Crude imports by domestic refineries surged by 151.5 per cent in July 2026, rising to 5.13 million barrels from 2.04 million barrels in June, as local crude supplies to refineries dropped sharply. The latest figures from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) highlight the growing reliance on imported crude to keep Nigeria’s refining operations running.
According to the NMDPRA’s July 2026 Midstream and Downstream Statistics, domestic refineries received 17.88 million barrels of crude during the month. Of this volume, 12.75 million barrels came from domestic sources, while 5.13 million barrels were imported. This means imported crude accounted for 28.7 per cent of the total crude received by refineries in July.
The jump in imports came as domestic crude supply fell by 25.4 per cent month-on-month, from 17.08 million barrels in June to 12.75 million barrels in July. Crude imports, meanwhile, continued their uneven pattern throughout the year, moving from 0.71 million barrels in January to 4.25 million in February and a peak of 9.43 million barrels in March before dropping sharply in April.
Although July’s import figure was well below March’s record, it represented a significant recovery from the low volumes recorded earlier in the year. Imports stood at 0.41 million barrels in April, increased to 2.08 million barrels in May and 2.04 million barrels in June before more than doubling in July. The trend underscores the challenges domestic refineries face in securing enough locally produced crude for their operations.
Meanwhile, the Dangote Refinery recorded an average capacity utilisation of 71.09 per cent in July. The refinery produced an average of 25.9 million litres of petrol, 19.1 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil and 15.6 million litres of aviation fuel daily. It also exported millions of litres of petroleum products, showing that despite crude supply challenges, Nigeria’s refining capacity is increasingly playing a role in both domestic supply and exports.
source: vanguard
