Blue Economy
Nigeria’s Export Volumes Leap 1,085% as Port Reforms Deliver Results — APM Terminals CEO
Nigeria’s Export Volumes Leap 1,085% as Port Reforms Deliver Results — APM Terminals CEO
Okeoghene Onoriobe
Nigeria’s waterways and port corridors are emerging as powerful engines of non-oil export growth, with new data revealing a staggering 1,085 per cent surge in export-laden container volumes — a milestone that the Chief Executive Officer of APM Terminals Nigeria, Frederik Klinke, says vindicates years of strategic reform and infrastructure investment.
Klinke made the disclosure at the Blue Economy Investment Summit 2026 in Abuja, where he told delegates that Nigeria’s maritime sector is demonstrating remarkable resilience and momentum, with the dramatic surge in export volumes positioning the country as an emerging force in global trade.
The figures, drawn from the Nigerian Ports Authority’s third quarter 2025 report, point to the scale of transformation now underway across Nigeria’s port ecosystem — a transformation that has direct implications for the country’s inland and coastal waterway networks, which are increasingly central to cargo evacuation and trade facilitation.
Klinke acknowledged that the global shipping environment remains turbulent, with international shipping continuing to grapple with disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions and shifting trade routes, rising freight costs, longer shipping routes, and increased insurance premiums.Despite these headwinds, he said Nigeria has maintained forward momentum, particularly in its drive to expand non-oil exports.
The APM Terminals chief pointed to a series of targeted operational measures as key drivers of the export surge. These include the establishment of a dedicated Container Freight Station at Onne, the introduction of exclusive export lanes at Apapa to reduce delays, and the launch of a thrice-weekly rail service — moves that have eased pressure on road infrastructure and opened up more efficient evacuation channels, including waterways.
Barge operations have also been expanded to enable greater use of waterways for container movement, particularly during peak demand cycles, reinforcing the critical role that Nigeria’s inland water transport network plays in sustaining port throughput.
On investment, Klinke confirmed that APM Terminals’ cumulative investments in Nigeria now exceed $600 million, with more than $1.5 billion remitted to the Federal Government through concession fees and taxes. He said these resources have been directed at efficiency gains, sustainability, and infrastructure upgrades designed to facilitate smoother cargo movement along the full logistics chain.
Looking at the broader trade picture, East–West Africa trade volumes rose by more than 30 per cent in 2025, making it the fastest-growing container trade corridor globally — a development Klinke said places Nigeria in an advantageous position, provided it continues to strengthen its maritime infrastructure and logistics systems.
To sustain the current momentum, Klinke called on regulators and policymakers to prioritise deeper channel drafts to accommodate larger vessels, full integration of digital systems across the port ecosystem, and improved multimodal transport networks to ensure seamless cargo movement. He added that cutting cargo dwell times and simplifying documentation processes would lower the cost of doing business while bolstering Nigeria’s credibility in international trade.
The summit also heard from Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, who announced that the Federal Government has secured £746 million to modernise the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports in Lagos Naija247news — a development that will further strengthen the infrastructure underpinning Nigeria’s waterborne trade corridors.
Klinke concluded that Nigeria’s maritime economy is at a critical juncture, where sustained alignment between policy, infrastructure investment and execution could unlock even greater export growth. With private sector confidence high, he said the priority now must be predictable regulation, accelerated digitisation, and efficient trade corridors — on water and on land — to cement Nigeria’s place as the leading maritime hub in West Africa.