Cargo throughput surges by 12.3% in Q2 2026 — Report

Nigerian Ports recorded significant growth in the second quarter of 2026, with cargo throughput, vessel traffic, and container movements rising sharply 12.3%.

Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), announced this in Lagos on Monday in an Operational Performance Report for Q2 2026 made available to the media.

The report showed sustained improvement in key indicators, demonstrating that the Federal Government’s maritime reforms are yielding results and significantly boosting trade facilitation and port competitiveness.

Dantsoho said cargo throughput rose by 12.3 percent to 35.7 million metric tonnes in Q2 2026, up from the 31.8 million metric tonnes recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.

A breakdown of the trade volume showed that inward cargo accounted for 56.8 percent of the total, outward cargo represented 41.9 percent, and transshipment cargo contributed 488,364 metric tonnes, or approximately 1.4 percent. Inward cargo increased by 7.7 percent, while outward cargo grew by 22 percent, demonstrating improved export performance.

Dantsoho noted that vessel traffic also improved significantly.

The number of ocean-going vessels handled rose by 14.4 percent, from 1,050 in Q2 2025 to 1,201 in Q2 2026, indicating increased shipping activity.

“Gross Registered Tonnage of ocean-going vessels grew by 22.2 percent to 49.95 million tonnes from 40.87 million tonnes, reflecting larger vessel calls at Nigerian seaports.”

“Service boat operations also recorded strong growth; completed service boat calls increased by 22.3 percent to 4,347, while associated GRT rose by 62.4 percent to 1.73 million tonnes,” Dantsoho said.

He added that container traffic increased by 11.3 percent to 602,392 TEUs from 541,229 TEUs. Inward laden containers rose by 6.3 percent, accounting for 51.5 percent of the total volume.

While outward laden containers declined marginally by 3.9 percent, empty container traffic increased by 13.9 percent compared to the same period in 2025. Transshipment container traffic stood at 29,038 TEUs up from zero in Q2 2025 reflecting the growing importance of transshipment operations within the Nigerian port system.

Vehicle traffic also rose by 18.3 percent to 44,147 units from 37,306 units, driven largely by improved automobile imports supported by exchange rate stability.

The NPA Managing Director emphasized that the surge in cargo volumes and ship calls underscores the ports’ resilience and competitiveness in facilitating national and regional trade.

He stated that the priority for 2026 remains a massive infrastructure overhaul alongside digital reforms.

Key projects include the modernization of the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, as well as continued developments at the Lekki and Badagry deep-sea ports.

He concluded that the full implementation of the Port Community System and the National Single Window will streamline operations, cut costs, and firmly position Nigeria as West Africa’s maritime trade hub.