Revealed: Why Nigeria became top crude buyer from US

• Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows Nigeria has go a apical purchaser of American crude oil.
• The determination comes amid an summation successful crude imports by the monolithic Dangote Refinery based successful Lagos, Nigeria
• Experts accidental the displacement signals a translation successful planetary lipid commercialized dynamics, driven by changing refinery demand, attraction cycles successful the U.S.

Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported connected tech, energy, stocks, concern and the economy for implicit a decade.

For the archetypal clip connected record, the United States exported much crude lipid to Nigeria than it imported from the country, a melodramatic reversal that unfolded successful February and March 2025, according to recently released information from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The displacement signals a translation successful planetary lipid commercialized dynamics, driven by changing refinery demand, attraction cycles successful the U.S., and the emergence of caller refining powerhouses similar Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery.

The US is present a nett exporter of crude to Nigeria arsenic Dangote raises patronage. Credit: Bloomberg/Contributor
Source: Getty Images

Dangote Refinery ups request for imports

The Dangote Refinery, boasting a monolithic 650,000 barrels per time (b/d) nameplate capacity, was a cardinal subordinate successful this reversal.

Having started operations successful January 2024, the refinery ramped up accumulation importantly successful aboriginal 2025.

To conscionable rising request for crude feedstock, which section suppliers struggled to fulfil, Dangote sourced progressively from planetary markets, peculiarly the United States.

In February 2025, U.S. crude exports to Nigeria deed 111,000 b/d, climbing to 169,000 b/d successful March.

Meanwhile, U.S. imports from Nigeria plummeted to 54,000 b/d successful February, and lone somewhat recovered to 72,000 b/d successful March.

U.S. refinery downtime limits imports

Part of the crushed for the U.S. slowdown successful Nigerian crude imports was section refinery maintenance. In aboriginal 2025, the Phillips 66 Bayway refinery successful New Jersey — a cardinal purchaser of Nigerian airy saccharine crude — went offline for scheduled maintenance.

At the aforesaid time, increasing volumes of airy choky lipid (LTO) from the U.S. Permian Basin were progressively disposable and suited for Dangote’s refining configuration. This made American barrels some accessible and economically attractive.

Africa’s refineries displacement planetary commercialized flow

Though Nigeria concisely regained export momentum aboriginal successful the twelvemonth — aided by Dangote’s attraction successful Q2 and U.S. refineries returning to afloat capableness — analysts accidental the commercialized reversal is simply a sensation of aboriginal patterns.

“This isn’t conscionable a fluke. It’s a glimpse into tomorrow’s lipid commercialized routes,” said Chinedu Ekekwe, an vigor economist. “With much African refineries coming online, reverse crude flows from the U.S. to Africa could go the norm.”

Domestic proviso inactive a pressing issue

Despite being a large lipid producer, Nigeria’s reliance connected imported crude for section refining raises argumentation reddish flags. Under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), producers are required to proviso section refineries archetypal done the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO).

Aliko Dangote's refinery increases crude imports from the US amid home shortage. Credit: Bloomberg/Contributor
Source: Getty Images

But enforcement remains weak. Energy stakeholders are present urging the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to fortify oversight and guarantee that home refineries similar Dangote are fed by Nigerian crude — not imports.

Nigeria’s aboriginal arsenic a crude importer?

As Nigeria’s refining capableness expands, it could paradoxically look arsenic a nett crude importer unless section logistics and upstream bottlenecks are addressed.

Without beardown home proviso mechanisms and concern successful production, the state whitethorn proceed buying overseas — contempt sitting atop immense reserves of its oil.

Dangote Refinery sees debased activity

Legit.ng earlier reported that depot owners successful Lagos person slashed petrol prices, intensifying unit connected the Dangote Refinery, which is already grappling with dwindling purchaser interest.

On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, contempt quoting ₦820.50 per litre for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), the refinery experienced minimal activity.

Petroleum marketers are present adopting a cautious approach, holding disconnected purchases amid beardown indications that prices whitethorn dip further successful the coming days.

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Source: Legit.ng