Nigeria's petrol imports surge 207% in June as domestic supply declines

Nigeria experienced a dramatic surge in petrol imports in June 2026, with a 207% month-on-month increase, signaling a renewed dependence on foreign fuel supplies. This sharp rise occurred as domestic refining output saw a significant decline, reversing gains made earlier in the year.

Data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) reveals that petrol imports climbed to 18.1 million liters per day in June, accounting for 35.8% of the total supply. This contrasts with May, when imports averaged 5.9 million liters per day (12.4% of supply). Concurrently, domestic supply dropped by 21.7% from May to June, falling to 32.5 million liters per day, representing 64.2% of the total supply.

Throughout the first half of 2026, Nigeria primarily relied on domestic sources, with local supply contributing over 85% of petrol between February and May. However, January and June stand out as periods of highest import dependence. The increase in imports coincided with reports of crude supply challenges affecting domestic refiners, including the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery. These challenges reportedly forced the refinery to source crude at international prices, impacting its production levels.