Five firms drive Nigeria’s $120m non-oil export haul

Nigeria's non-oil export sector is increasingly driven by industrial fertiliser and agricultural commodities, with five key companies accounting for a significant portion of foreign exchange earnings. Dangote Fertiliser, Robust International Commodities, Tulip Cocoa Processing, Valency Agro Nigeria, and Outspan Nigeria collectively earned $120 million among the country's top 100 non-oil exporters in April 2026, according to a Central Bank of Nigeria report.

Overall non-oil export earnings saw a notable increase, reaching $0.96 billion in April 2026, up from $0.77 billion the previous month. This growth is attributed to a combination of higher global commodity prices and improved export receipts from cashew nuts and fertiliser. The CBN report highlights the growing importance of these sectors in Nigeria's trade landscape.

India emerged as the primary destination for Nigeria's non-oil exports, absorbing 16.51% of the total. Vietnam followed with 10.96%, and the United States with 8.71%. Cashew nuts remained the top export product, representing 21.25% of earnings, closely followed by urea (14.15%) and cocoa beans (10.46%). The strong performance of Dangote Fertiliser, which alone accounted for 14.15% of the top 100 exporters' earnings, underscores the rise of large-scale industrial production in the non-oil export mix.