Nigeria has solidified its position as the leading African supplier of crude oil to the United States, exporting $2.57 billion worth of crude between January and August 2025. Data from the US Census Bureau shows that Nigeria accounted for more than half of all African oil imports to the American market during this period.
According to the US International Trade in Goods and Services report, Nigeria shipped 33.23 million barrels of crude to the US, representing 54.7% of the continent’s total African shipments of 60.75 million barrels. This volume also translated into a 55% share of the CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) value for all African crude received by the US, significantly surpassing other African exporters such as Angola, Libya, and Ghana.
Monthly data indicates consistent demand for Nigeria’s medium-sweet crude, with exports rising from 4.40 million barrels in July to 4.49 million barrels in August, valued at $353.39 million. Angola, by comparison, supplied 6.86 million barrels year-to-date, while Libya exported 11.51 million barrels with a much lower CIF value due to pricing and crude grade differences.
Despite a 14.7% decline in overall US imports from Nigeria—linked to a new 15% tariff on non-oil products—crude oil remained a stronghold of the trade relationship. Nigerian crude accounted for approximately 72% of the total $3.58 billion of goods imported from the country during the first eight months of 2025, highlighting the nation’s heavy reliance on oil exports.
On the flip side, Nigeria has also increased its crude imports from the US to meet domestic refining needs. Between February and August, the country imported 31.69 million barrels of US crude, more than double the 15.79 million barrels brought in during the same period of 2024. The imports have been crucial for stabilizing local fuel production, particularly as domestic refineries continue to ramp up operations.
Analysts note that Nigeria’s growing dependence on imported US light sweet crude underscores the paradox of Africa’s largest oil producer exporting large volumes abroad while still needing foreign barrels to meet domestic demand.
