Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) records a 1,085% surge in export containers as total cargo throughput hits 33.52 million metric tonnes in Q3 2025

The Nigerian Ports Authority has reported a dramatic 1,085 per cent increase in export-laden containers as total cargo throughput rose to 33.52 million metric tonnes in the third quarter of 2025.

Also read: Growing SSANIP Discontent over Unpaid Promotion Arrears

The performance, described as one of the strongest quarterly results in recent years, reflects rising trade activity across Nigeria’s ports.

Operational data released by the NPA showed that total cargo handled increased by 16.2 per cent, up from 28.84 million metric tonnes in Q3 2024.

Total container traffic climbed by 18.9 per cent to 546,931 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), with import-laden containers up 33.1 per cent to 268,713 TEUs and export-laden containers surging to 69,039 TEUs from 5,812 TEUs a year earlier.

The authority highlighted that the rise in exports also reduced empty container traffic by 21.5 per cent, signalling a healthier balance between imports and exports.

Ship traffic similarly expanded, with vessel calls increasing by 8.4 per cent to 1,074 ships, while total gross registered tonnage (GRT) jumped 18 per cent to 42.64 million, indicating that Nigerian ports are increasingly accommodating larger vessels.

Tincan Port led in the number of ship calls at 22.7 per cent, followed closely by Apapa Port at 22.2 per cent, with Onne and Lekki Ports at 18.9 per cent and 18.4 per cent respectively.

Calabar Port recorded the lowest share at 2.1 per cent.

Lekki Port handled the largest vessels, with an average GRT of 57,244, followed by Onne Port at 51,276. Apapa and Tincan Ports averaged 35,556 and 34,400 GRT respectively, while Delta Ports received the smallest average ships at 18,677 tonnes.

Lekki Port also emerged as the dominant growth driver, accounting for 46.8 per cent of total cargo throughput in Q3 2025.

A breakdown of cargo type revealed that liquid bulk accounted for 53.8 per cent, containerised cargo 26.6 per cent, dry bulk 11.3 per cent, and other general cargo 8.2 per cent.

Speaking on the figures, NPA Managing Director Abubakar Dantsoho attributed the performance to the Federal Government’s export-focused reforms, improved investor confidence, and operational efficiency across all pilotage districts.

He also credited port modernisation, the deployment of export processing terminals, and the expansion of digital systems such as the electronic truck call-up platform for reducing bottlenecks and improving turnaround time.

Also read: UNIBEN bars 5,000 students over unpaid school fees

The results underscore Nigeria’s growing capacity to play a strategic role in regional trade, with consistent growth in containerised exports recorded in recent years.