Nigeria’s top trade gateways handled most of the country’s imports and exports in Q4 2025, highlighting the dominance of major seaports and airport cargo terminals.
Total trade carried out through the top ten seaports and airports was N35.01 trillion, which is 96.68%, while the rest, mostly land borders and an industrial hub, accounted for goods worth 64.31 billion, which is 0.18%.
Total trade in Q4 2025 totaled N35.08 trillion, given that exports were N18.94 trillion while imports were N16.14 trillion. “Other minor ports and trade posts that are not individually listed in the report account for the remaining share.
Apapa alone accounted for over 62% of exports among the top trade gateways, highlighting Nigeria’s heavy reliance on a single maritime hub.
Below is a breakdown of each of the top 10 terminals, highlighting their export performance, import volumes, and total trade value.
Apapa Port ranked as the largest trade gateway in Nigeria, recording N22.03 trillion in total trade carried out through it.
- Exports: N13.77 trillion
- Imports: N8.26 trillion
Exports accounted for roughly 62.5% of the port’s trade, while imports made up 37.5%. This export-heavy profile reflects the port’s role in handling large volumes of crude oil products, agricultural commodities, and other export cargo, alongside significant import activity.
Apapa’s dominance shows its position as the primary maritime hub for Nigeria’s international trade, supported by multiple container and bulk terminals.
What the data is saying
Three major trends emerge from the trade data:
- Lagos dominates Nigeria’s trade system. Ports and terminals located in Lagos accounted for 85.6% of trade activity among the top ports. Notably, nine ports and terminals out of the fifteen reported by NBS are situated in Lagos, while the rest are spread across Rivers, Cross River, Delta, Sokoto and Kebbi.
- Exports are concentrated in a few major seaports. Apapa, Lekki, and Tincan Island account 93.53% export flows, reflecting Nigeria’s commodity export structure.
- Several terminals operate as import-only gateways. Facilities such as PTML, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, Warri, and Calabar ports recorded no exports, highlighting their specialized roles in import logistics.
- Other terminals were mainly land borders and an industrial hub with an airport, all of which only had imports. They are Seme border, Nigeria Customs Service Sokoto and Kebbi Area Command, Lagos Free Trade Zone, and Muhammed Murtala International Airport.
- Overall, the data reinforces the central role of a few major maritime hubs in Nigeria’s trade structure, with Lagos serving as the primary gateway for both imports and exports.
