Nigeria’s export-driven trade recorded a significant surge in 2025, comprising 39.0 percent of total cargo throughput, according to the Nigerian Ports Authority’s (NPA) 2025 Operational Performance Report.
The report detailed an overall expansion in port activity, with total cargo throughput rising by 24.8 percent to exceed 129.3 million metric tons, up from approximately 103.6 million metric tons in 2024. This growth was tempered by the continued dominance of import-oriented inward traffic, which accounted for 59.2 percent of the total.
Containerized cargo, a critical metric for trade activity, showed strong performance. Total container traffic grew by 25.7 percent, surpassing 2.1 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). A closer analysis revealed a divergence: export-laden containers increased by 3.1 percent, while import-laden containers surged by 32.8 percent during the review period.
The performance varied across Nigeria’s major ports. Lekki Port handled the largest vessels, with an average Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 55,712, followed by Onne Port at 53,022 GRT. In the Lagos area, Apapa and Tin Can Island Port received ships averaging 33,251 GRT and 36,909 GRT, respectively, while Delta Ports handled smaller vessels averaging 17,414 GRT.
In terms of ship call frequency, Tin Can Island Port recorded the highest number of arrivals, accounting for 22.7 percent of total port calls. The report highlighted that Lekki and Onne ports are increasingly attracting the industry’s largest “heavyweight” vessels, reflecting their deeper drafts and modern facilities.
NPA Managing Director, Abubakar Dantsoho, linked the positive trends to ongoing operational improvements. He expressed confidence that the next phase of growth would be accelerated by the Federal Government’s approved port modernization program and the full implementation of the National Single Window system, aimed at streamlining trade logistics.
The 2025 figures indicate a robust recovery and expansion in Nigeria’s maritime trade sector, with port infrastructure and efficiency improvements beginning to influence cargo patterns and vessel deployment.
