Port Harcourt, city, southeastern Nigeria, capital of Rivers State, on the Bonny River, in the Niger Delta. The city is a leading port of the country, a road and rail hub, and a major industrial center, and its exports include palm oil, petroleum, coal, tin, columbite, palm products, cocoa, and peanuts. Industries of the area include sawmilling, auto assembly, food canning, flour milling, tobacco processing, and the manufacture of rubber, glass, metal, and paper products, cement, petroleum products, paint, enamelware, bicycles, furniture, and soap. Located in the city are the University of Port Harcourt (1975) and Rivers State University of Science and Technology (1971). The port was established by the British in 1915 and serves eastern Nigeria and parts of northern Nigeria. Population (1995 estimate) 39,970.
