The third quarter of 2025 saw an astounding 1,085% surge in export containers, according to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), which is a historic milestone for the nation’s marine sector. The authority’s efforts to increase port efficiency, ease trade, and diversify the country’s economy are highlighted by this extraordinary growth. The overall cargo throughput increased to 33.52 million metric tons in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025 due to the sharp increase of 1,085 percent in export-laden containers. According to operational data made public by the Authority yesterday, the amount of cargo handled during the period rose by 16.2% from 28.84 million metric tonnes in the same quarter of 2024, indicating a surge in trade activity throughout Nigeria’s ports.The significant increase in export containers also resulted in a 21.5% decrease in empty container traffic, indicating a better trade balance and more non-oil export activity. During the quarter, ship traffic also saw a significant increase. From 991 vessels in Q3 2024, there were 1,074 vessel calls, an increase of 8.4%. Simultaneously, the overall Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) increased by 18% to 42.64 million from 36.13 million a year prior, suggesting that Nigerian ports are progressively accommodating larger boats. Tin Can Port topped the chart at 22.7%, followed by Apapa Port at 22.2%, according to a breakdown of the number of ship calls along the port sites.
About The Author
