US crude oil imports from Nigeria see significant drop
The United States reduced its crude oil imports from Nigeria in the first quarter of 2026, according to new trade data. The value of these imports fell by over $100 million compared to the same period in 2025. Despite the decline, Nigeria remains a key African supplier to the US, though its share has decreased amid rising competition. Operational challenges and pipeline disruptions have also affected Nigerian crude output.
TLDR
- The US spent $578.78m on Nigerian crude oil in the first quarter of 2026, down from $681.40m in 2025.
- US imports from Nigeria dropped from 8.44 million barrels in the first three months of 2025 to 7.84 million barrels in 2026.
- Imports fell sharply from 4.64 million barrels in February 2026 to 1.54 million barrels in March 2026.
- Nigeria’s share of US crude imports from Africa dropped to about 34.8% in Q1 2026, from roughly 61.7% in 2025.
- NNPC reported pipeline disruptions, including the Trans Forcados Pipeline outage from February 20 to March 25, 2026, impacting production.
