Zenith Bank Rises to the Top Amid a $6.1bn Export Surge

Zenith Bank Rises to the Top Amid a $6.1bn Export Surge

In 2025, Nigeria‘s non-oil export sector achieved its highest performance on record, surpassing $6.1 billion in value, according to figures released by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC). At the centre of that growth story is Zenith Bank Plc, officially ranked as the leading bank supporting non-oil export transactions during the year.

NEPC data shows that non-oil exports rose by 11.5 per cent from $5.46 billion in 2024 to $6.1 billion in 2025. Export volumes also climbed by 10 per cent to 8.02 million metric tonnes. Nigerian goods reached 120 countries, with the Netherlands, Brazil and India emerging among the top destinations by value, underscoring the expanding global footprint of locally produced goods.

Behind these headline figures lies a complex web of documentation, compliance and financial facilitation. Central to that system is the Nigeria Export Proceeds (NXP) framework, which tracks export transactions and ensures regulatory compliance.

Out of nearly 20,000 NXP forms processed across 30 commercial banks in 2025, Zenith Bank accounted for 32.31 per cent of total transactions — the highest share recorded by any bank. The performance places Zenith clearly ahead of its peers in export documentation and proceeds processing.

Industry analysts say this reflects not only transaction scale but institutional capacity. In a year marked by tighter compliance standards and improved monitoring systems, exporters required efficient banking partners capable of navigating regulatory and international settlement requirements without delay.

The growth in non-oil exports aligns with the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda under President Bola Tinubu. With eight seaports, three international airports and nine land borders serving as exit points, and approximately 94 per cent of shipments routed through seaports, operational coordination between exporters and financial institutions proved critical.

Beyond financing, the export ecosystem in 2025 also benefited from quality assurance reforms. NEPC collaborations with international bodies such as the World Trade Organisation and the International Trade Centre helped strengthen compliance standards, particularly in agricultural value chains, reducing the risk of export rejections abroad.

As NEPC outlines plans to broaden exporter participation, deepen value addition and expand regional trade within ECOWAS in 2026, the role of financial institutions will remain central to sustaining momentum.

For Zenith Bank, which retained its position as the number one bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 capital rating for the 16th consecutive year, its 32.31 per cent share of NXP transactions in a record year reinforces its positioning within Nigeria’s evolving trade architecture. In a sector increasingly defined by accountability, efficiency and scale, its performance signals sustained exporter confidence in its capacity to anchor international trade operations.

Nigeria’s non-oil export drive may be a national effort, but among financial institutions, one name stands out as a record-breaker.