Nigeria’s crude oil production took a step backward in July, with output falling after several months of steady improvement, according to the latest data from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
OPEC reported that Nigeria produced an average of 1.546 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil in July 2026, down from 1.583 million bpd in June.
That represents a decline of about 37,000 bpd, or 2.3 per cent, in just one month.
The figures, based on secondary sources cited by OPEC, show that the drop came after Nigeria had recorded a gradual rise in production during the first half of the year.
Nigeria’s production had been rising
Nigeria’s crude output averaged 1.453 million bpd in the first quarter of 2026, before increasing to 1.552 million bpd in the second quarter.
Production then climbed to 1.554 million bpd in May and reached 1.583 million bpd in June, marking the highest monthly figure in the period under review.
July, however, brought a reversal of that progress.
The OPEC figures also show a difference when production data submitted directly by member countries is considered. Under the direct communication figures, Nigeria’s output fell from 1.555 million bpd in June to 1.505 million bpd in July, representing a 50,000 bpd decline.
What happened to Nigeria’s oil production?
The decline was also reflected in figures from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
According to the regulator, Nigeria’s combined crude oil and condensate production dropped by about 4 per cent in July, from 1.74 million bpd in June to 1.67 million bpd.
Crude oil accounted for approximately 1.505 million bpd, while condensate contributed about 170,000 bpd.
NUPRC attributed the weaker July performance to operational difficulties affecting the Erha and Akpo fields, saying the disruptions placed pressure on overall national production.
The regulator’s June data had shown a much stronger performance, with crude oil production reaching about 1.56 million bpd and total crude plus condensate averaging 1.735 million bpd.
OPEC production jumps
While Nigeria’s output declined, the wider OPEC picture moved in the opposite direction.
OPEC said crude production by its members, based on secondary sources, rose by 1.659 million bpd to 23.632 million bpd in July, compared with 21.973 million bpd in June.
Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were among the major contributors to the increase, recording production gains of about 665,000 bpd, 590,000 bpd and 393,000 bpd, respectively.
Across the broader OPEC Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) group, which includes OPEC members and participating non-OPEC producers, production averaged 37.655 million bpd in July, up from 36.232 million bpd in June.
For Nigeria, however, the July numbers highlight how vulnerable the country’s recent production recovery remains to operational disruptions.
The country had only recently recorded its strongest crude production in years. NUPRC said June’s crude output was the highest since April 2020, helped by stable operations and improved crude evacuation.
Source: OPEC Monthly Oil Market Report; Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
