Preliminary data released by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) for the week ended May 12, has shown that US crude imports from Nigeria rose by 13.6% to 325,000 barrels per day from 286,000 b/d, the most since March, 2017.
The increase came despite the threat of a potential rise in shale oil production on the back of the rally in global oil prices, as energy companies ramped up drilling. The EIA data showed that although Nigeria remained US highest crude oil exporter in Africa, exports from Angola to US witnessed the highest increase at 42.8 percent from 63,000 b/d to 90,000 b/d.
Overall, crude imports from Saudi Arabia rose the highest at 42 percent to 1.38 million b/d from 970,000 b/d. Meanwhile, the US government has commended Nigeria for the significant steps it has taken to reform the oil and gas industry through the National Oil, Gas and Fiscal policies as well as the draft Petroleum Industry Governance Bill and Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill developed by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
