By Obas Esiedesa, Abuja

Crude oil imports by domestic refineries rose by 151.5 per cent to 5.13 million barrels in July 2026, from 2.04 million barrels recorded in June, according to data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA.

The increase came amid a sharp decline in domestic crude supply to refineries during the month.

The NMDPRA’s July 2026 Midstream and Downstream Statistics showed that domestic refineries received a total of 17.88 million barrels of crude in July, comprising 12.75 million barrels supplied locally and 5.13 million barrels imported.

Imported crude therefore accounted for 28.7 per cent of total crude receipts by domestic refineries in July, while domestic supplies accounted for 71.3 per cent.

The 5.13 million barrels imported in July represented a significant increase from the 2.04 million barrels recorded in June. It was also higher than the 2.08 million barrels imported in May and 0.41 million barrels in April.

However, July’s import volume remained below the 9.43 million barrels recorded in March, the highest monthly volume so far in 2026.

The data showed that crude imports stood at 0.71 million barrels in January before rising to 4.25 million barrels in February and peaking at 9.43 million barrels in March.

Imports subsequently fell to 0.41 million barrels in April before recovering to 2.08 million barrels in May, 2.04 million barrels in June and 5.13 million barrels in July.

The report also showed that domestic crude supply to refineries declined by 25.4 per cent month-on-month, from 17.08 million barrels in June to 12.75 million barrels in July.

The decline in domestic supply was partly offset by increased imports, although total crude receipts still fell by 6.5 per cent, from 19.12 million barrels in June to 17.88 million barrels in July.

In January, domestic refineries received 8.83 million barrels of domestic crude and 0.71 million barrels of imported crude, bringing total receipts to 9.54 million barrels.

The figure rose to 13.13 million barrels in February, comprising 8.88 million barrels of domestic crude and 4.25 million barrels of imports.

March recorded the highest total crude receipts at 20.92 million barrels, with domestic supply contributing 11.49 million barrels and imports 9.43 million barrels.

Total receipts stood at 18.37 million barrels in April, comprising 17.96 million barrels of domestic crude and 0.41 million barrels of imports.

In May, refineries received 17.92 million barrels, comprising 15.84 million barrels of domestic crude and 2.08 million barrels of imports.

June recorded 19.12 million barrels, made up of 17.08 million barrels of domestic crude and 2.04 million barrels of imports.

Dangote refinery performance

The NMDPRA data also showed that the Dangote Refinery operated at an average capacity utilisation 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 receipts stood at 25.8 million litres per day for PMS, 15.7 million litres for AGO and 1.9 million litres for ATK.

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 stock 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.

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