Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has reported a dramatic 1,085 per cent year-on-year surge in export-laden containers during the third quarter (Q3) of 2025.
The latest operational data released by the NPA on Monday, December 15, shows that export-laden containers rose from 5,812 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in Q3 2024 to 69,039 TEUs in Q3 2025.
This is as the total cargo throughput also rose to 33.52 million metric tonnes in the same period. According to the data, cargo handled during the period rose by 16.2 per cent, from 28.84 million metric tons in the same quarter of 2024, indicating increasing trade activity across Nigeria’s ports.
Container operations made a significant contribution to the improved performance as the total container traffic rose by 18.9 per cent from 460,038 TEUs in Q3 2024 to 546,931 TEUs in Q3 2025.
Import-laden containers increased by 33.1 percent to 268,713 TEUs from 201,839 TEUs the previous year.
The sharp increase in export containers also resulted in a 21.5 per cent reduction in empty container traffic, indicating a better balance of imports and exports and stronger non-oil export activity.
Ship traffic equally surged
Ship traffic increased significantly over the period. The number of vessel calls grew by 8.4 per cent to 1,074 ships, up from 991 in the third quarter of 2024. At the same time, overall Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) increased by 18 per cent to 42.64 million, compared to 36.13 million the previous year, demonstrating that Nigerian ports are increasingly handling larger boats.
An analysis of ship calls along the ports revealed that Tin Can Port led the way with 22.7 per cent, followed by Apapa Port, which accounted for 22.2 per cent. Onne Port 18.9 per cent, while Lekki Port contributed 18.4 percent. Calabar Port was the least with 2.1 per cent.
READ ALSO: FG’s $1bn Lagos Port Upgrade Sparks Fresh Call for Seaport Decentralisation
However, a review of ship calls by size indicated that Lekki Port received the largest ships, with an average Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 57,244, followed by Onne Port, which had an average of 51,276 GRT. Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports received ships with average GRTs of 35,556 and 34,400, respectively, while boats stopping at Delta Ports had an average size of 18,677 tons.
Similarly, a breakdown of cargo throughput by port revealed that Lekki Port emerged as the primary growth driver, accounting for 46.8 per cent of total cargo handled in Q3 2025. Onne Port recorded 17 per cent, followed by Apapa Port (15.1 per cent) and Tin Can Island Port (10 per cent), with Calabar Port having the smallest share.
Further analysis of the data by cargo type revealed that Liquid Bulk had the biggest share (53.8 per cent), followed by Containerised Cargo (26.6 per cent), Dry Bulk (11.3 per cent), and Other General Cargo (8.2 per cent).
READ ALSO: Cardoso Resets Agric Funding with Fresh ACGSF Board Inauguration
NPA Managing Director, Abubakar Dantsoho, said the improvement was due to ongoing port modernisation, the deployment of export processing terminals, and the expansion of digital systems such as the electronic truck call-up platform, which have helped reduce bottlenecks, improve turnaround times, and position Nigeria’s ports to play a more strategic role in regional trade.
Industry analysts observed that the percentage growth in export containers signals a significant recovery and expansion of Nigeria’s containerized export activity, driven by policy, investment, and operational improvements, even within a complex overall trade environment.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in mass communication.
