US crude floods Nigeria as imports soar by over 100%— EIA

US crude floods Nigeria as imports soar by over 100%— EIA

 

Nigeria’s crude oil imports from the United States skyrocketed in 2025, surging by 101 per cent in just eight months, new data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has revealed.

Between February and August 2025, Nigeria imported 31.69 million barrels of US crude—more than double the 15.79 million barrels recorded during the same period in 2024. The additional 15.9 million barrels underscores a major shift in the country’s crude sourcing strategy as it struggles to stabilise domestic refining output.

Available records show no import activity in January of either year, but month-by-month figures indicate sharp fluctuations and an overall upward trend.

In February, US crude imports dipped slightly to 3.11 million barrels, below the 3.61 million barrels brought in during February 2024—a 13.8 per cent decline. But from March onward, the numbers accelerated rapidly.

March: Imports jumped to 5.25 million barrels, up from 3.42 million barrels—a 53.5% rise.

April: Deliveries hit 2.04 million barrels, up 32.3% year-on-year.

May: A stronger increase saw imports reach 3.79 million barrels, an 82.4% surge from the previous year.

June: A dramatic spike pushed volumes to 9.16 million barrels, compared to just 1.04 million barrels in June 2024—an eye-watering 782% increase, the highest in the period.

July: Imports inched up to 4.17 million barrels, marginally higher than the 4.10 million barrels recorded the year before.

August: Nigeria imported 4.17 million barrels, although the EIA did not publish comparable August data for 2024.

The surge reflects Nigeria’s deepening dependence on foreign crude, even as the country ramps up local refining. Analysts say US light sweet crude—favoured for its high yield and compatibility with complex refineries—has become increasingly crucial as the Dangote Refinery intensifies operations.

But the trend also exposes a persistent irony: despite being Africa’s largest oil producer and a long-standing OPEC member, Nigeria continues to rely heavily on imported crude to keep its refining sector running.

The Federal Government recently disclosed that 67.6 million barrels of crude were allocated to local refiners between January and August 2025. Yet industry regulators acknowledge an ongoing shortfall in supply to domestic plants, even as national production gradually improves.

With the Dangote Refinery still balancing its crude supply mix and state-owned refineries yet to return to full operation, Nigeria’s reliance on US barrels appears set to remain a defining feature of its oil market in the near term.