The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has reported that Nigeria’s crude oil production increased to 1.38 million barrels per day (bpd) in March 2026.
The figure was disclosed in the organisation’s latest monthly oil market report released on Monday.
The increase reflects a modest recovery in output, although Nigeria remains below its assigned production quota.
The latest data highlights ongoing efforts to stabilise oil production amid operational and market challenges.
What the data is saying
OPEC data shows a slight improvement in Nigeria’s crude oil output for March.
- Production rose to 1.38 million bpd from 1.31 million bpd recorded in February, representing a 5.25 per cent increase.
- The figures were based on direct communication with Nigerian authorities.
- Data from secondary sources placed Nigeria’s output higher at 1.46 million bpd in March, up from 1.44 million bpd in February.
- Nigeria fell short of its 1.5 million bpd quota by approximately 117,000 bpd.
Despite the increase, output levels remain below the country’s production target.
OPEC typically relies on two data sources to track crude oil production among member countries.
- Primary data is obtained through direct communication with member states.
- Secondary sources include energy intelligence platforms and independent estimates.
- These dual sources often result in slight variations in reported production figures.
Nigeria’s production has fluctuated in recent months due to operational and structural challenges in the oil sector.
More Insights
Nigeria maintained its position as Africa’s top oil producer in March.
- The country outperformed Libya, which recorded production of 1.30 million bpd.
- OPEC noted that total crude output from member countries averaged 35.06 million bpd in March.
- This represented a month-on-month decline of 7.70 million bpd across the alliance.
The data reflects broader dynamics within the global oil market and OPEC’s production adjustments.
Context
Recent data from Nigerian authorities presents higher production figures compared to OPEC estimates.
- The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission reported production at 1.84 million bpd in early April.
- The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited later stated that output stood at 1.71 million bpd.
- The variation in figures highlights differences in reporting methodologies and timelines.
As Nigeria works to increase output, closing the gap between actual production and OPEC quotas remains a key priority for the oil sector.
What you should know
Nairametrics reported that Crude oil production by OPEC fell sharply by 27.5% to 20.79 million barrels per day (bpd) in March, marking one of the most significant supply disruptions in decades.
In March, crude oil production by OPEC countries plunged by 7.88 million barrels per day to 20.79 million bpd, representing a decline of 27.5%.
Before the war erupted on February 28, key OPEC+ nations had been gradually restoring previously shut-in production.
