Nigeria’s push toward export diversification showed measurable progress in 2025, as non-oil exports stood at N12.36 trillion, up from N9.09 trillion in 2024.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that agricultural products contributed 41.04% of total non-oil exports, highlighting the strong role of agriculture in Nigeria’s export performance, with exports driven primarily by cocoa, which accounted for 24.61% of total non-oil exports.
According to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nigeria’s non-oil export volume also rose to 8.02 million metric tonnes in 2025, up from 7.29 million metric tonnes in 2024, representing a 10% increase.
This indicates that the growth in exports was driven not only by higher prices, but also by larger quantities shipped to international markets.
Despite progress, Nigeria’s agricultural export basket remains heavily concentrated in a few commodities, particularly cocoa, leaving earnings exposed to global price cycles.
Although NBS now classifies the data as “major traded agricultural products,” from Q2 2025, the compositions are still largely export driven such as cocoa, sesame, and cashew, meaning the data continues to serve as a strong proxy for Nigeria’s agricultural exports.
Below are Nigeria’s top traded agricultural products in 2025, largely driven by exports.
Shelled cashew exports recorded substantial growth, reflecting increased local processing.
- Export value: N183.87 billion
- Share of non-oil exports: 1.49%
- Year-on-year growth: +94.72%
The strong growth suggests expansion in domestic cashew processing facilities, shifting exports from raw nuts toward higher value products.
Shelled cashew nuts were exported mainly to Vietnam, India, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
