Nigeria's oil sector has shown a sustained recovery, with combined crude and condensate output rising for four consecutive months to a peak of 1.74 million barrels per day in June, according to data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). The production figures indicate a significant improvement in the sector, with output climbing from 1.55 million barrels per day in March to a six-year high in June.
NUPRC data showed that combined crude oil and condensate production averaged 1.546 million barrels per day in March, before rising to 1.663 million barrels per day in April and 1.70 million barrels per day in May. The upward trend continued in June, with output reaching 1.735 million barrels per day, representing a fourth consecutive monthly increase and the highest combined production level recorded during the period.
The improvement in oil production was driven largely by stronger crude production, with crude oil alone averaging 1.56 million barrels per day in June, while condensate contributed about 180,000 barrels per day. This represents 104 percent of Nigeria's 1.5 million barrels per day OPEC quota, which was met for four consecutive months through August.
Nigeria's oil production met or exceeded its OPEC quota for four consecutive months through August, with crude production averaging 1.505 million barrels per day in July and 1.50019 million barrels per day in August. The production recovery is crucial for Nigeria, as crude oil remains a major source of foreign exchange and government revenue.
NUPRC has attributed recent improvements in oil production to greater operational stability, improved production uptime, and more efficient crude evacuation. The sector continues to tackle pipeline disruptions, oil theft, and other constraints, but the March-August figures point to a stronger production base.
Based on NUPRC daily production data, Nigeria produced about 306.4 million barrels of crude oil and condensate between March and August 2026. The breakdown shows that March accounted for about 47.93 million barrels, April 49.89 million, May 52.70 million, June 52.06 million, July 51.77 million, and August 52.02 million.
The sustained recovery in Nigeria's oil sector is a positive development for the country's economy, which relies heavily on crude oil exports. The sector's performance will be closely watched in the coming months to see if the current production levels can be maintained.
Key points
- Nigeria's oil production peaked at 1.74 million barrels per day in June 2026.
- The country produced 306.4 million barrels of crude oil and condensate between March and August 2026.
- Nigeria met its OPEC quota for four consecutive months through August 2026.
