Nigeria eyes $3.9b gain in cocoa and coffee exports
Nigeria could generate an additional $3.9 billion in export revenue by capitalizing on untapped international demand for premium commodities, according to analysis from the International Trade Centre’s Export Potential Map. The assessment identifies cocoa beans as the country’s strongest performer, with unrealized opportunities valued at $749 million, representing nearly one-fifth of total potential growth.
Coffee has emerged as a strategic diversification target, with the United States presenting the largest market opportunity at $5.8 billion in annual imports of unroasted varieties. Germany and Japan also represent substantial demand centers at $4 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively, with all three nations applying zero tariffs to Nigerian shipments. Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands similarly maintain barrier-free access for coffee imports.
Victor Iyama, who chairs the Board of Trustees for the Cocoa Association of Nigeria, confirmed that coffee cultivation could significantly strengthen foreign exchange earnings. The analysis positions cashew nuts and urea alongside cocoa and coffee as commodities with considerable expansion capacity.
