2024: Defining the future of logistics
We got our train rolling like never before, delivering over 500+ Tonnes of parcels to customers around the globe.
17 million Nigerians live in the diaspora and over a million Nigerians migrate overseas annually, with 35% residing in the USA & UK.
35% of the Nigerian diaspora reside in the UK & USA
This trend in migration is driving increased demand for the export of indigenous Nigerian consumer products.
Informal
Logistics Operators
In Nigeria, informal logistics operators play a crucial role in connecting producers of local commodities with the diaspora by providing export services such as documentation, packaging, and access to global courier services.
This report examines the performance of these players, to spotlight a community that is fast becoming an integral component in the global export industry in Nigeria.
01
An Overview of Nigeria’s Informal Logistics Sector
The informal sector in Nigeria comprises around
58.2% of total GDP
In the past decade, the rise in migration engineered the creation of informal logistics operators to support the growing needs of local businesses looking to export goods to the diaspora.
Informal logistics operators primarily assist commodity producers with shipping services, such as packaging, quality assurance checks, documentation and tracking.
These businesses are typically owned by a single individual and generally employ between 3 - 5 people.
Commonly referred to as 3PLs (3rd Party Logistics), they play a crucial role in connecting the local populace with the growing diaspora community.
Notably, 37% of the 3PL operators on the Terminal platform are women, and the average age of a 3PL operator ranges between 30 and 35 years.
02
Creating Possibilities in Logistics
We are helping Africans
ship
At Terminal, we believe this growing community of Nigerians living in the diaspora will have significant impact on the economic growth of Nigeria over the next 10 years.
We also believe that the informal logistics operators that utilize our technology are uniquely positioned to drive immense value for this community. So in 2022, we developed technology that streamlines all aspects of global shipping, making it easier for businesses in Nigeria to ship parcels across the globe.
T-Hub Launched in February 2024
In February 2024, we launched our white-label software, T-Hub, which is designed specifically to streamline operations for third-party logistics businesses.
TakeOff Masterclass
Knowledge is indeed power. Supporting our community of 3PLs goes beyond providing access to our technology.
In October 2024, we launched the Takeoff Masterclass, designed to empower 3PL business owners with the practical and innovative insights they need to scale.
This in-person training featured leaders within the community who shared their valuable experiences, equipping attendees with the tools for success.
TakeOff Masterclass
Knowledge is indeed power. Supporting our community of 3PLs goes beyond providing access to our technology.
In October 2024, we launched the Takeoff Masterclass, designed to empower 3PL business owners with the practical and innovative insights they need to scale.
This in-person training featured leaders within the community who shared their valuable experiences, equipping attendees with the tools for success.
03
Shipping on Terminal in 2024
International Deliveries in 2024
Nigerians in the diaspora love a taste of home, and the data reflects their preferences. Clothing, beauty products & food items accounted for almost 80% of exports on the Terminal platform in 2024.
194.5 tonnes of clothing
13.66% of all items were food items
83.67% of all international shipments were sent to the USA, UK & Canada.
Top 10 items shipped internationally
Top 10 items shipped locally
Local Deliveries in 2024
Small businesses in retail trade account for a significant portion of local deliveries conducted on the Terminal platform. Customers shipped over 2,800 packages containing 3264.9kg of skincare.
17.0% of all local shipments were skincare products.
10.12% were books and printed materials
19.67% of all local shipments were sent to Abuja, Port Harcourt & Owerri.
04
E-commerce & Payments Solutions
Recognizing the growing demand for seamless order fulfilment, we developed an e-commerce integration plugins for merchants selling on platforms such as WooCommerce, Shopify and Paystack.
E-commerce Integration
Our integration helps online store owners (merchants) ship orders easily to their customers.
This innovative solution simplifies the delivery process by automating access to shipping pricing on online stores and also enables merchants to fulfil orders faster once orders are placed.
This innovative solution simplifies the delivery process by automating access to shipping pricing on online stores and also enables merchants to fulfil orders faster once orders are placed.
05
Focus on Exports in Nigeria
In 2024, customers on the Terminal platform spent a total of ₦8.8 billion on deliveries shipping over 500 tonnes of commodites across the globe.
About 50% of this was spent on shipping to the USA, 17% to the UK and 6.7% to Canada, representing about 73.7% of total shipping spend in 2024.
Shipping Spend in the USA
Deliveries to Texas, Maryland, and New York account for 70% of all shipments to the US, an indicator that these cities are home to the largest communities of Nigerians currently living in the US.
Top destination in Africa
Interestingly, customers spent N77 million shipping to Libya (Top destinations: Tripoli & Misrata).
