APM Terminals Apapa has reported a remarkable 31.5% increase in export volumes for April 2025—its highest monthly figure since operations began in 2006. The terminal handled 8,687 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of export cargo, up from 6,606 TEUs in April 2024, underscoring a major milestone in Nigeria’s growing export momentum.
The significant uptick reflects years of sustained growth and strategic investment in export infrastructure, according to Terminal Manager Steen Knudsen.
“It’s advantageous for Nigerian shippers when ships depart our ports fully loaded with exports. Preventing ships from leaving empty positively influences the overall cost of shipments into Nigeria,” he said.
Knudsen attributed the growth to targeted operational improvements and alignment with national economic priorities.
He said, ““Our aim aligns with the Federal Government’s vision of transforming Nigeria into an export-driven economy. To support this, we launched a new rail service in February to expedite the movement of goods from the hinterland to Apapa port. Additionally, we’ve expanded our yard capacity for exports and introduced dedicated truck lanes to streamline the process, reducing the time exports spend in the terminal and ensuring timely ship departures.”
Expressing gratitude for collaborative efforts, Knudsen praised the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Railway Corporation, and other key agencies, stating that their unwavering support enables the terminal to focus on delivering top-tier services to its customers.
In the last four years, APM Terminals Apapa has recorded a steady rise in export volumes. In 2022, the terminal handled 53,807 TEUs of exports. This number rose to 70,432 TEUs in 2023 and 77,631 TEUs in 2024.
As Nigeria’s largest container terminal and a subsidiary of the A.P. Moller – Maersk Group, APM Terminals Apapa continues to play a central role in the modernization and expansion of the country’s maritime logistics network. Since acquiring the Apapa concession, the company has made significant capital investments to boost capacity, efficiency, and overall terminal productivity.
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