By Gloria Akudoro
Petrol consumption in Nigeria fell to 47.3 million litres per day in March 2026, even as import volumes nearly doubled, data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) revealed.
Despite the drop in consumption, PMS importation increased to 5.9 million litres per day from 3.0 million litres per day in February.
NMDPRA March factsheet, released on Tuesday, showed that the rise in imports coincided with the decline in petrol consumption during the period.
The report also indicated that domestic PMS supply fell to 34.2 million litres per day from 36.5 million litres per day recorded in February.
Overall PMS supply, however, rose slightly to 40.1 million litres per day, compared to 39.5 million litres per day in the previous month, while stock sufficiency dropped to 21.2 days from 30.7 days.
Nationally, PMS sufficiency averaged 21 days in March, measured against a daily benchmark of 50 million litres per day.
For Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel, supply declined significantly to 10.3 million litres per day from 24.4 million litres per day. Domestic AGO production dropped to 3.9 million litres per day from 8.8 million litres per day, while imports fell to 6.4 million litres per day from 15.6 million litres per day.
AGO consumption stood at 14.5 million litres per day, down from 20.3 million litres per day, while stock sufficiency improved to 55.4 days from 47.6 days. National AGO sufficiency averaged 55 days against a benchmark of 14 million litres per day.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supply remained steady at 4.7 thousand tonnes per day (KT/D). Domestic LPG production increased to 4.5 thousand tonnes per day from 4.0 thousand tonnes per day, while imports declined to 0.2 thousand tonnes per day from 0.7 thousand tonnes per day.
LPG consumption stood at 5.1 thousand tonnes per day, slightly lower than 5.2 thousand tonnes per day recorded in February, with national sufficiency at 14 days against a benchmark of 3,900 thousand tonnes per day.
Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) consumption also declined to 2.1 million litres per day from 2.9 million litres per day, while national sufficiency averaged 109 days against a benchmark of 3 million litres per day.
The report further showed that domestic gas supply increased to 4.888 billion standard cubic feet per day (Bscf/d), up from 4.771 billion standard cubic feet per day, including volumes supplied to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas.
Overall, national fuel sufficiency for March averaged 21 days for PMS, 55 days for AGO, 109 days for ATK, and 14 days for LPG.
On refinery performance, the Dangote Refinery recorded a capacity utilisation rate of 93.62 percent. It produced 48.2 million litres per day of PMS, with 34.2 million litres per day supplied domestically, while AGO production stood at 16.5 million litres per day, with 2.2 million litres per day allocated to the domestic market.
State-owned refineries recorded no active operations during the period. The Port Harcourt Refinery Company remained shut down, although evacuation of AGO from previous production averaged 0.048 million litres per day.
Similarly, the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company and the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company were shut down.
Meanwhile, Waltersmith Refinery Train 2 continued the introduction of hydrocarbons, a process ongoing since February.
The NMDPRA noted that consumption figures represent volumes trucked out into the domestic market, adding that the 2026 daily benchmarks stand at 50 million litres for PMS, 14 million litres for AGO, 3 million litres for ATK, and 3,900 thousand tonnes for LPG.
