Nigeria’s imported more Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, in July as supplies from domestic refineries significantly dropped despite the improving capacity of domestic refineries, particularly of Dangote refinery.
The latest data published by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on the domestic downstream market for July 2026 through its official X handle on Monday, showed that domestic petrol supply dropped by 21 per cent month-on-month while petrol importation rose by nine per cent in the month under review.
The agency’s factsheet showed that total PMS receipts dropped from 50.6 million litres per day in June to 45.5 million litres per day in July, implying about 10 per cent drop.
But then, the report showed that the composition of the supply changed as domestic refineries supplied fell to 25.8 million litres per day in July from 32.5 million litres of petrol daily in June, while imported PMS receipts increased from 18.1 million litres daily to 19.7 million litres daily.
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The NMDPRA clarified: “Total PMS daily receipts fell by 10 per cent from 50.6 million litres per day in June to 45.5 million litres per day in July. The decline was driven by a 21 per cent drop in domestic supplies, which fell from 32.5 million litres per day to 25.8 million litres per day, even as petrol imports rose by nine per cent from 18.1 million litres per day to 19.7 million litres per day.”
According to the data, the July supplies extended the drop in petrol imports which started in June, when petrol imports surged by 207 per cent to 18.1 million litres per day as domestic supply dropped by 22 per cent to 32.5 million litres.
The shift came as crude oil receipts by domestic refineries declined from 632,000 barrels per day in June to 585,000 barrels per day in July, representing an eight per cent reduction.
The lower crude supply coincided with the 21 per cent decline in domestic petrol receipts, underscoring the link between refinery feedstock availability and Nigeria’s efforts to reduce reliance on imported fuel.
A further analysis of the NMDPRA’s data also showed that the Dangote refinery operated at an average capacity utilisation of more than 71 per cent in July, producing about 25.9 million litres per day.
Also, Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also called diesel, receipts surged from 16.2 million litres per day in June to 23.6 million litres per day in July, representing a 46 per cent increase.
The domestic diesel receipts marginally dropped in July from 16.2 million litres daily in June to 15.7 million litres daily, while imports accounted for 7.9 million litres daily.
