U.S. Crude Oil Imports from Nigeria Decline in Early 2026
The United States recorded crude oil imports from Nigeria totaling $578.78 million in the first quarter of 2026, a decrease from $681.4 million during the same period in 2025, as highlighted by data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Year-on-Year Changes in Import Figures
According to the March 2026 International Trade Report, U.S. imports of Nigerian crude oil, measured on a cost, insured, and cargo basis, experienced a year-to-date decline of $102.62 million, reflecting a 15.06% decrease from the previous year.
Nigeria’s Position as a Key Oil Supplier
Despite fluctuations in trade dynamics, Nigeria continues to hold a significant position among Africa’s primary oil suppliers. The U.S. imported 7.84 million barrels of crude oil from Nigeria during the first three months of 2026, compared to 8.44 million barrels in the same timeframe in 2025, marking a decline of 0.59 million barrels or 7.03%.
Monthly Declines Indicate Shifting Demand
In terms of month-to-month imports, a considerable drop was observed between February and March 2026. Imports plunged from 4.64 million barrels in February to just 1.54 million barrels in March, suggesting a potential weak demand or supply adjustments in response to market fluctuations.
Value Trends Reflect Overall Decline
The value of Nigerian crude oil imports also fell sharply, decreasing from $345.33 million in February 2026 to $114.49 million in March 2026. Similarly, customs data indicated a broader decline, with the year-to-date customs value of Nigerian crude at $561.69 million compared to $663.79 million in 2025—a 15.38% decline.
Shifting Contributions from African Suppliers
In the larger context of African exports to the U.S., Nigeria remains a key contributor to crude oil imports, even as overall import figures have diminished. Total imports from Africa reached $1.66 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up from $1.1 billion in 2025, indicating a changing landscape among African oil suppliers.
Competitive Landscape for Oil Supply
Within Africa, Nigeria’s share of the total U.S. crude oil imports dropped sharply from approximately 61.7% in the first quarter of 2025 to about 34.8% in 2026, underscoring increasing competition from other nations like Libya and Ghana. Despite the decline, Nigerian crude remains a staple in U.S. oil imports, particularly due to the continued demand for light sweet crude grades.
Production Challenges and Recovery Strategies
The U.S. trade report emphasized that import values reflect the total landed cost of the crude oil, including freight and insurance, providing a complete view of trade flows. In March, Nigerian crude oil sales dropped significantly to 17.37 million barrels from 22.85 million barrels in February and 25.75 million barrels in January. This decline highlights ongoing logistical challenges and production difficulties.
Despite these setbacks, the Nigerian National Oil Corporation (NNPC) reported a steady crude oil output of 1.56 million barrels per day in March, unchanged from February but an increase over January’s figures. The report attributed production challenges to disruptions in the Trans Forcados pipeline due to a leak, which affected multiple assets. NNPC is actively pursuing recovery strategies aimed at stabilizing production, improving asset reliability, and addressing logistical constraints.
