The United States sharply reduced Nigerian crude oil imports in January 2026.Latest data from U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis confirm the decline. Imports dropped by 47.16 percent compared to December 2025 figures.
Specifically, volumes fell from 3.149 million barrels to 1.664 million barrels. This decline represents a loss of 1.485 million barrels within one month. As a result, Nigeria’s share in the U.S. crude market weakened significantly.In value terms, the drop remained equally pronounced during the period.
Customs value declined from $217.36 million to $115.99 million. Meanwhile, cost, insurance, and freight value dropped to $118.95 million. This narrower gap suggests lower shipping or insurance costs during January. Furthermore, total U.S. crude imports also declined within the same timeframe.
Volumes fell from 198.29 million barrels to 188.21 million barrels. This represents a 5.1 percent overall reduction in crude imports. However, competition within Africa intensified as other countries gained ground. Angola increased exports significantly to over 2.062 million barrels. In contrast, Libya recorded a decline in exports during the period. Nigeria’s share dropped from 1.59 percent to 0.88 percent.
Additionally, total U.S. imports from Nigeria fell to $183 million. Despite the drop, crude oil still dominates Nigeria’s exports to the U.S. Meanwhile, the United States recorded a $419 million trade surplus with Nigeria. This growth resulted from increased U.S. exports despite reduced Nigerian imports.
