Exporting Foodstuff From Nigeria 2026 Market Overview & Trends

Nigeria's export performance peaked significantly in 2021, reaching a value of $75,638,049 with 127.5 million units. Since then, the sector has experienced a steady decline. By 2024, export value dropped to $11,020,840, accompanied by a reduction in quantity to 14.1 million units, indicating a sharp contraction in trade volume over the last three years.

In 2024, the United Kingdom emerged as the primary destination for exports, accounting for $6,655,330. This far exceeds other top markets such as Burkina Faso ($545,580) and Cote d'Ivoire ($447,300). The data suggests a high concentration of trade value within the UK market compared to regional African counterparts.

Despite overall declines, the United Arab Emirates shows the highest growth potential at 12.7%, followed by Albania at 6.9%. While the United Kingdom remains the largest market by value, these emerging markets represent critical diversification opportunities for Nigerian exports to stabilize and find new demand centers.

The 2024 export portfolio is heavily dominated by the beverage sector. Beer leads with a total value of $5,618,290, followed by iced tea at $2,224,080. Together with non-alcoholic beverages, these products comprise the majority of export earnings, while ethanol absolute and onion powder hold smaller market shares.