PRODUCT SELECTION WHAT TO EXPORT — PRODUCT SELECTION & MARKET MATCHING

international demand, competitive pricing from Nigeria, and manageable logistics is the foundation

everything else is built on.

2.1 WHAT MAKES A GOOD EXPORT PRODUCT

International demand

Consistent import demand in target markets. Check ITC Trade Map, UN Comtrade data.

Nigerian competitive advantage

Can Nigeria supply it at a price that beats other origins? Consider proximity, climate, labour cost.

Traceability & certification

Can it be certified for destination market standards (organic, food grade, phytosanitary)?

Logistics viability

Can it be packed and shipped without deterioration? What are the storage requirements?

Margin at international price

After all export costs, does the international price leave a profitable margin?

2.2 HIGH-OPPORTUNITY EXPORT CATEGORIES FROM NIGERIA (2026)

Agricultural commodities

Key Products: Hibiscus, sesame, moringa, ginger, groundnuts, cashew, shea butter

Top Buyer Markets: EU, China, USA, UAE, Egypt

Natural & herbal

Key Products: Neem, bitter leaf extract, locust beans, tiger nuts

Top Buyer Markets: Germany, Netherlands, USA

Raw materials

Key Products: Charcoal, limestone, granite, clay

Top Buyer Markets: UAE, Lebanon, China

Processed food

Key Products: Yam flour, plantain chips, palm oil, garri

Top Buyer Markets: UK, USA, Canada (diaspora markets)

Solid minerals

Key Products: Gold, columbite, zinc, lead

Top Buyer Markets: China, India, UAE

Artisan & crafts

Key Products: Leather goods, fabric, beadwork, bronze

Top Buyer Markets: EU, USA, Canada

2.3 MARKET MATCHING — FINDING WHERE YOUR PRODUCT SELLS

Once you have identified a product, match it to the market with the best combination of price,

demand, and accessibility.

1. Search ITC Trade Map (trademap.org) — enter your product HS code and see which countries

   import it and at what value

2. Search Alibaba Global and Europages for buyers already importing your product category

3. Check UN Comtrade for Nigeria's existing export data — identifies proven routes

4. Look at competitor origin countries — what price are India, Sudan, or Ethiopia supplying at?

   Can you compete?

5. Identify market entry requirements — does the destination require organic certification,

   phytosanitary clearance, or specific packaging standards?

STRATEGY:

Start with one product, one market. The biggest mistake new exporters make is trying to export

multiple products to multiple markets simultaneously. Pick your strongest product. Pick the market

with the clearest demand. Execute one deal completely. Then expand. Depth before breadth.