The United States significantly reduced its imports of Nigerian crude oil in January 2026, with volumes falling by about 47 per cent compared to the previous month, according to fresh figures from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Data from the U.S. trade report shows imports dropped to 1.664 million barrels in January, down from 3.149 million barrels recorded in December 2025. This sharp decline highlights a notable reduction in Nigeria’s presence in the U.S. crude market.
The drop was also reflected in value terms. The customs value of crude imports fell from $217.36 million in December to $115.99 million in January, while the cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) value declined from $223.10 million to $118.95 million. The smaller gap between the two values suggests reduced shipping or insurance costs during the period.
Nigeria’s share of total U.S. crude imports also weakened, slipping to about 0.88 per cent in January from 1.59 per cent in December, further underscoring the contraction.
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Crude oil, however, remained Nigeria’s main export to the U.S. Total American imports from Nigeria stood at $183 million in January, down from $297 million in December, with crude accounting for roughly 63 to 65 per cent of that figure, lower than the 73 per cent recorded a month earlier.
Meanwhile, the U.S. posted a goods trade surplus of $419 million with Nigeria in January, a sharp rise from $84 million in December. This was driven by increased American exports to Nigeria, which climbed to $602 million, even as imports declined.
Across Africa, the U.S. recorded a trade deficit of $503 million in January, reversing the $174 million surplus seen in December. Imports from the continent rose to $3.54 billion, while exports dipped slightly to $3.04 billion.
Earlier figures also show Nigeria remained a key supplier of crude to the U.S., accounting for about 52 per cent of Africa’s exports in 2025. However, total shipments from Nigeria declined year-on-year, reflecting a broader drop in U.S. crude imports from the continent.
