Export containers jump 1,085% in Q3

The nation’s seaports recorded a dramatic turnaround in export performance in the third quarter of 2025, with export-laden containers surging by 1,085 per cent as total cargo throughput climbed to 33.52 million metric tons, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said.

The figures underscore a strengthening non-oil export pipeline and growing capacity to handle larger vessels across the port system.

Operational data released by the authority yesterday, showed that overall cargo handled rose by 16.2 per cent from 28.84 million metric tonnes in Q3 2024, marking what the NPA described as one of its strongest quarterly performances in recent years amid rising trade activity.

Container operations provided the clearest signal of the shift. According to the authority, “The NPA recorded a dramatic 1,085 per cent surge in export-laden containers as total cargo throughput rose to 33.52 million metric tonnes in the third quarter of 2025. Total container traffic climbed by 18.9 per cent to 546,931 twenty-foot equivalent units in Q3 2025, compared with 460,038 TEUs in Q3 2024.”

Within the total, import-laden containers increased by 33.1 per cent to 268,713 TEUs from 201,839 TEUs a year earlier, while export-laden containers jumped to 69,039 TEUs, up from just 5,812 TEUs in the same period of 2024.

The authority said the export rebound helped rebalance flows across terminals, noting that “the sharp rise in export containers also led to a 21.5 per cent reduction in empty container traffic, signalling improved balance between imports and exports and stronger non-oil export activity.”

Beyond boxes, vessel activity also expanded, reflecting deeper draught utilisation and rising confidence by shipping lines.

“Ship traffic equally recorded notable growth during the quarter. The number of vessel calls increased by 8.4 per cent to 1,074 ships, from 991 vessels in Q3 2024. At the same time, the total gross registered tonnage jumped by 18 per cent to 42.64 million, compared with 36.13 million recorded a year earlier, indicating that Nigerian ports are increasingly handling larger vessels,” the NPA stated.

A port-by-port breakdown of vessel calls showed sustained intensity at the western gateways and rapid scaling at newer facilities.

Tincan Island Port accounted for 22.7 per cent of ship calls, closely followed by Apapa Port at 22.2 per cent. Onne and Lekki Ports posted 18.9 per cent and 18.4 per cent respectively, while Calabar Port contributed 2.1 per cent.

By vessel size, Lekki Port led the league, receiving the largest ships with an average gross registered tonnage (GRT) of 57,244, followed by Onne Port at 51,276 GRT. Apapa and Tincan Island Ports handled ships averaging 35,556 GRT and 34,400 GRT respectively, while Delta Ports recorded an average of 18,677 tonnes, reinforcing the trend toward larger vessels calling at Nigeria’s deep-water facilities.

An analysis of cargo volumes by port further highlighted the hubs accounting for the bulk of the growth.

Lekki Port emerged as the dominant driver, accounting for 46.8 per cent of total cargo handled in Q3 2025. Onne Port followed with 17 per cent, Apapa Port with 15.1 per cent, and Tincan Island Port with 10 per cent, while Calabar Port recorded the lowest share.

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In terms of cargo mix, liquids remained the backbone of volumes, with liquid bulk contributing 53.8 per cent of throughput. Containerised cargo followed at 26.6 per cent, while dry bulk and other general cargo accounted for 11.3 per cent and 8.2 per cent respectively – an indication that container growth is accelerating even as energy-linked cargoes dominate tonnage.

Commenting on the performance, NPA Managing Director, Abubakar Dantsoho, linked the results to the Federal Government’s export-focused economic reforms and rising investor confidence, saying the numbers reflect improving efficiency across all pilotage districts.

He added that port modernisation efforts, the deployment of export processing terminals and the expansion of digital platforms, particularly the electronic truck call-up system, have reduced bottlenecks, improved turnaround time and positioned Nigeria’s ports for a more strategic role in regional trade.