Nigeria's petrol market saw a significant shift toward imported products in July 2026, as domestic supply dropped 21% while imports increased by 9%, according to the latest Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority factsheet released on Monday, August 24, 2026. The data reveals that total Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) receipts fell by 10% month-on-month, with Dangote Refinery operating at over 71% capacity but still unable to fully meet domestic demand.
Domestic Supply Declines Sharply
The July 2026 factsheet shows that total PMS receipts declined from 50.6 million litres per day in June to 45.5 million litres per day in July. Petrol supplied by domestic refineries dropped by 21%, falling from 32.5 million litres per day in June to 25.8 million litres per day in July. Over the same period, imported petrol increased from 18.1 million litres per day to 19.7 million litres per day, representing a nine per cent rise.
This extends a reversal that began in June, when petrol imports jumped by 207% as domestic supplies fell by 22%. With local output weakening again in July, foreign supplies increasingly filled the gap in the market, highlighting the fragile balance in Nigeria's efforts to reduce its long-standing dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
Crude Intake Falls, Affecting Refining Output
The decline in domestic petrol supply coincided with weaker crude oil receipts by local refineries. Crude receipts fell from 632,000 barrels per day in June to 585,000 barrels per day in July, representing an eight per cent decline. This underlines the importance of reliable crude feedstock to Nigeria's refining ambitions, as lower crude availability can quickly affect domestic fuel supplies.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery remained a major contributor during the period, operating at an average capacity utilisation of more than 71%. Its average petrol production stood at about 25.9 million litres per day, almost matching the 25.8 million litres per day recorded as total domestic PMS receipts.
Dangote Petrol Remains Cheaper Than Imports
Despite the resurgence of imported petrol, locally produced fuel remained more competitive on price. Data from the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) showed that petrol imported into the country had a landing cost of about N1,199 per litre, compared with Dangote Refinery's ex-gantry price of N1,185 per litre. The N14 difference puts Dangote's product below the imported alternative and strengthens the case for greater reliance on domestic refining when sufficient local supply is available.
However, industry experts attribute the continued presence of imports partly to declining production by the Dangote refinery, meaning imports are still needed to supplement available volumes.
Petrol Consumption Slumps, Stock Sufficiency Improves
The July data showed that demand for petrol weakened considerably. PMS consumption, measured by volumes trucked into the domestic market, fell from 47.4 million litres per day in June to 35.7 million litres per day in July, representing a 25% decline. At the same time, petrol stock sufficiency improved from 19.7 days to 22.4 days, suggesting that despite lower daily supply and consumption, available inventories could cover domestic demand for a longer period.
Diesel Imports Return, LPG Domestic Supply Rises
The changing supply pattern was not limited to petrol. Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), or diesel receipts surged by 46% from 16.2 million litres per day in June to 23.6 million litres per day in July. Domestic diesel receipts slipped slightly to 15.7 million litres per day, while imports accounted for 7.9 million litres daily, marking the return of imported diesel after none was recorded in June. Diesel consumption declined from 16 million litres per day to 14.7 million litres, while stock sufficiency increased from 37.1 days to 46.5 days.
The cooking gas market recorded a contrasting trend, with domestic supply gaining ground against imports. Total LPG receipts rose from 5.1 kilotonnes per day to 5.3 kilotonnes. Domestic supply jumped 22% from 3.6 kilotonnes to 4.4 kilotonnes daily, while imports plunged 40% from 1.5 kilotonnes to 0.9 kilotonnes. LPG consumption also increased by seven per cent to 4.4 kilotonnes per day.
Refining Ambitions Face a Fresh Test
Nigeria's growing refining capacity has transformed the country's fuel supply landscape, but July's figures show that the transition away from imports is far from complete. As domestic petrol production weakened, imported supplies quickly gained ground. Yet Dangote's lower ex-gantry price compared with imported petrol highlights the potential savings available when local refineries can sustain adequate output.
The challenge for Nigeria now is not simply building refining capacity, but ensuring steady crude supply, consistent production and sufficient distribution to keep imported fuel from regaining a larger share of the market. Meanwhile, a market survey conducted on Saturday, August 22, 2026, showed that several major filling stations in Abuja had raised their pump prices, with motorists now paying between ₦1,230 and ₦1,299 per litre in parts of the Federal Capital Territory, following Dangote Refinery's latest adjustment to its PMS ex-gantry price.
