The United States sharply reduced its imports of Nigerian crude oil in January, with shipments falling by nearly 47 percent compared with December, according to official U.S. trade data, signaling a notable contraction in Nigeria’s share of the American oil market.
Figures from the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis show imports dropped from 3.149 million barrels in December 2025 to 1.664 million barrels in January 2026, a decline of 1.485 million barrels in just one month. The customs value of Nigerian crude fell from US$217.36 million to US$115.99 million, while the cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) value declined from US$223.10 million to US$118.95 million.
The fall in imports comes amid a broader slowdown in U.S. crude purchases, which decreased by 5.1 percent month-on-month to 188.21 million barrels. While Nigeria lost ground, other African suppliers gained market share: Angola’s shipments to the U.S. surged from 575,000 barrels in December to 2.062 million barrels in January, and Ghana emerged as a new supplier with 738,000 barrels. By contrast, Libyan exports to the U.S. dropped sharply from 2.137 million barrels to 1.086 million barrels over the same period.
Nigeria’s share of total U.S. crude imports fell to roughly 0.88 percent in January, down from 1.59 percent in December, reflecting the sharp reduction in volumes. Analysts note that despite higher production, the country is increasingly vulnerable to shifts in international demand and U.S. trade policies.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) recorded a profit after tax of N385 billion in January, according to its monthly operational report, even as revenue fell 47 percent from N4.82 trillion in December 2025 to N2.571 trillion. Nigeria produced 1.64 million barrels per day in January, up slightly from 1.55 million barrels per day in December, indicating that the drop in exports to the U.S. was not due to a production shortfall.
The decline comes amid renewed U.S. protectionist rhetoric. Last year, President Donald Trump implemented a “reciprocal” tariff regime that increased duties on Nigerian exports from 14 percent to 15 percent, although crude oil was largely exempt. Analysts say these policies have influenced sourcing decisions and dampened demand for Nigerian commodities outside the oil sector.
Economist Dr. Muda Yusuf of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise downplayed the effect of the tariffs on Nigeria’s economy, noting that trade with the United States is limited and largely concentrated in crude oil and a few other commodities. “Our trade with the U.S. is not that strategic. When anything goes wrong, it is not as if it can have any fundamental effect on our economy,” he said.
Dr. Yusuf also highlighted U.S. visa policies as a more critical long-term constraint on trade and investment. “The bigger challenge for Nigeria’s trade relationship with the U.S. is Washington’s visa policy. Barriers to travel limit business interactions and investment inflows. That is more critical than tariffs in the long run,” he said.
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The trade data also show that Nigerian crude remains a dominant component of U.S. imports from the country, accounting for roughly 63 to 65 percent of total purchases in January. Despite the drop, Nigeria’s position within African crude exports to the United States remains significant, with the country providing 52 percent of total African crude shipments in 2025.
The decline in January underscores Nigeria’s vulnerability to shifts in international markets and highlights the need for diversification in both exports and trading partners. With global energy markets in flux, analysts say Nigeria must balance domestic production, strategic export relationships, and policy frameworks to sustain its oil revenue.
