U.S. Slashes Nigerian Crude Imports by 47%

The United States sharply reduced its imports of Nigerian crude oil in January 2026, with volumes dropping by 47.16% month-on-month, according to U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis data.

Imports fell from 3.149 million barrels in December 2025 to 1.664 million barrels in January 2026, a decline of 1.485 million barrels. In value terms, customs valuation dropped from $217.36m to $115.99m, while CIF value fell from $223.10m to $118.95m.

Nigeria’s share of total U.S. crude imports weakened, accounting for 0.88% in January, down from 1.59% in December. Crude oil remained Nigeria’s dominant export to the U.S., making up 63–65% of total shipments.

Meanwhile, other African suppliers gained ground. Angola’s exports rose sharply from 575,000 barrels to 2.062 million, while Ghana entered the market with 738,000 barrels. Libya’s exports, however, declined.

The U.S. overall reduced crude imports by 5.1%, from 198.29 million barrels in December to 188.21 million in January. Yet U.S. exports to Nigeria increased, creating a $419m trade surplus for Washington.

Despite higher production—Nigeria pumped 1.64 million barrels per day in January, up from 1.55mbpd in December—the country’s exports to the U.S. fell. The NNPC reported ₦2.57tn in revenue, down 47% from December, though after-tax profit rose to ₦385bn.

Economist Dr. Muda Yusuf downplayed the impact of U.S. tariffs, noting Nigeria’s trade exposure to America is limited and dominated by crude. He argued that visa restrictions pose a bigger challenge to bilateral trade than tariffs.

The decline comes amid protectionist trade policies under President Donald Trump, including tariff hikes on non-oil Nigerian exports and stricter visa rules, which analysts say are reshaping trade flows and investment patterns.