Agro exports crash 31% as port delays, pesticides trigger global rejections

What the report says

Vanguard reports that Nigeria’s agricultural exports fell 31.2% in the first quarter of 2026, dropping to N1.172 trillion from N1.704 trillion in the same period of 2025, according to National Bureau of Statistics data cited in the article. The decline was also reported as an 11.39% fall from the previous quarter. Vanguard attributes the slump to a mix of port delays, excessive pesticide use, obsolete preservatives and gaps in phytosanitary certification, which have contributed to more foreign-market rejections of Nigerian produce.

The report says Nigeria’s leading agricultural export items in the quarter included superior quality cocoa beans worth N596.90 billion, sesame seeds at N153.78 billion, soya beans at N129.27 billion, cashew nuts in shell at N119.76 billion, and soya bean flours and meals at N53.20 billion. Asia was listed as the largest regional destination for Nigerian agricultural exports, followed by Europe, with the Netherlands, Belgium, India and Canada among key markets.

Vanguard cites Agriculture and Food Security Minister Abubakar Kyari as having set up a technical working group to examine recurring export rejections linked to maximum residue limits and sanitary and phytosanitary rules. At the 2026 SheExport Conference, Women in Agribusiness, Trade and Export founder Dr. Queen Okpa reportedly described a case in which 15 containers of hibiscus were rejected at the Mexican border after tests found residues from outdated preservatives.

Other stakeholders cited by Vanguard pointed to structural problems. Bdelium Limited’s Dr. Adelaja Adesina said cargo processes that can take 48 hours in Benin Republic or Ghana may stretch to two or three weeks at Nigerian ports. Health of Mother Earth Foundation’s Joyce Brown warned that hazardous pesticide use by farmers is undermining food safety and export access.