Nigeria accounted for about 52 percent of Africa’s crude oil exports to the United States (U.S) in 2025, latest data from the US Census Bureau have shown.
Figures from the US International Trade in Goods and Services report indicate that total American crude imports from Africa stood at 89.371 million barrels in 2025, down from 103.7 million barrels in 2024. This represents a decline of 14.26 million barrels or 13.8 percent.
Of the 89.371 million barrels imported from Africa in 2025, Nigeria supplied 46.618 million barrels, compared to 50.793 million barrels in 2024. This reflects a drop of 4.175 million barrels or 8.2 percent year on year.
Despite the lower volume, Nigeria’s share of Africa’s crude exports to the US rose. In 2025, Nigeria’s 46.618 million barrels accounted for 52.2% of Africa’s total shipments, up from 49.0 per cent in 2024 when it exported 50.793 million barrels out of the continent’s 103.631 million barrels.
In value terms, Africa’s crude exports to the US, measured using the CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) value, declined sharply. The continent’s total CIF value fell from $8.945bn in 2024 to $6.816bn in 2025, indicating a drop of $2.129bn or 23.8%.
Nigeria’s CIF value decreased from $4.458bn in 2024 to $3.545bn in 2025, translating to a reduction of $913m or 20.5 percent. Despite that, the country’s share of Africa’s total CIF crude exports to the US edged up to 52.0% in 2025 from 49.8% in 2024.
The Customs value, which excludes freight and insurance costs and reflects the price paid for the crude before shipment, also recorded a decline. Africa’s customs value fell from $8.767bn in 2024 to $6.653bn in 2025, a decrease of $2.114bn or 24.1%.
