US cuts Nigeria crude oil imports

The USA sharply decreased its imports of Nigerian crude oil in January 2026, with volumes dropping by about 47.16 per cent month-on-month, in keeping with the most recent knowledge from U.S. commerce companies.

Figures from the U.S. Worldwide Commerce in Items and Companies report confirmed that crude imports from Nigeria fell to 1.664 million barrels in January, down from 3.149 million barrels recorded in December 2025.

The decline represents a drop of 1.485 million barrels inside one month, signalling a major contraction in Nigeria’s share of the U.S. crude market.

In worth phrases, Nigerian crude exports to the U.S. additionally fell sharply.

The customs worth dropped from $217.36 million in December to $115.99 million in January, whereas the fee, insurance coverage, and freight worth declined from $223.10 million to $118.95 million throughout the identical interval.

The contraction occurred alongside a broader decline in whole U.S. crude imports, which fell from 198.29 million barrels in December to 188.21 million barrels in January, representing a 5.1 per cent lower.

Inside Africa, Nigeria misplaced market share to some opponents. Angola recorded a pointy improve in exports to the U.S., rising from 575,000 barrels in December to 2.062 million barrels in January, whereas Ghana emerged as a brand new provider with 738,000 barrels throughout the month.

Nigeria’s share of whole U.S. crude imports additionally declined considerably, accounting for about 0.88 per cent in January, in comparison with 1.59 per cent in December.

Additional evaluation confirmed that crude oil remained Nigeria’s dominant export to the U.S., accounting for about 63 to 65 per cent of whole U.S. imports from Nigeria in January, though this was decrease than the 73.2 per cent recorded in December.

In the meantime, the U.S. recorded a $419 million items commerce surplus with Nigeria in January, up from $84 million in December, pushed by a rise in American exports to Nigeria.

Regardless of the drop in exports to the U.S., Nigeria’s oil production rose barely to 1.64 million barrels per day in January, up from 1.55 million barrels per day in December, in keeping with the most recent operational report from the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Firm Restricted.