Nigeria exported $1.34 billion worth of crude oil to the United States between January and May 2025, maintaining its position as America’s top African oil supplier, despite a decline in both volume and value compared to the same period in 2024.
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis showed that the U.S. imported 17.39 million barrels of Nigerian crude in the five-month period—down from 20.4 million barrels ($1.52 billion) in 2024. This marks a 12.7% drop in volume and 11.8% fall in value, reflecting shifting U.S. energy sourcing trends.
In May 2025 alone, Nigerian crude exports to the U.S. totaled 4.2 million barrels, worth $311 million, down from $368 million in April.
Despite the drop, crude oil accounted for over 62% of U.S. oil imports from Africa during the review period. Nigeria’s exports far outpaced those of Libya, Angola, and Ghana, which collectively exported $811 million worth of oil to the U.S.
Although President Donald Trump’s administration exempted energy-related goods like crude from recent import tariffs, Nigeria’s non-oil exports to the U.S. have been hit hard.
The new U.S. tariff regime—introduced in April 2025—imposes a flat 10% rate on most imports, but Nigeria faces a higher 14% rate due to its previous trade surplus. This has significantly dampened demand for Nigerian agricultural and manufactured goods.
As a result, total Nigerian exports to the U.S. fell to $2.12 billion in the first five months of 2025, down $527 million (or nearly 20%) from the same period in 2024.
Meanwhile, U.S. exports to Nigeria surged 17.8%, rising from $2.05 billion in early 2024 to $2.42 billion in 2025. This shift reversed the trade balance: Nigeria had a $596 million trade surplus with the U.S. in early 2024, but by May 2025, the U.S. recorded a $295 million surplus.
Key drivers of U.S. export growth include the automobile sector, with $426 million worth of vehicles and parts sent to Nigeria. This includes:
- $312 million in passenger cars
- $29 million in trucks and buses
- $86 million in spare parts
Despite remaining a key U.S. partner in Africa, Nigeria’s trade share is shrinking. In early 2025, it accounted for:
- 10.8% of U.S. imports from Africa (down from 2024)
- 14.8% of U.S. exports to the continent
Meanwhile, Egypt has emerged as the U.S.’s top African export destination, with trade rising from $1.95 billion to $3.43 billion—a 76% increase. On the import side, South Africa leads, with the U.S. importing $8.67 billion worth of goods from the country—more than four times what it imported from Nigeria.
Nigeria’s total trade volume with the U.S. now stands at $4.54 billion, trailing behind Egypt and South Africa, raising concerns about its declining competitiveness in U.S.–Africa trade.
