By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
Petrol imports increased by 59.5 percent in May after months of decline, according to the latest Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Statistics released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The data, released on Wednesday, June 17, showed that average daily imports of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, increased from 3.7 million litres per day in April to 5.9 million litres per day in May.
The increase came as crude oil supply to domestic refineries declined during the period, with the data showing that crude receipts by domestic refineries fell by 5.6 percent from 612,000 barrels per day in April to 578,000 barrels per day in May.
The report showed that total PMS supply rose from 44.4 million litres per day in April to 47.4 million litres per day in May, representing a 6.8 percent increase.
The data further showed that of the total petrol volume supplied in May, domestic refineries contributed 41.5 million litres daily, while imports accounted for 5.9 million litres per day.
“Crude oil supplied to domestic refineries declined by 5.6 percent in May, falling from 612,000 barrels per day in April to 578,000 barrels per day. The country’s total petrol supply increased by 6.8 percent month-on-month, rising from 44.4 million litres per day in April to 47.4 million litres per day in May.
“Petrol supplied from domestic sources rose marginally by two percent to 41.5 million litres per day in May, compared to 40.7 million litres per day recorded in April, while there was a sharp increase in imported petrol volumes, which surged by 59.5 percent from 3.7 million litres per day in April to 5.9 million litres per day in May,” the report stated.
The data suggest that while local refineries remained the dominant source of petrol supply, imported products played an increasingly important role in bridging supply gaps.
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An analysis of NMDPRA supply data for the first quarter of 2026 showed that petrol imports were relatively lower compared to historical levels before rebounding in May, even as domestic refineries remained the dominant source of supply.
The data indicated that total daily petrol supply stood at 64.9 million litres in January, with domestic refineries contributing 40.1 million litres per day while imports by oil marketing companies and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) accounted for 24.8 million litres per day.
Imports, however, declined in February as local refining increased significantly. Imported volumes fell to just three million litres per day, while domestic refinery supplies stood at 29.4 million litres per day, bringing total daily supply to 32.4 million litres.
Imports rose to 5.9 million litres per day in March, while domestic refinery receipts rose to 34.2 million litres per day, pushing the total petrol supply to 40.1 million litres daily.
The upward trend in domestic supply continued in April, with local refineries supplying 40.7 million litres per day compared to imports of 3.7 million litres per day, pushing total daily petrol supply to 44.4 million litres.
Domestic refinery receipts further increased in May to 41.5 million litres per day, the highest level recorded during the five months. However, imports also surged to 5.9 million litres per day, representing a 59.5 percent increase compared to April. The rise in imported volumes propelled total daily petrol supply to 47.4 million litres.
A month-by-month analysis showed that imported petrol volumes dropped by about 76 percent between January and May, falling from 24.8 million litres per day to 5.9 million litres per day.
This indicates the growing contribution of domestic refineries to Nigeria’s fuel supply chain despite intermittent increases in import volumes to bridge supply gaps.
The data further showed that domestic refinery contributions rose by about 3.5 percent between January and May, increasing from 40.1 million litres per day to 41.5 million litres per day. Locally refined products accounted for nearly 88 percent of total petrol supply in May, compared to about 62 percent in January.
For other petroleum products, the report showed that total supply of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, increased significantly by 84.3 percent from 10.2 million litres per day in April to 18.8 million litres per day in May.
It is worthy to note that all diesel supplied in May came from domestic sources as imports dropped from 1.7 million litres per day in April to zero in May, while domestic diesel supply increased significantly by 121.2 percent to 18.8 million litres per day.
The daily supply of Aviation Turbine Kerosene, otherwise known as jet fuel, increased from 2.6 million litres in April to 3.6 million litres in May, representing a 38.5 percent rise.
However, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, dropped from 4.5 kilotonnes per day in April to 4.1 kilotonnes per day in May.
On the consumption side, the report further showed that petrol consumption moderated during the month, as average daily PMS consumption dropped by 9.4 percent from 51.1 million litres in April to 46.3 million litres in May, while diesel consumption also declined from 17.3 million litres per day to 16 million litres per day.
Despite lower consumption levels, PMS stock sufficiency declined from 17.7 days in April to 16 days in May, suggesting tighter inventory levels within the supply chain.
Diesel stock sufficiency also fell significantly from 39 days to 31 days during the review period.
In the gas segment, domestic gas supply dropped by 3.1 percent from 5.142 billion standard cubic feet per day in April to 4.984 billion standard cubic feet per day in May.
