Nigeria recorded a sharp rise in petrol imports in May 2026, as oil marketers increased foreign purchases despite growing contributions from local refineries, latest industry data has shown.

Figures released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority indicated that imports of Premium Motor Spirit rose by 59.5 per cent, reversing a previous downward trend driven by increased domestic refining activity.

The data showed that average daily petrol imports climbed from 3.7 million litres in April to 5.9 million litres in May, even as total national fuel supply also increased during the period.

According to the report, the rise in imports coincided with a decline in crude oil supply to local refineries, raising concerns about the stability of domestic refining operations and Nigeria’s push toward fuel self-sufficiency.

“Crude oil supplied to domestic refineries declined by 5.6 per cent in May, falling from 612,000 barrels per day in April to 578,000 barrels per day,” the NMDPRA report stated.

The agency added that total petrol supply rose from 44.4 million litres per day in April to 47.4 million litres per day in May, representing a 6.8 per cent increase.

Domestic refineries remained the dominant source of supply, contributing about 41.5 million litres daily in May, while imports accounted for 5.9 million litres.

Industry data also showed that crude feedstock shortages contributed to fluctuations in refinery output, despite earlier gains in local production capacity.

“While there was a sharp increase in imported petrol volumes, domestic supply still accounted for the bulk of total consumption,” the report noted.

Analysis of monthly trends revealed that imports had fallen significantly earlier in the year, dropping sharply in February before rising again in May as supply gaps re-emerged.

The data indicated that domestic refineries supplied 41.5 million litres per day in May — slightly higher than April’s 40.7 million litres — underscoring continued reliance on local production.

However, import volumes rebounded after months of decline, with marketers stepping in to bridge shortfalls in supply.

A breakdown of petroleum products showed mixed performance across the sector. Diesel supply recorded a significant surge, rising by 84.3 per cent from 10.2 million litres per day in April to 18.8 million litres in May, with all volumes sourced locally.

Aviation fuel also increased by 38.5 per cent, while liquefied petroleum gas supply declined slightly over the same period.

The report further revealed a drop in fuel consumption, with PMS usage falling from 51.1 million litres per day in April to 46.3 million litres in May, representing a 9.4 per cent decline.

Despite lower consumption, stock levels also tightened. PMS stock sufficiency dropped from 17.7 days to 16 days, while diesel reserves fell from 39 days to 31 days.

A key industry stakeholder said the trend reflects ongoing challenges in refinery feedstock supply and operational stability.

“The system is still adjusting. Whenever there is a disruption in crude supply or refinery operations, imports naturally rise to close the gap,” the source explained.

The report also highlighted operational issues at major refining facilities, including reported feedstock constraints and technical challenges affecting production capacity.

Energy analysts noted that while domestic refineries are increasingly contributing to national supply, Nigeria still relies on imports to stabilise the market during periods of disruption.

The NMDPRA maintained that improving crude supply consistency to local refineries remains essential for long-term energy security and reduced import dependence.