Nigeria: Ports handle 35.74 million tonnes in Q2, up 12.3 %

The volume of goods handled rose from 31.83 million tonnes in the second quarter of 2025 to 35.74 million during the same period in 2026. Incoming cargo accounted for 56.8 % of the total, compared to 41.9 % for outbound flows and about 1.4 % for transshipment.

Growth was faster on the outbound side, with merchandise exports up 22 % year-on-year, compared to 7.7 % for incoming cargo. This trend strengthens the role of export flows in Nigerian port activity, as the country seeks to boost the competitiveness of its maritime corridors.

Ocean-going vessel traffic also increased: 1,201 ships were handled during the quarter, up from 1,050 a year earlier, representing a 14.4 % rise. Their combined gross tonnage grew from 40.87 million to 49.95 million tonnes.

Containers and transshipment accelerate

Terminals handled 602,392 TEUs between April and June, an increase of 11.3 % compared to 541,229 TEUs in the second quarter of 2025. Transshipment traffic reached 29,038 TEUs, whereas no comparable volume was recorded in the same period the previous year.

Vehicle traffic also rose by 18.3 %, with 44,147 units handled. The NPA attributes this increase notably to greater stability in the foreign exchange market, which supported automotive imports.

These results come amid the modernization of Nigeria’s port system, with investments in infrastructure, digitization of procedures, and improvements in maritime security. They also coincide with the revival of the cabotage fund aimed at local shipowners. The stated goal is to reduce delays, attract more shipping lines, and increase Nigeria’s share in regional transshipment.

The next step will be to verify whether the second quarter’s growth is sustained in the second half of the year, particularly in outbound flows and transshipment. Sustainable growth in these segments would strengthen the position of Nigerian ports in West and Central African maritime trade.