US Crude Oil Imports from Africa Decline in 2025, Nigeria Remains Key Supplier

The United States’ imports of crude oil from Africa experienced a notable decline in 2025, according to a report released by the US Census Bureau on ‘US International Trade in Goods and Services.’ Despite the overall decrease, Nigeria maintained its position as the largest African supplier to the US market.

Decline in Overall African Crude Imports

Total US crude imports from Africa fell to 89.371 million barrels in 2025, down from 103.631 million barrels in 2024. This represents a reduction of 14.26 million barrels, or 13.8 percent year-over-year. This decline suggests either a softening demand for African crude within the US or a shift in sourcing strategies towards other regions.

Nigeria’s Continued Dominance

Nigeria remained the leading African supplier of crude oil to the United States. In 2025, Nigeria exported 46.618 million barrels of crude to the US, a decrease from the 50.793 million barrels exported in 2024. This represents a drop of 4.175 million barrels, or 8.2 percent. However, Nigeria’s share of Africa’s total exports to the US actually increased during this period.

Shifting Market Share

In 2024, Nigeria accounted for 49.0 percent of all African crude shipments to the United States. This share rose to 52.2 percent in 2025, even as overall African volumes decreased. This indicates that while total imports from Africa fell, Nigeria’s contribution to those lower imports grew, a dynamic occurring amidst ongoing challenges with oil theft within Nigeria’s oil sector.

Value of Imports Decreases Significantly

The decline in import volume was even more pronounced in terms of value. Using the Cost, Insurance, and Freight (C.I.F.) measure – which reflects the landed value of petroleum at US ports, including transportation and insurance costs – Africa’s overall crude export value decreased from $8.945 billion in 2024 to $6.816 billion in 2025. This represents a $2.129 billion, or 23.8 percent, drop.

Nigeria’s customs value also decreased, falling from $4.365 billion in 2024 to $3.451 billion in 2025. Nigeria’s C.I.F. Value stood at $3.545 billion in 2025.

US-Nigeria Trade Balance

Trade relations between the United States and Nigeria favored the US in 2025, with the US recording a $1.79 billion trade surplus. American exports to Nigeria totaled $6.79 billion, while imports from Nigeria reached $4.99 billion, resulting in a positive trade balance for the US.

The United States continues to be a stronger exporter of goods to Nigeria than a buyer of Nigerian products. American exports, including machinery, refined petroleum products, agricultural goods, and manufactured items, exceeded Nigerian shipments to the US market. Conversely, US imports from Nigeria, typically dominated by crude oil and related energy products, were comparatively lower in value.