Apapa port records rise in export volumes, plans second exporters forum

Nigeria’s largest container port terminal, APM Terminals Apapa, revealed on Monday that it has experienced a continuous increase in export volumes over the past four years.

The terminal reported that its half-year (H1) export figures for non-oil cargo in 2024 reached 51,000 TEUs, a 25% year-over-year increase compared to 47,000 TEUs for H1 2023.

APM Terminals Apapa Terminal Manager Steen Knudsen described non-oil export cargo as an integral part of the terminal’s business.

According to Knudsen, “Over the last four years, we have witnessed a steady growth in non-oil export cargo. In 2020, export volumes were 53,000 TEUs, rising to 63,000 TEUs in 2021, and 71,000 TEUs in 2022. The most significant increase was recorded in 2023, when volumes surged to 94,000 TEUs, marking a 32% rise.”

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To sustain this growth in non-oil exports, Knudsen announced that the terminal will host its second exporters’ forum on September 19th. He stated, “The exporters’ forum is our way of supporting the Federal Government’s non-oil export drive.

The forum is essentially a brainstorming session where we collaborate with various exporting associations in the country to address their challenges and facilitate more efficient movement of exports into the ports.

More exports out of Nigeria translate to lower shipping costs, as vessels don’t return empty. We will continue to partner with our customers and relevant government agencies to encourage Nigerian exporters in their business.”

Launched in mid-2024, the APM Terminals Apapa exporters’ forum provides a platform for the terminal, its export customers, and shipping lines to discuss issues that impede the flow of export cargo into the port.

APM Terminals Apapa Head of Commercial, Kayode Daniels, said, “The maiden forum held in June was a huge success.

We received valuable feedback from exporters on how we could collaborate to streamline our processes and improve export volumes.

For agro-export produce, time is critical as prolonged storage in containers can compromise the quality of the cargo before it reaches its destination.

The feedback we receive at the forum will be used to enhance our operations and associated processes related to non-oil exports. I believe we can work together to further strengthen the port’s export process.”

APM Terminals Nigeria’s Market and Commercial Intelligence Manager, Adetunji Igbaugba, described the terminal’s culture as one of continuous improvement.

He said, “One of the ways we can improve is by listening to our esteemed customers. This was a major reason for the first export forum held in June, and the invaluable feedback from our customers and stakeholders helped drive the improvements recorded.

In preparation for the upcoming export season, we will proactively conduct another session to review and find ways to jointly eliminate or reduce future challenges and better serve our valued customers.”