KEY POINTS
- Nigeria’s crude oil production increased by 5.5% in August compared to the same month last year, reaching an average of 1.43 million barrels per day (bpd).
- The country’s oil output is now at 96% of its OPEC production quota of 1.5 million bpd, reflecting a gradual recovery in the upstream sector.
- Despite a slight month-to-month decline due to maintenance shutdowns, Nigeria’s crude oil volumes remain strong enough to keep the country compliant with OPEC’s agreed limits.
Nigeria’s crude oil production rose by 5.5% in August compared with the same month a year earlier, a boost that brings the country closer to its OPEC target after years of struggling with underperformance, theft, and operational setbacks.
Data released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) shows Africa’s largest oil producer pumped an average of 1.43 million barrels per day (bpd) last month, up from 1.36 million bpd in August 2024.
That represents about 96% of its Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) production quota of 1.5 million bpd.
The commission, in figures published through its official X account, said the rebound reflected stronger output at key oil terminals, underscoring a gradual recovery in the country’s upstream sector.
Month-on-Month Output Declines Despite Yearly Gains
While annual production numbers trended higher, the report showed a slight month-to-month slowdown. Combined crude oil and condensate output averaged 1.63 million bpd in August, marginally higher than the 1.58 million bpd recorded a year earlier.
But compared with July’s 1.71 million bpd, production dipped by 4.7%. NUPRC attributed the drop to an unscheduled one-day maintenance shutdown at a key facility.
Terminal activity told a more detailed story. Forcados Terminal led the way, contributing nearly 9 million barrels in August, including 8.08 million barrels of crude and just over 915,000 barrels of condensates. Bonny Terminal followed with 6.26 million barrels, while Qua Iboe and Escravos accounted for 4.99 million and 4.18 million barrels, respectively.
Condensate production, however, fell year-on-year, slipping to 197,229 bpd in August 2025 from 220,435 bpd the previous year. Even so, the regulator emphasized that Nigeria’s crude oil volumes were strong enough to keep the country broadly compliant with OPEC’s agreed limits.
