For the first time on record, the United States became a net exporter of crude oil to Nigeria in February and March 2025, as refinery maintenance in the U.S. slowed domestic demand and Nigeria’s need for crude inputs surged, particularly due to activity at the Dangote Refinery.
According to a report released Tuesday by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), gross U.S. crude exports to Nigeria reached 111,000 barrels per day (b/d) in February and 169,000 b/d in March. Over the same period, U.S. imports of Nigerian crude—typically higher—dropped significantly, falling from 133,000 b/d in January to 54,000 b/d in February and 72,000 b/d in March.
This marks the first time the U.S. has exported more crude oil to Nigeria than it imported—an unusual reversal, given Nigeria’s long-standing role as a key supplier of light, sweet crude to the U.S.
The EIA attributed the decline in imports to ongoing maintenance at the Phillips 66 Bayway refinery in New Jersey, which reduced crude demand on the U.S. East Coast during the period. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s increased purchases of U.S. crude were partly driven by feedstock requirements at the newly operational Dangote Refinery, one of Africa’s largest.
However, the trend shifted again in April, with U.S. imports of Nigerian crude rebounding as the Bayway refinery resumed normal operations and the Dangote facility underwent unplanned maintenance.
“Nigeria was among the top five sources of U.S. crude oil imports from 1973—when country-level data collection began—until 2011, when rising U.S. domestic production reduced the need for light, sweet crude from overseas,” the EIA noted. “More recently, in 2024, Nigeria ranked ninth among U.S. crude oil import sources.”
The shift highlights changing dynamics in global oil trade, with evolving refinery needs, production levels, and geopolitical considerations continuing to shape trade flows.
