nut exports expires on February 25, 2027.

Trading on the Nigeria Commodity Exchange also expanded, with volumes rising to 24,668 tonnes in 2025 from 3,942 tonnes, while traded value increased to N4 billion from N1.9 billion.

The ministry said special economic zones had created more than 20,000 direct jobs. It is also targeting the completion of the export component of the National Single Window by November 2026 to simplify trade procedures and improve export processing.

It added that it was pursuing coordinated tariff reviews to balance government revenue needs with the protection and growth of domestic industries.