- Nigeria produced 1.505 million barrels of crude oil daily in July
- The output exceeded the country’s 1.5 million-barrel OPEC quota
- Production fell 4% due to challenges at the Erha and Akpo fields
Nigeria has maintained its recent improvement in crude oil production, exceeding its Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota for the third month in a row, according to fresh figures from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Eko Hot Blog gathered that NUPRC data showed that the country averaged 1.505 million barrels of crude oil per day (mbpd) in July 2026. When condensate production of about 0.17mbpd is included, total daily output rose to approximately 1.67mbpd.
Daily production fluctuated during the month, reaching a high of about 1.78mbpd and dropping to a low of 1.57mbpd.
Despite remaining above its OPEC crude oil production limit of 1.5mbpd, Nigeria recorded a decline in output compared with the previous month. Production dropped by about four per cent in July.
The NUPRC linked the reduction mainly to operational difficulties at the Erha and Akpo oil fields, which affected production levels during the period.
The commission said the challenges at the two fields placed pressure on overall national output and contributed significantly to the month-on-month decline.
However, production from several other oil-producing assets remained relatively steady during the period. Operators also took steps to reduce the effect of the disruptions and maintain output levels.
The July figures followed another strong performance in June, when Nigeria also exceeded its OPEC target.
In June, the country recorded average combined crude oil and condensate production of about 1.735 million barrels per day, marking continued growth in output at the time.
Crude oil production alone stood at approximately 1.56mbpd, while condensates accounted for about 0.18mbpd.
The June crude oil figure represented roughly 104 per cent of Nigeria’s 1.5mbpd OPEC quota.
The June performance was also significant because crude oil production reached its highest monthly average since April 2020, representing a 74-month high for Nigeria.
The latest figures indicate that Nigeria has continued to make progress in restoring and sustaining oil production, despite operational challenges affecting some major fields.
For an economy heavily dependent on crude oil revenues, sustained production above the OPEC quota could provide additional support for government revenue and foreign exchange earnings.
However, continued disruptions at key oil fields remain a concern, particularly as Nigeria seeks to increase production and strengthen its position within the global oil market
