Nigeria’s mango industry is emerging as a potential major revenue earner as expanding production capacity and rising global demand place the country in a strong position to supply Europe’s fast-growing mango market.
Industry projections indicate that Nigeria’s mango output could climb to as much as one million metric tons in the coming years, reinforcing its ranking as Africa’s third-largest producer and the world’s 11th, with annual growth estimated at about 0.9 per cent.
Despite the growing volume, analysts say Nigeria is yet to fully translate production strength into export value, as its mangoes continue to sell at discounted prices in international markets. While exporters from countries such as Egypt and Côte d’Ivoire secure premium pricing in Europe, Nigerian mangoes are often traded between $1.10 and $1.45 per kilogramme, a gap experts link to weaknesses in export infrastructure and persistent challenges in meeting stringent phytosanitary standards required by the European Union and the United States.
Europe remains the world’s second-largest importer of fresh mangoes, having imported nearly 447,000 tons in 2024. The market is largely driven by demand for fibre-free varieties such as Kent and Keitt. Trade analysts note that climate-related disruptions, including El Niño-induced yield declines in South America, are creating new opportunities for West African producers.
However, France and the United Kingdom have been identified as the most immediate entry points for Nigerian exporters, with France importing about 57,000 tons last year and increasingly favouring West African supply due to lower shipping costs, while the UK imported roughly 87,000 tons, supported by strong demand from its diverse consumer base.
Speaking on the prospects of Nigeria’s mango sector, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Prof. Mohammed Atanda, said the country is on the verge of a significant breakthrough in the global mango trade if critical technical and processing challenges are addressed.
According to him, Nigeria’s ecology and human capital provide a rare competitive advantage, as mango can be cultivated across the country with minimal constraints, thriving in both drought-prone and forest-rain environments.
Atanda noted that beyond commercial value, mango cultivation contributes to environmental sustainability through carbon footprint reduction.
He also highlighted indigenous mango varieties as under-exploited export assets, citing the Ogbomoso variety as a unique, non-fibrous, high-brix mango with strong international appeal that is exclusive to Nigeria.
However, he acknowledged that post-harvest losses remain a major setback, with significant quantities of mangoes wasted annually in producing states due to inadequate processing capacity and unreliable energy supply. To tackle this, Atanda said NIHORT has established a pilot mango juice processing plant with federal government support and is serving as a technical skills hub under a partnership involving the Federal Ministry of Education and the World Bank’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training programme. The institute is also supporting farmers with improved seedlings through outstations in Gombe, Kano and Ibadan to encourage better planning and year-round production.
Echoing similar concerns, the Chief Executive Officer of the Produce Export Development Alliance (PEDA), Aiyeola Adetiloye, said Nigeria’s ambition to become a major player in the global mango trade is being constrained mainly by compliance challenges, particularly fruit fly infestation. He revealed that despite strong international demand, Nigeria currently exports less than one per cent of its mango production to high-value global markets, with exports by sea and air described as almost non-existent.
Adetiloye noted that global buyers favour Kent and Keitt varieties for their durability during long-distance shipping and stressed that these can be cultivated locally. While demand for Nigerian mangoes, both fresh and dried, has grown steadily over the past three years, he warned that failure to effectively control fruit fly populations could continue to shut the country out of premium markets, even as demand rises.
Industry stakeholders agree that closing the gap between harvest and export through improved pest management, better infrastructure, processing capacity and strict adherence to international safety standards will be decisive in determining whether Nigeria can convert its mango production strength into sustainable export earnings and a stronger foothold in Europe’s expanding market.
