Nigeria: a trade surplus of $8.42 billion in H1-2025
Nigeria recorded a trade surplus of 12,000 billion naira (around 8.42 billion dollars) for the first half of 2025, driven by a 21% increase in non-oil exports, according to the latest official figures.
Non-oil exports reached $12.8 billion in the first half, almost double the target of $6.5 billion, contributing to a trade surplus of more than $8 billion, Nigeria's Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment said in a recent report.
The same source attributes these performances to the improvement of export processes, the implementation of relevant trade reforms and the creation of added value in the main non-oil sectors, noting that these reforms have made it possible to increase industrial capacities, increase exports and restore investor confidence.
Among the key export products, the ministry cited cocoa and its derivatives, sesame seeds, cashew nuts, rubber, palm oil derivatives, fertilizers, cement and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
According to the same source, export capacities were strengthened through partnerships with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), which made it possible to train 27,352 exporters, certify 200 SMEs for international trade and support 3,047 farmers through the distribution of hybrid seeds.
The report also highlights the contribution of Nigeria's Special Economic Zones having generated over $500 million in export earnings and created over 20,000 direct jobs, reinforcing their role as engines of export-led growth, industrialization and job creation.
