In a historic shift, the United States became a net exporter of crude oil to Nigeria in February and March 2025, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). This change occurred as crude demand on the U.S. East Coast diminished due to refinery maintenance, while Nigeria’s demand surged, driven by the operations of the Dangote refinery.
This marks the first instance where the U.S. exported more crude to Nigeria than it imported, reversing a long-standing trend where Nigeria primarily supplied crude to the U.S., ranking ninth in imports last year. The Dangote refinery, located near Lagos and the largest in Africa, began processing crude in January 2024 and is expected to reach full capacity of 650,000 barrels per day this year.
In February, U.S. crude exports to Nigeria reached 111,000 barrels per day, increasing to 169,000 barrels per day in March. In contrast, imports from Nigeria fell sharply from 133,000 barrels per day in January to 54,000 and 72,000 barrels per day in February and March, respectively, due to maintenance at the Phillips 66 Bayway refinery in New Jersey.
Experts caution that this trend reflects a fluid market situation rather than a permanent shift, as the Dangote refinery seeks domestic supplies and may explore other crude grades in the future. The evolving dynamics indicate that forecasting future U.S. exports to Nigeria remains uncertain.