From L-R; The Admin Officer of the Institute of Export and International Trade; Victoria Orji, Lead Consultant, 3T Impex Trade Consulting; Dr. Bamidele Ayemibo, Human Resource Manager, 3T Impex Trade Consulting; Ms. Grace Adedayo and the Head of Trade Logistics and Operations; Mr. Caleb Afuwape during the virtual launching of the 3T Impex Non-Oil Export Index Report 2026 by the Lead Consultant, Dr. Bamidele Ayemibo.
Lagos, May 19, 2026 (NAN) Nigeria’s non-oil export value rose to 6.17 billion dollars in 2025, representing a 93 per cent increase over five years, despite worsening logistics, energy and port challenges threatening the survival of exporters.
This is according to the 3T Impex Non-Oil Export Index Report 2026 presented by the Lead Consultant, Dr Bamidele Ayemibo, in Lagos on Tuesday.
Ayemibo said the report analysed 87,824 export transactions between 2021 and 2025, alongside a sentiment survey involving 94 active non-oil exporters across the six geopolitical zones.
According to the report, the Business Confidence Index stood at 87.8 out of 100, while 75.5 per cent of exporters reported actual sales growth.
The report added that 91.5 per cent of respondents expected global demand to improve, while the Predictive Outlook Index scored 92.8 as 83 per cent of exporters planned expansion and fresh investments.
Ayemibo, however, said that logistics remained the sector’s weakest link, with the Logistics Benchmark Index dropping to 12.8 out of 100, the lowest among all performance indicators assessed.
He said that 77.7 per cent of exporters experienced increased inland transportation and port handling costs, while only 3.2 per cent recorded any reduction in logistics expenses.
“Nigeria’s non-oil exporters are confident, market-facing and growing, but a Logistics Benchmark of 12.8 out of 100 is a structural emergency, not a policy inconvenience.
“When 77.7 per cent of exporters face rising logistics costs while simultaneously recording the strongest sentiment scores, the system is trapping its own best performers,” he said.
The report identified high energy costs, poor quality certification infrastructure and overdependence on Lagos ports as major barriers limiting export growth.
According to the findings, 51.1 per cent of exporters cited high energy and processing costs as their biggest challenge, forcing many to avoid value addition and focus mainly on raw commodity exports.
It added that 28.7 per cent of exporters identified quality and standardisation rejections as a major constraint, especially in meeting international requirements such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
The report further warned that 71.7 per cent of Nigeria’s exports currently pass through only two Lagos ports — Tin Can Island and Apapa ports — with Tin Can accounting for 45.9 per cent of exports in 2025.
Ayemibo said that although total export value rose sharply between 2021 and 2025, export transaction volume declined from 18,280 in 2021 to 16,683 in 2025.
According to him, the decline indicates that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are gradually being excluded from the formal export system due to prohibitive logistics costs.
The report also revealed that the Regulatory Efficiency Index scored 54.8, while the Financial Health Index stood at 52.7, reflecting weak institutional and financial support for exporters.
Ayemibo urged policymakers and financial institutions to take urgent measures to address the challenges facing exporters.
He recommended the activation of Onne Port to reduce pressure on Lagos ports, improvement in electricity supply to export processing zones, expansion of export credit insurance and introduction of logistics-linked pre-export financing.
The report also advised exporters to consolidate shipments, diversify export routes and prioritise quality compliance to remain competitive in the international market.
