Nigeria earned $2.21bn from crude oil exports to the United States between January and July 2025, data from the US Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis show.
The country shipped 28.7 million barrels within the period, retaining its position as America’s largest African supplier, ahead of Libya, Angola, and Ghana. The customs value stood at $2.16bn, while the landed value on a Cost, Insurance and Freight basis was $2.21bn.
Compared with the same period in 2024, earnings fell by about 22 per cent, while volumes declined 8.8 per cent. Last year, Nigeria exported 31.5 million barrels worth $2.83bn on a C.I.F. basis. The fall reflects weaker average crude prices and lower shipments.
June was the strongest month, with exports of 6.95 million barrels valued at $496m. In July, shipments fell to 4.4 million barrels, valued at $336m.
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Other African exporters recorded smaller earnings. Libya posted $729.3m, Angola $426.6m, and Ghana $225.8m over the same seven-month period. Nigeria alone contributed more than half of the continent’s total exports of $3.82bn to the US.
The figures highlight Nigeria’s central role in US crude imports but also its vulnerability to fluctuations in global oil prices.
Recent reports from the National Bureau of Statistics show crude oil exports fell by N3.18tn in the first half of 2025, with oil’s share of total exports dropping from over 80 per cent in early 2024 to about 53 per cent by mid-2025.
Analysts link the weaker performance to price volatility, competition from new suppliers, infrastructure sabotage, and shifts in US energy demand. Although local production has risen, losses from theft and vandalism continue to weigh on exports.
Industry operators say government efforts to curb oil theft have boosted output but warn that reliance on crude earnings poses fiscal risks. They stress the need for stronger diversification to stabilise foreign exchange reserves and government revenue.
For now, Nigeria remains America’s top African supplier, with future performance hinging on global prices, stable production, and sustained demand.
