Malaysia and Colombia, recognised as global leaders in palm oil and coffee exports respectively, present valuable case studies for Nigeria as the nation seeks to reform and grow its agricultural export sector.
Experts argue that drawing from these two countries, strategic reforms and targeted investments could unlock significant economic gains, especially beyond Nigeria’s oil dependence.
Malaysia’s journey offers crucial insights. Once grappling with intensifying global competition and concerns over the quality and sustainability of its exports, the country took decisive steps to transform the palm oil industry.
According to 3T Impex, Malaysia’s response included investing in research and development, modernising processing techniques and implementing strict quality assurance protocols.
A pivotal moment came with the launch of the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme, which greatly enhanced product traceability and restored global buyer confidence.
“Within five years, these reforms led to a 50 percent surge in Malaysia’s agricultural export performance,” the report noted.
Today, Malaysia stands as the world’s second-largest producer and exporter of palm oil, contributing about 25 percent of global production and over 30 percent of exports, according to ScienceDirect Journal.
Colombia’s transformation of its coffee industry is equally instructive. Facing challenges such as product degradation from exposure to air, light, and moisture, and difficulty distinguishing its brand in a saturated market, Colombia embarked on a comprehensive rebranding and packaging overhaul.
As outlined by 3T Impex, the country introduced high-barrier materials, vacuum-sealed containers, and reusable airtight packaging. These innovations, coupled with enhanced branding, labeling, and traceability systems, helped to protect product quality and improved global market perception.
“These improvements doubled Colombia’s market impact and competitive edge within just five years,” the report added.
Today, Colombia ranks as the second-largest coffee-exporting country in the world, shipping approximately six million bags annually, according to the World Bank Group’s 2025 report.
Back home in Nigeria, similar reforms could transform the agricultural landscape. Nonye Ayeni, executive director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), emphasised the importance of adopting global best practices, particularly in sectors like seafood.
“Cluster formation fosters collaboration over competition, making them a strategic tool for export development and economic growth,” Ayeni stated during a recent NEPC stakeholder meeting in Abuja.
The 3T Impex Trade Academy stresses the need for Nigeria to implement strict quality standards and certification systems, boost investment in agricultural research and development, and promote sustainable farming practices to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.
The report further highlights the importance of training farmers, providing essential resources, and adopting modern packaging technologies to protect product integrity and boost marketability.
While Nigeria’s non-oil export potential remains vast, experts agree that unlocking it demands more than policy reform.
“It’s a mindset shift,” the report concluded. “By learning from Malaysia and Colombia, Nigeria can position its agricultural exports for global competitiveness and long-term success.”
Read also: Nigerian palm oil to soar as Indonesia increases export levy
Why Nigeria’s exports suffer rejections
Nigeria’s agricultural export sector faces persistent hurdles — from inconsistent quality and poor packaging to weak branding — all of which continue to undermine its growth, according to the NEPC.
A report by 3T Impex Trade Academy revealed over 300 export rejections for Nigerian products from 2014 to 2023. Products like sesame seeds, dry beans, melon, groundnuts, and ginger were frequently turned away due to high aflatoxin levels, pesticide residues, heavy metal contamination, and microbial threats such as Salmonella and E. coli.
“Many of these rejections stem from the lack of mandatory health certifications from NAFDAC,” said Ayeni. “They jeopardise Nigeria’s ability to meet international demand and reduce trust in our products,” she noted.
She noted that Nigeria’s fish and seafood could dominate global markets but remains hindered by non-compliance with safety standards. “These rejections are wrecking our competitiveness,” she added.
One of the most damaging blows came when Mexico banning Nigerian hibiscus flower imports between 2017 and 2020 due to pest infestation, costing exporters around $112.78 million.
“Most farmers went out of business,” said Olatunji Lawal, president of the Hibiscus Flower Exporters Association. “Even after the ban was lifted, we never recovered fully.”
“It crippled our operations,” echoed exporter Habeeb Hamed. “We lost 29 months and countless jobs,” he noted.
Read also: Nigeria indicted in counterfeit exports amid loose borders
Economic impact
Nahanga Verter and Vera Becvarova, in their 2025 research on Nigeria’s agricultural export economy, made a compelling case.
“Exports of goods and services are not just transactions—they are lifelines,” they assert.
“They bring in vital foreign exchange, the currency of global trade, which is then used to import critical foreign goods,”they added.
According to the authors, this flow of trade doesn’t just stop at the borders.
Nigeria’s agricultural exports have soared from a modest N33 billion in 2017 to a staggering N4.4 trillion in 2024 — a jaw-dropping surge of over 13,000 percent, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
This explosive growth signals a major leap for the sector. “It’s a phenomenal milestone — and the real figure might be even higher,” noted Ovie Ali, an export analyst.
