The figure was disclosed by the US Census Bureau in its ‘US International Trade in Goods and Services report’.
Total U.S. crude imports from Africa declined to 89.371 million barrels in 2025, down from 103.631 million barrels in 2024, highlighting a reduction of 14.26 million barrels, or 13.8 percent year-on-year.
The drop points to a softer demand profile for African crude in the US market or a shift in sourcing patterns toward other regions.
Nigeria, however, remained the single largest African supplier to the United States.
In 2025, the country exported 46.618 million barrels of crude to the US, down from 50.793 million in 2024, as seen in the Punch.
Although this marked a decrease of 4.175 million barrels, or 8.2 percent, Nigeria’s relative importance within Africa’s overall exports was underpinned.
In 2024, Nigeria was responsible for 49.0 percent of Africa’s total crude shipments to the United States. In the period under review, the West African country’s stake had risen to 52.2%.
In effect, while total African volumes fell, Nigeria’s portion of those lower exports increased, at a time when oil theft has become a major problem in its oil sector.
The decline was even more significant in value terms.
Using the C.I.F. (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) measure, which shows the landed value of petroleum at US ports, including transportation and insurance, Africa’s overall crude export value declined from $8.945 billion in 2024 to $6.816 billion in 2025, representing a $2.129 billion, or 23.8 percent, drop.
For Nigeria, the country’s customs value fell from $4.365 billion in 2024 to $3.451 billion in 2025. Furthermore, Nigeria’s C.I.F stood at 3,545 billion in 2025.
Nigeria’s trade with the U.S. in 2025
Trade ties between the United States and Nigeria, per the report, tilted in favor of the United States in 2025, with the U.S. establishing a $1.79 billion trade surplus.
During the year, American exports to Nigeria came in at $6.79 billion, while imports from Nigeria were $4.99 billion, resulting in a positive trade balance for the US.
According to the numbers, the United States continued to be a stronger exporter of goods to Nigeria than a buyer of Nigerian products.
American exports, which ranged from machinery and refined petroleum products to agricultural and manufacturing items, surpassed Nigerian shipments to the US market.
On the other hand, US imports from Nigeria, which are usually dominated by crude oil and related energy items, were somewhat lower in value.
