Nigeria Records 306 Million Barrels of Oil Production in Six Months
Nigeria recorded crude oil and condensate production of approximately 306.4 million barrels between March and August 2026, reflecting a significant improvement in upstream production during the period.
Data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) showed that output increased steadily from March through June before experiencing a modest decline in July and August.
Production Climbs to Six-Year High
Combined crude oil and condensate production averaged about 1.55 million barrels per day in March, before rising to 1.66 million barrels per day in April and 1.70 million barrels per day in May.
The upward trend continued in June, when production reached approximately 1.74 million barrels per day, the highest monthly average recorded during the six-month period.
NUPRC separately reported that crude oil production alone reached 1.56 million barrels per day in June, the highest level recorded since April 2020. Condensates contributed another 180,000 barrels per day.
The regulator attributed the improvement largely to greater stability across producing assets, improved production uptime and more efficient crude evacuation. It also noted that the period was not significantly affected by major pipeline outages.
Output Moderates After June Peak
Following the June high, combined production fell to roughly 1.67 million barrels per day in July, before increasing marginally to about 1.68 million barrels per day in August.
Despite the decline from the June peak, production during both months remained above March’s level.
The monthly production figures translate to roughly:
- March: 47.9 million barrels
- April: 49.9 million barrels
- May: 52.7 million barrels
- June: 52.1 million barrels
- July: 51.8 million barrels
- August: 52.0 million barrels
Cumulatively, the six-month output was approximately 306.4 million barrels of crude oil and condensate.
Nigeria Meets OPEC Production Quota
Nigeria’s stronger crude production also enabled the country to meet or exceed its 1.5 million barrels-per-day OPEC crude production quota for four consecutive months through August.
In June, crude output averaged 1.56 million barrels per day, equivalent to about 104 percent of the quota. Production stood at approximately 1.505 million barrels per day in July and 1.50019 million barrels per day in August.
The June performance represented a notable recovery for Nigeria’s upstream sector, which has faced challenges including pipeline disruptions, crude theft and operational difficulties in previous years.
Improved Operations Support Recovery
According to NUPRC, improved operational stability across producing assets was a major factor behind the production increase. The absence of major pipeline outages during the period also helped operators maintain production and improve crude evacuation.
The commission said scheduled maintenance activities were managed without significant disruption, while operators continued efforts to improve asset integrity and production reliability.
The recovery in output is significant for Nigeria because crude oil remains an important source of government revenue and foreign exchange.
While the August figures show that production has eased from the June peak, the six-month performance indicates that Nigeria’s upstream sector maintained a considerably stronger production level than at the beginning of the period.
About The Author
