Crude oil imports by Nigeria’s domestic refineries surged by 151.5 per cent in July 2026, reaching 5.13 million barrels, up from 2.04 million barrels in June, according to data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The increase came as the volume of crude supplied locally to refineries declined significantly during the month.
The NMDPRA’s July 2026 Midstream and Downstream Statistics showed that domestic refineries received a combined 17.88 million barrels of crude in July. Of this volume, 12.75 million barrels came from domestic sources, while 5.13 million barrels were imported.
Imported crude consequently accounted for 28.7 per cent of total refinery crude receipts in July, with domestic supplies making up the remaining 71.3 per cent.
July’s import figure was also higher than the 2.08 million barrels recorded in May and the 0.41 million barrels recorded in April. However, it remained below the 9.43 million barrels imported in March, the highest monthly volume recorded so far in 2026.
Monthly import figures showed that refineries received 0.71 million barrels in January, rising to 4.25 million barrels in February and 9.43 million barrels in March. Imports then dropped sharply to 0.41 million barrels in April, before increasing to 2.08 million barrels in May, 2.04 million barrels in June and 5.13 million barrels in July.
Meanwhile, domestic crude supplies fell by 25.4 per cent month-on-month, from 17.08 million barrels in June to 12.75 million barrels in July.
Total refinery crude receipts stood at 9.54 million barrels in January, consisting of 8.83 million barrels of domestic crude and 0.71 million barrels of imports.
In February, total receipts rose to 13.13 million barrels, comprising 8.88 million barrels of domestic crude and 4.25 million barrels of imports.
March recorded the highest monthly total of 20.92 million barrels, with domestic supply contributing 11.49 million barrels and imports accounting for 9.43 million barrels.
April’s total stood at 18.37 million barrels, made up of 17.96 million barrels of domestic crude and 0.41 million barrels of imports.
Refineries received 17.92 million barrels in May, comprising 15.84 million barrels of domestic crude and 2.08 million barrels of imports. June followed with 19.12 million barrels, including 17.08 million barrels of domestic crude and 2.04 million barrels of imports.
Dangote Refinery Performance
The NMDPRA report also showed that the Dangote Refinery operated at an average capacity utilisation rate of 71.09 per cent in July.
The refinery produced an average of 25.9 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 19.1 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 15.6 million litres of Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) per day.
Its average domestic supply stood at 25.8 million litres of PMS, 15.7 million litres of AGO and 1.9 million litres of ATK per day.
As of July 31, the refinery was also exporting an average of 3.4 million litres of PMS, 11 million litres of AGO and 11.6 million litres of ATK per day.
Its closing stocks at the end of July stood at 446.1 million litres of PMS, 162.3 million litres of AGO and 217.4 million litres of ATK.
