Nigeria sharply increased its crude oil purchases from the United States in 2025, importing a total of 42.13 million barrels within the first 10 months of the year, according to data from the United States Energy Information Administration.
The figure represents a year-on-year increase of about 26.34 million barrels when compared with the 15.79 million barrels imported over the same period in 2024.
In percentage terms, Nigeria’s crude imports from the US rose by roughly 167 per cent, underscoring a major shift in sourcing patterns within a single year.
The scale of the increase shows that Nigeria more than doubled its reliance on US crude, reflecting both rising demand and structural pressures within the domestic oil supply chain.
In 2024, imports were relatively modest and uneven.
Total volumes for the period stood at 15.79 million barrels, with monthly inflows remaining largely below four million barrels and falling sharply in June to just 1.04 million barrels.
The weaker outturn in 2024 contrasts sharply with the stronger and more sustained import profile recorded in 2025.
A month-by-month breakdown of 2025 shows how Nigeria’s US crude imports gathered momentum over the year.
There was no record of such an import in January in either year, according to available data.
In February, imports stood at 3.11 million barrels, slightly lower than the 3.61 million barrels recorded in February 2024.
This early softness, however, proved temporary.
By March 2025, imports rose to 5.25 million barrels, marking a clear departure from the previous year’s pattern and exceeding March 2024 volumes by nearly 1.83 million barrels.
April imports eased to 2.04 million barrels but still remained higher than the 1.54 million barrels recorded in the same month of 2024.
In May, Nigeria imported 3.79 million barrels, an increase of about 1.71 million barrels over May 2024.
The most significant monthly surge occurred in June, when imports jumped to 9.16 million barrels.
This was almost nine times higher than the 1.04 million barrels imported in June 2024 and accounted for more than one fifth of Nigeria’s total US crude purchases for 2025 so far.
The June figure marked a turning point, signalling a sharp acceleration in demand.
Imports remained elevated in July at 4.17 million barrels, slightly above the 4.10 million barrels recorded a year earlier.
August saw another strong increase, with Nigeria importing 6.24 million barrels, one of the highest monthly figures for the year.
The upward trend was sustained into September and October, with each month recording imports of 4.19 million barrels, suggesting steady demand toward the end of the period.
Overall, the monthly pattern for 2025 shows stronger consistency and higher peaks compared with 2024, when imports were lower and more volatile.
Analysts attribute the sharp year on year increase to Nigeria’s growing dependence on imported crude to meet refinery feedstock needs, including supplies for privately owned refineries.
At 42.13 million barrels within ten months, Nigeria’s crude imports from the US in 2025 already stand at nearly three times the volume recorded in the same period of 2024, indicating that the full year total could climb further if current import levels are maintained.
The surge indicates that the Dangote Refinery’s crude intake is entering a steady ramp-up, with US light sweet crude favoured for its compatibility with complex refining processes. However, the rising reliance on imported US barrels highlights a longstanding paradox for Nigeria.
Despite being Africa’s biggest oil producer and an OPEC member, it has historically exported crude while importing refined products because its state refineries are moribund.
The Dangote refinery was expected to address this by using domestic crude oil to reduce reliance on imports. However, the latest data show it is still relying on foreign supply to optimise operations.
The Federal Government earlier disclosed that a total of 67,657,559 barrels of crude oil were supplied to local refiners for processing between January and August 2025.
The figure, confirmed by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, highlights the ongoing challenges in bridging the crude allocation gap faced by indigenous refineries, despite Nigeria’s rising production levels.
The commission noted that crude allocation was made in line with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation policy.
According to the commission, through its Head of Media and Strategic Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu, the barrels were delivered to both modular and state-owned refining facilities, including Waltersmith, Aradel Energy, and refineries under the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
“A total of 67,657,559 barrels were delivered to local refiners between January and August this year. All refiners got that amount within the eight-month period,” Akinkuotu noted in a statement.
However, the volume supplied fell short of refiners’ demand by a wide margin. Local processors had requested 123,480,500 barrels for the first half of 2025, meaning they received 55,822,941 barrels—or about 45 per cent—less than required to meet their refining targets.
Earlier last year, the NUPRC projected that refineries such as Port Harcourt, Warri, Dangote, and others would require 770,500 barrels per day, translating to 23.8 million barrels per month, or 123.4 million barrels for the first half of 2025.
Yet, actual deliveries have not matched these forecasts. Instead, Nigeria’s crude and condensate production climbed to 1.63 million barrels per day in August, with much of it still destined for export.
For months, refinery owners have complained about difficulties in accessing crude oil locally. They allege that producers prefer selling to international buyers who pay in dollars, leaving domestic refiners struggling under the pressure of exchange rates.
It was earlier reported that the $20bn Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos relies heavily on US imports to feed its processing units. The refinery imported an average of 10 million barrels in July, stating that it was increasingly relying on the US for its feedstock, despite the naira-for-crude deal with the Federal Government.
Data from commodities analytics firm Kpler showed that in July, US barrels accounted for approximately 60 per cent of Dangote’s 590,000 barrels per day of crude intake, with Nigerian grades making up the remaining 40 per cent.
In July, the Dangote refinery’s crude imports surged to a record 590 kbd—driven largely by US barrels overtaking Nigerian supply for the first time—amid ongoing domestic sourcing challenges, Kpler reports.
As crude imports into the Dangote refinery surged to 590,000 bpd in July, the highest monthly volume on record, Kpler noted that US crude made up a substantial 370,000bpd (60 per cent) of the total, while Nigerian grades accounted for just 220,000 bpd (40 per cent), primarily comprising Amenam, Bonny Light, and Escravos.
“While WTI has held a significant share in Dangote’s import slate since March, this is the first time US crude has overtaken Nigerian supply—a shift driven by several factors,” Kpler reported.
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