Nigeria’s non-oil export products rise to 117 as orders hit $3.72bn

Nigeria’s non-oil exports are on the rise as official commodities exported by end of 2013 rose to 117, from 106 reported by year-end 2012, data from the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has shown. This indicates an addition of 11 products to the number recorded in 2012.

Similarly, the NEPC in 2013 embarked on 13 export outings with 126 companies, mostly small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs). Total orders generated by these companies within the period were worth $3.716 billion, immediate sales totalled

$627,108, while executed orders reached $763,247.

The 11 new products include Robusta coffee exported to Spain, educational books shipped to Sierra Leone, double folded dust sheets exported to the United Kingdom, ice making machines bound for Ghana, and Mica Muscovite exported to India, according to information from Cobalt International Services, the Federal Government-licensed agent that calculates non-oil exports outings.

Others are leather furniture to Benin Republic, reduced iron and iron pellets to Bulgaria, India and Ghana, high density polyethylene to several countries, cut flowers to the Netherlands, fresh produce to the UK, and garments (T-shirts and boxers) to the United States of America.

These commodities are additions to traditional export products such as cocoa and cocoa preparations, copper, cashew nuts and edible nuts, prawns, shrimps, fish and crustaceans, tobacco products, plastics and rubber footwear, noodles and biscuits, poly bags, milk products, iron and steel, insecticides, beverages, tomato paste and fruit juice, among others.

“Made-in-Nigeria products elicit great demand as customers marvelled at the quality and wondered if they were ever produced in Nigeria,” said Olusegun Awolowo, CEO, NEPC, in a document made available to BusinessDay.

Nigeria’s non-oil exports totalled $2.97 billion in 2013, recording 16 percent increase from $2.56 billion recorded in 2012. NEPC data shows top export products and destinations as leather, rubber, wood and articles of wood, charcoal, plastics and articles to Italy; cocoa, wood and articles of wood, charcoal, prawns and fish to the Netherlands; leather, cocoa, prawns and fish to Spain; and cashew nuts, copper, aluminium and articles  to India.

Others are cocoa and Gum Arabic to France; cocoa, cocoa products, and rubber to the UK; cocoa, plastic, articles and rubber to Belgium; cashew nuts and edible fruits to Vietnam; leather, aluminium, articles, plastics, copper and rubber to China; and cocoa and Gum Arabic to Germany.

Tunde Oyelola, chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Export Group (MANEG), believes non-oil exports could do better if the Federal Government reverses suspension on the Export Expansion Grant (EEG), an instrument meant to assist non-oil exporters so they can be competitive in the export market.

“Since 2005, the EEG scheme has been suspended eight times. The situation has created uncertainty among non-oil exporters. Non-acceptance of Negotiable Deposit Credit Certificates (NDCCs), instruments used in the EEG scheme, prompts exporters to incur cost for duties which NDCC is meant to cover,” Oyelola said.

Badaru Mohammed Abubakar, national president, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), said to push the non-oil sector further upwards, border markets must be developed, non-oil commodities funded, and infrastructural developed.

He added that there must be logistics to support supply value added chain, increase in dominance of primary commodities and high productive capacity.

“We must empower SMEs through entrepreneurship; develop agro-allied industries; package and label standards of made-in Nigeria products; and focus on the comparative and competitive advantages,” he stressed.

BusinessDay