Get Guardian on GoogleThe United Kingdom imported £1.02bn worth of refined petroleum products from Nigeria in the 12 months to June 2026, signalling a major shift in bilateral energy trade as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery expands Nigeria’s capacity to export processed fuel.
The latest Trade and Investment Factsheet, released by the UK government on November 6, 2026, showed that refined petroleum products accounted for 53.5 per cent of Britain’s total merchandise imports from Nigeria during the period.
According to the report, imports of refined petroleum products rose by more than 100 per cent compared with the corresponding 12 months to June 2025, making them the largest category of Nigerian goods purchased by the UK.
The development highlights a changing trade relationship between both countries, with Nigeria increasingly exporting refined petroleum products rather than relying predominantly on crude oil shipments.
The figures come amid the expansion of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which has a nameplate processing capacity of 650,000 barrels per day and is steadily increasing its participation in international petroleum markets.
An analysis of the UK government report showed that Britain’s crude oil imports from Nigeria fell by 56.2 per cent to £550.3m during the period, accounting for 28.9 per cent of its total merchandise imports from the country.
The figures suggest a significant shift in the composition of Nigeria’s petroleum exports to Britain, with refined products overtaking crude oil as the dominant category.
In value terms, refined petroleum exports were approximately 85 per cent higher than crude oil exports, representing a difference of £467m.
Combined, refined petroleum products and crude oil accounted for approximately £1.57bn, or 82.4 per cent, of Britain’s merchandise imports from Nigeria.
The figures underscore petroleum’s continued dominance in Nigeria’s export relationship with the UK, despite growing efforts to expand domestic refining capacity and diversify the country’s export earnings.
Other major Nigerian products imported by Britain included gas, valued at £179.5m, representing 9.4 per cent of total merchandise imports. This marked a seven per cent increase compared with the preceding 12 months.
Imports of coffee, tea and cocoa products reached £40.3m, recording growth of more than 100 per cent, while beverages and tobacco accounted for £30m, representing a 24.2 per cent increase.
Overall, Nigeria’s merchandise exports to Britain rose to approximately £1.9bn in the 12 months to June 2026, representing an increase of 10.4 per cent, or £180m, compared with the preceding 12-month period.
