Crude Oil Remains Nigeria’s Top Export to UK as Refined Petroleum Products Gain Ground
Crude oil remained Nigeria’s largest goods export to the United Kingdom in 2025, accounting for 47.8% of total UK goods imports from Nigeria, while refined petroleum products emerged as the second-largest category, according to the latest UK government trade data.
The UK Department for Business and Trade said Nigeria exported about £719.2 million ($960 million) worth of crude oil to the UK in the four quarters ending December 2025. Refined oil followed with exports valued at £514.3 million, representing 34.1% of Britain’s goods imports from Nigeria during the period.
Natural gas was the third-largest Nigerian export to the UK, valued at £167.8 million, or 11.1% of total goods imports from Nigeria. Coffee, tea, cocoa and related products accounted for £17.9 million, while processed fertilisers contributed £17.2 million.
The figures highlight the continued importance of the energy sector to Nigeria-UK trade, with crude oil, refined petroleum products and natural gas collectively accounting for more than 93% of Nigeria’s goods exports to the UK during the period.
The changing composition of Nigeria’s petroleum exports comes as the country seeks to expand domestic refining capacity and reduce its longstanding dependence on imported fuel. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has increasingly supplied refined products to the domestic and international markets, while the government continues efforts to revive older state-owned refineries.
The UK data also shows strong two-way trade in petroleum products. Britain exported £1.1 billion worth of refined oil to Nigeria during the same 12-month period, making refined oil the UK’s largest goods export to Nigeria and accounting for 60.5% of British goods exports to the country.
The figures underscore the highly concentrated nature of Nigeria-UK merchandise trade and the continued centrality of oil and gas to the economic relationship between the two countries.
