NPA Records 24.8% Cargo Boost in 2025 as Exports and Transshipment Hit New Highs

While imports still lead cargo movements, exports have shown consistent growth and now constitute 39 percent of total throughput.

 Imports represent 59.2 percent, and transshipment accounts for 1.8 percent.

Industry observers see the export rise as strong confirmation that federal policies to boost non-oil sectors are delivering tangible outcomes.

Persecondnews reports that container movements, a major gauge of manufactured goods trade, expanded by 25.7 percent to more than 2.1 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs).

 Export-laden containers rose 3.1 percent while import containers jumped 32.8 percent.

Transshipment containers recorded an extraordinary 205.8 percent increase, indicating Nigeria’s expanding function as a central distribution point for West and Central Africa.

Lekki Port topped the list by processing 40.6 percent of national cargo throughput.

Onne Port ranked second with 19.1 percent, and Apapa Port managed 16.7 percent.

The facility also accommodated the largest ships on average, with a mean Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 55,712.

Onne followed at 53,022 GRT, Apapa at 33,251 GRT, Tin Can Island Port at 36,909 GRT, and Delta Ports at 17,414 GRT.

Although Tin Can Island Port registered the highest number of vessel calls at 22.7 percent, Lekki and Onne ports are drawing progressively bigger and more valuable ships.

 Total vessel arrivals across Nigerian ports increased nearly 12 percent to 4,477 ships.

Liquid bulk items such as fuel and chemicals made up 54.7 percent of cargo, while containerized goods accounted for 24 percent.

The trend toward larger vessels and advanced cargo types shows the sector is increasingly matching international maritime benchmarks.

“This is a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s trade ecosystem,” maritime analysts observed.

 “The growth in exports and transshipment reflects the success of policy reforms aimed at reducing reliance on oil revenues, while enhancing the competitiveness of Nigerian ports in regional trade.”

The sharp rise in transshipment activity, particularly for containers routed to other West and Central African destinations, is strengthening Nigeria’s status as a strategic logistics center and generating additional income for the NPA.

Dr. Dantsoho expressed confidence that future expansion will be powered by the Federal Government-approved port modernization program together with the National Single Window system rollout.

This large-scale modernization scheme aims to upgrade outdated infrastructure, increase berth depths, restore quay structures, expand handling capacity, and introduce state-of-the-art digital technologies across all terminals.

Officials anticipate faster vessel turnaround, reduced cargo dwell times, improved safety measures, and major efficiency improvements.

The 2025 report demonstrates a clear transformation in Nigeria’s port operations, with Lekki Port playing a leading role in handling greater volumes, supporting non-oil export growth, and helping integrate the country deeper into global supply chains.