In the first quarter of 2023, various ports in Lagos handled 97.13 percent of exports and 81.5 percent of imports, accounting for about 90 percent of all import-export transactions in Nigeria.
Results from the National Bureau of Statistics Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics for Q1’23 reveal that N10.83 trillion, or 89.9% of Nigeria’s overall trade of N12.05 trillion for the quarter, was transacted through the different ports in Lagos.
Further analysis of the data revealed that N6.3 trillion in export trade, which is 97% of the total N6.49 trillion in exports, passed through Lagos ports, while N4.53 trillion in import trade, or 81.5 percent of the total N5.56 trillion in imports, transited through the various ports in Lagos.
When the trade data for Q1’23 was broken down by Custom seaports and land ports, Apapa Port’s export transactions accounted for N6.07 trillion, or 93.56 percent of all exports, while Tin Can Island recorded N199.32 billion, or 3.07 percent, of all exports.
Others are Tincan Port-2 with commerce worth N2.34 billion, Seme Border Post with N4.42 billion, and Murtala Muhammed International Airport with N25.66 billion.
Outside of Lagos, Onne Port was the other significant export port during the time period, accounting for N150.42 billion or 2.32 percent of all exports.
When it comes to imports, Apapa Port in Lagos had the most transactions, accounting for products worth N3.56 trillion, or 64.04 percent of all imports. Apapa Port was followed by Tin Can Island, which had transactions worth N646.99 billion, or 11.64 percent.
Others include the Murtala Muhammed Cargo N187.63 billion, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal CMDN73.93 billion, PTML Customs Office N190.86 billion, and Oil & Gas Terminal N60.28 billion.
Outside of Lagos, Onne Port (N357.45 billion, or 6.43 percent) and Port Harcourt Area (N142 billion, or 2.55 percent) are the other two important import ports.
The survey revealed that the majority of goods exported from Nigeria were shipped by sea after breaking down trade during the time period by mode of transportation.
