Nigeria recorded strong trade growth in the first quarter of 2026 as new figures released by the Nigeria Customs Service showed major increases in exports, revenue generation, and cargo activities across the country’s ports.
According to the data, export volumes rose by 38.68 per cent year-on-year to $925.84m in Q1 2026, reflecting a significant improvement compared to the same period in 2025.
The report also revealed a sharp rise in export container traffic, with the number of containers processed increasing from 9,722 in Q1 2025 to 19,014 in Q1 2026, representing a 95.58 per cent jump.
Customs attributed the growth to improved trade facilitation measures, reforms in port operations, and stronger export activities within the non-oil sector.
While exports recorded a slight decline in January, performance improved in February before surging massively in March 2026, when export value climbed by 135.83 per cent year-on-year to $425.48m.
The agency noted that March delivered the strongest export performance of the quarter and played a major role in driving the overall growth recorded during the period.
Revenue generated from export-related charges also increased significantly. Export surcharge collections rose by 21.81 per cent, while NESS collections recorded a 20.15 per cent increase compared to Q1 2025 figures.
The latest figures suggest that ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to diversify the economy away from crude oil may be producing positive results, especially in agriculture, manufacturing, and solid minerals exports.
Industry stakeholders also linked the rise in cargo throughput to better port efficiency and improved logistics operations across Nigeria’s trade sector.
The Nigeria Customs Service had earlier reported generating over N7tn in revenue in 2025, exceeding its annual target and setting a higher revenue projection for 2026.