Shipping Spend in the USA
Deliveries to Texas, Maryland, and New York account for 70% of all shipments to the US, an indicator that these cities are home to the largest communities of Nigerians currently living in the US.
Top destination in Africa
Interestingly, customers spent ₦77 million shipping to Libya (Top destinations: Tripoli & Misrata).
Shipping Spend in the USA
Deliveries to Texas, Maryland, and New York account for 70% of all shipments to the US, an indicator that these cities are home to the largest communities of Nigerians currently living in the US.
Top destination in Africa
Interestingly, customers spent N77 million shipping to Libya (Top destinations: Tripoli & Misrata).
Customers spent approximately
1.0 Billion Naira
in 2024
06
Supporting businesses in rural Japan
During our research for this report, our data team came across frequent shipments to Ōita Prefecture, a rural city in Japan.
This peaked our curiosity as the most common destinations in Japan are major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka. Our team decided to dig deeper looking for information on Nigerians communities living in the area.
Oita Prefecture
Kyushu, Japan
We came across a story of a Japanese woman, Hatsumi Koseki, who set up a store in her community, selling Nigerian fabrics to locals in her community.
Also, we found over 30+ deliveries facilitated by a 3PL operator on the Terminal platform to Hatsumi since 2022.
Also, we found over 30+ deliveries facilitated by a 3PL operator on the Terminal platform to Hatsumi since 2022.
This inspiring story showcased how 3PLs are leveraging our technology to connect Nigerian goods to even the most unexpected corners of the world.
07
The People’s Choice
What is the best courier service to use for deliveries?
At Terminal Africa, we work with over 15 active couriers — 9 international and 6 local — including trusted services such as DHL, FedEx, UPS, Aramex, and others.
Here’s a breakdown of their 2024 performance, based on data and user feedback.
Top 5 Pickup States
Lagos, FCT, Oyo, Rivers and Abia were the top 5 pickup states in 2024.
Lagos
80.03%
F.C.T.
4.07%
Oyo
3.42%
Rivers
3.02%
Abia
2.58%
Others
6.88%
Local Courier Coverage
The South-West region led the way, accounting for 86.26% of total deliveries.
86.26%
of total deliveries
Click to enlarge image
Best-Performing Local Couriers:
Our local couriers delivered to 224 cities within Nigeria in 2024.
Pickup Times
DHL
Avg Turnaround Time (TAT)
Darum
Most Used
DHL
User Rating (Customers' Choice)
DHL
Most Recommended
DHL
Safest Option for Customers
DHL
International Courier Coverage
Our international couriers delivered to 6,435 cities in 2024.
Pickup Times
DHL
Avg TAT
Ship To Naija, Terminal Premium
Most Used
DHL
User Rating (Customers' Choice)
DHL
Most Recommended
DHL, FedEx
Safest Option for Customers
DHL
Best-Performing Local Couriers:
Our local couriers delivered to 224 cities in 2024.
International Courier Coverage
Our international couriers delivered to an impressive 6,435 cities in 2024.
08
D-Day: Biggest Shipping Day in 2024
On February 26th, 2024:
Terminal customers shipped over 5.2 Tonnes of goods, making it our busiest shipping day in 2024 and also in the 3 year history of the Terminal platform.
Interestingly, this was due to a major announcement of price adjustments at the peak of the Naira devaluation. This spurred a rush of customers to send out items in record numbers ahead of the adjustment.
Interestingly, this was due to a major announcement of price adjustments at the peak of the Naira devaluation. This spurred a rush of customers to send out items in record numbers ahead of the adjustment.
Learn more
Team Bonding Activities
Winemaking. Paint & Sip. Dinner.
It would be impossible to talk about 2024 without spotlighting the team who made it all possible.
So in light of that, we strengthened our team spirit through unforgettable memories in 2024. From mixing wine to painting and enjoying a delightful team dinner, this year was about building connections beyond work.
These memorable activities bonded and reminded us of the power of teamwork and relationships in the workplace. Shout out to Team Terminal.
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Finance & HR Team
Charles O.
Busola C.
Data Team
Femi O.
Mariam O.
Customer Support Team
Victorious E.
Queen B.
Tobiloba O.
Yetunde I.
Marketing Team
Udi O.
Donald O.
Amanda N.
Operations Team
Adaeze U.
Merit I.
Moyo K.
Seun A.
Shadiat I.
Victor A.
Joshua O.
John F.
Growth Team
Adedamola S.
Genevieve N.
Lateefah O.
Yewande C.
Sayidat B.
Gbenga K.
Tomi F.
Product Team
Nnamdi O.
Kevin E.
Daniel O.
Blessing O.
Mohammed A.
Richard S.
Adeleye A.
Ayodeji O.
Team Members & Departments