• Total cargo throughput reaches 33.52 million tons
• Container traffic rises 18.9% to 546,931 TEUs
• Vessel calls increase 8.4% year on year

Nigeria’s ports recorded a 16.2% year-on-year increase in overall traffic in the third quarter of 2025, with total cargo throughput reaching 33.52 million tons, compared with 28.84 million tons in the same period of 2024, according to figures released by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and reported by the local press. Total container traffic rose 18.9% to 546,931 TEUs, up from 460,038 TEUs in the third quarter of 2024.

This total includes import container traffic of 268,713 TEUs, compared with 201,839 TEUs a year earlier, as well as export container traffic of 69,039 TEUs, up from 5,812 TEUs in 2024. Liquid bulk accounted for the largest share of overall traffic at 53.8%, followed by containerized cargo at 26.6%, while dry bulk and other general cargo contributed 11.3% and 8.2%, respectively.

Vessel calls also increased by 8.4% to 1,074 ships, compared with 991 vessels in the third quarter of 2024. The port authority attributed the overall performance to government economic reforms aimed at promoting exports, as well as ongoing infrastructure upgrades and the digitalization of procedures, including the electronic truck call-up platform.

A breakdown of cargo traffic by port shows that Lekki Port recorded the strongest growth, accounting for 46.8% of total cargo handled. The Onne Port complex contributed 17%, followed by Apapa Port at 15.1% and Tin Can Island Port at 10%, while Calabar Port recorded the smallest volume.

Henoc Dossa