WASHINGTON DC, USA – The United States slashed its crude oil imports from Nigeria by approximately 47% in January 2026, with volumes dropping from 3.149 million barrels in December 2025 to just 1.664 million barrels, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau .
The sharp decline reduced Nigeria’s share of total U.S. crude imports to 0.88% from 1.59% in December . In value terms, Nigerian crude exports to the U.S. fell from $217.36 million to $115.99 million over the same period .
While Nigeria lost ground, competitors gained. Angola’s exports to the U.S. surged from 575,000 barrels in December to 2.062 million barrels in January, while Ghana emerged as a new supplier, shipping 738,000 barrels after recording no measurable exports the previous month .
The decline came despite Nigeria’s increased oil production, which rose to 1.64 million barrels per day in January 2026 from 1.55 million bpd in December . Analysts suggest shifting global energy dynamics, refinery demand patterns, and evolving U.S. trade policies influenced the drop.
Economist Muda Yusuf downplayed the broader impact on Nigeria’s economy, stating, “Our trade with the US is not that strategic… our trade exposure to them is very limited” . However, he identified U.S. visa restrictions as a more significant long-term constraint to trade and investment relations.
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