Africa Produced 10 Million Barrels of Oil Daily in 2025
Despite record production, reliance on fuel imports continues for the continent's operators.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Oil and Gas
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Should oil-producing nations prioritize building domestic refining capacity over exporting raw crude oil?
Africa reached a daily output of 10 million barrels of crude oil in 2025, accounting for 10% of the global supply. However, the continent remained a net importer of refined petroleum products throughout the year.
Why it matters
The persistence of a refined-product deficit limits the economic benefit for local businesses that remain exposed to the volatility of global fuel markets. Expanding domestic refining capacity is essential to shifting this import reliance.
Africa produced 10 million barrels of crude oil daily in 2025, representing 10% of total global production. Major output came from Nigeria at 1.5 million to 1.6 million barrels, Libya at 1.2 million to 1.39 million, Algeria at 1.14 million, and Angola exceeding 1 million barrels per day.
The players
Dangote Refinery
An industrial-scale processing facility with a 650,000-barrel-per-day capacity intended to bolster domestic fuel supply.
OPEC
An intergovernmental organization of oil-producing nations that exerts significant influence over global supply and price stability.
The details
Production remains heavily concentrated within OPEC and OPEC+ member nations across the continent. While the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery is moving toward full operational status, current limited infrastructure prevents the processing of domestic crude into finished fuel products. Consequently, operators must continue to source refined products from external suppliers despite the region's vast crude reserves.
Timeline
2025: Africa achieved a total crude oil production of 10 million barrels per day.
Market Landscape
Africa's 2025 output level reflects the strategic output decisions governed by the OPEC+ production quota system. The reliance on foreign refined products underscores a structural gap that persists despite the continent's major role in global crude extraction.
Operators in energy-intensive industries should anticipate continued exposure to global refined fuel prices until domestic refining capacity matures. Monitor the operational ramp-up of major facilities like the Dangote Refinery to gauge shifts in local supply availability.
The takeaway
Large-scale crude output does not equate to refined fuel independence for continental markets. Businesses should track regional refining project updates to better anticipate future fuel cost stability and logistics shifts.
Further reading
For more on sector developments, visit the Oil and Gas section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Sun.
Live Poll
Should oil-producing nations prioritize building domestic refining capacity over exporting raw crude oil?
