Nigeria exports 137,540 metric tonnes of non-oil commodities in 2012

A total of 137,540.7 metric tonnes of non-oil export commodities were exported out of the country in 2012 through the two Nigerian approved export ports (Apapa and Tin-Can Island Ports).

A breakdown of this figure, as released by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area 1 Command, shows that 116,525.45 metric tonnes of non-oil commodities with a total market value of N129.9 billion were exported to other countries of the world through Nigeria’s premier port, Apapa, in 2012. Also, 21,015.25 metric tonnes of export with Free on Board (FOB) value of N12.152 billion were taken out of the country through the Tin-Can Island Port between January and December 2012, according to the statistics released by Tin-Can Island Customs.

Agricultural products which include cocoa, cashew nuts, sesame and cotton, the statistics revealed, were the dominant commodities that were exported through the ports.

At Apapa Port, 4,625,837 square feet of processed leather; 74,547 cases of Dettol and Maggi Crayfish; 29,062 cartons of biscuits; 97,100 bags of assorted bathroom slippers, and 1,655,320 litres of ethyl alcohol were also exported within the period under review.

Other commodities include palm kernel cake, cocoa beans, hibiscus flower, gum Arabic, processed rubber, various processed shrimps, lead ingot, among others.

According to a recent trade report released by Maersk Nigeria Limited, agricultural products including cocoa, cashew nuts, sesame and cotton dominated the list of containerised commodities exported from Nigeria in 2012.

“We see very few finished products being exported,” Jan Thorhauge, managing director, Maersk Nigeria, said in the report.

On Nigeria’s trade balance, he said: “The containerised market in Nigeria has continued to be strongly dominated by imports, and since 2007 the import/export ratio has remained at around 92 percent import versus 8 percent export.”

In 2012, 7.8 percent export ratio, which is the lowest export volume that has been recorded in Nigerian port, was taken out of the country within the period under review.

“Nigeria can positively influence this ratio if obstacles such as unreliable power supply and poor road and rail infrastructure were improved,” said the Maersk boss.

On the likely performance of the export market in 2013, he said that the market, which is subjected to harvest conditions and global market prices, is likely going to record an increase of 8-10 percent this year.

Stories by UZOAMAKA ANAGOR