APM Terminals Apapa, Nigeria’s largest container terminal, recorded a 6 per cent increase in export volumes during the first half of 2026, reinforcing its continued efforts to boost the country’s non-oil exports and enhance Nigerian businesses’ access to international markets.
In an operational update issued on Sunday, August 30, 2026, Terminal Managing Director Kamal Alhraishat credited the performance to the determination of local exporters alongside strategic operational improvements introduced to facilitate trade.
“Over the last five years, exports through our terminal have maintained a positive growth trajectory,” Alhraishat stated. “This reflects both the resilience of Nigerian exporters and the targeted improvements we have made to facilitate export trade, simplify cargo flows, and improve access to international markets.”
To mitigate highway gridlock and streamline port access, the facility implemented targeted logisitical solutions such as; Dedicated Access Lanes:- Fast-track terminal entry lanes designed to accelerate gate access for export-bound containers.
Intermodal Rail Services:- A direct rail connection operating three times weekly between Lagos and Moniya in Ibadan, alongside the Ebute Metta rail corridor, providing predictable transport that bypasses city traffic congestion.
Dominant Commodities:- The volume surge was largely propelled by agricultural and raw material shipments, including cocoa, cashew nuts, soybeans, hibiscus flowers, and solid minerals.
Beyond physical logistics, the terminal is accelerating inter-agency collaboration to protect perishable goods from costly delays.
Head of Commercial Kayode Olufemi-Daniel emphasized that reducing cargo dwell times remains essential for aligning with the Federal Government’s vision of an export-driven economy. “Time is a critical factor in export trade, particularly for agricultural products,” Olufemi-Daniel noted.
“Delays within the supply chain can affect the quality of goods and, in some cases, render them unsuitable for export. That is why we continuously review our operational processes to reduce delays across the value chain.”
To further refine trade workflows, APM Terminals announced it will host its third annual Exporters Forum at the Apapa Terminal facility on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, bringing together exporters, logistics providers, shipping lines, and regulatory agencies to convert trade feedback into actionable solutions.
