The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), yesterday said Nigeria exported over 4.146 million metric tonnes (mt) of non-oil products, worth about $2.6 billion from January to June 2022.
The Executive Director, NEPC, Dr Ezra Yakusak, said this while presenting the first half year 2022 (H1’22) progress report to journalists in Abuja.
Yakusak said the figure represents a 62.37% increase against the $1.59 billion recorded year-on-year (YoY) in H1’21, and the $981.442 million in H1’20, respectively.
He said: “In spite of the global economic recession that affected most businesses in 2021, the sector recorded a significant growth in non-oil export.
“A total of 4,146,534 metric tonnes of product worth $2.593 billion were exported between January and June 2022.
“These figures were culled from the non-oil export performance reports of various pre-shipment inspection agents who are appointed by the Federal Government to determine the volume, value and destination of Nigerian non-oil exports.
“The analysis from returns of these pre-shipment inspection agents indicates that the January-June 2022, export performance was the highest half year non-oil export performance since 2018.”
…unlike what was applicable in the past, the trend of products exported from Nigeria was gradually shifting from its traditional agricultural exports to semi-processed/manufactured goods.
Export components
Yakusak also said over 200 different products, ranging from manufactured, semi-processed, solid minerals to raw agricultural products were reported to have been exported in the period under review.
He said that unlike what was applicable in the past, the trend of products exported from Nigeria was gradually shifting from its traditional agricultural exports to semi-processed/manufactured goods.
“This can be gleaned from the following product classification as contained in the PIAs report as manufactured products are 36.28 per cent, raw agriculture product 33.35%, while precious stones are 13.22% and others 17.15%,” he said.
He listed the top 15 exported products in H1’22 as urea/fertilizer recorded 32.49% of total export, while cocoa beans, sesame seed and aluminium ingots contributed 12.65%, 7% and 5.07%, respectively.
He added that 572 companies participated in exporting the products during the period under review. “This is an indication that Nigerian businesses are gradually embracing the diversification campaign of the NEPC by venturing into non-oil exports.”
Yakusak disclosed that different Nigerian products were exported to 112 countries in the Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania regions and Africa, with no incidence of export rejection.
“Of these figures, Brazil, United States of America (USA), and India were the top three export destinations based on the value of imports.
“Regrettably, of the top 10 export destinations of Nigerian products, none is an African country. Only Benin and Niger Republic made it to the top 15,” he said. (NAN)
