Refined petroleum products have overtaken crude oil as Nigeria’s largest goods export to the United Kingdom in the latest UK trade data, highlighting a significant shift in the composition of one of Nigeria’s longest-standing trading relationships.
In the 12 months to the end of March 2026, the UK imported £674.5 million worth of refined oil from Nigeria, accounting for 47.5 percent of total UK goods imports from the country, according to the latest UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) factsheet.
Crude oil, historically Nigeria’s dominant export to Britain, fell to £438.9 million during the same period, representing 30.9 percent of total UK goods imports from Nigeria. The value of crude oil imports declined 64.3 percent year on year.
The figures mark a reversal from full-year 2025, when crude oil imports from Nigeria stood at £719.2 million, comfortably ahead of refined petroleum products at £514.3 million.
The shift coincides with the expansion of Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity, particularly the ramp-up of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. Increased domestic processing of crude has the potential to alter the balance between Nigeria’s crude exports and refined-product exports, although the UK trade data alone does not establish a direct causal relationship.
Nigeria’s evolving refining capacity is becoming increasingly relevant to its international petroleum trade. As more crude is processed locally, the country has greater scope to export finished and semi-finished petroleum products instead of relying predominantly on crude oil exports.
Gas exports to the UK also increased during the period. UK imports of gas from Nigeria rose 6.9 percent to £179.3 million, adding another important component to Nigeria’s energy exports to Britain.
The changing trade pattern is also evident in the opposite direction. Refined oil remained the largest category of UK goods exports to Nigeria in the 12 months to March 2026, accounting for 51.2 percent of total UK goods exports and valued at £725.6 million.
However, UK refined-oil exports to Nigeria declined 44.7 percent year on year. The decline comes as Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity expands and locally produced petroleum products increasingly compete with imported fuels.
The development could have broader implications for the bilateral energy relationship. Traditionally, Nigeria has exported large volumes of crude oil to the UK while importing significant quantities of refined petroleum products. The latest figures suggest that this pattern is beginning to change.
Despite the shift in energy trade, total UK-Nigeria trade in goods and services stood at £7.3 billion in the four quarters to March 2026, down 3.4 percent from the previous year.
UK imports from Nigeria declined 9.3 percent to £2.0 billion during the period, reflecting the sharp fall in crude oil imports despite stronger refined-product and gas exports.
The figures point to an evolving structure in Nigeria’s trade relationship with the UK, with growing domestic refining capacity potentially reducing the country’s traditional dependence on crude exports and imported petroleum products.
