Africa Produced 10 Million Barrels of Oil Daily in 2025
The continent accounted for 10% of global output while remaining a net importer of refined petroleum products.
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?
In 2025, Africa produced 10 million barrels of crude oil per day, representing 10% of total global production. Despite this significant output, the continent remained a net importer of refined petroleum due to limited domestic processing capacity.
Why it matters
The persistence of refined product imports highlights the structural gap between Africa's crude extraction and its internal ability to process fuel for domestic use. Efforts to bridge this divide include initiatives like the Dangote Refinery.
Nigeria averaged 1.5 million to 1.6 million barrels daily, while Libya produced 1.2 million to 1.39 million. Algeria averaged 1.14 million barrels per day and Angola exceeded 1 million, with the Dangote Refinery boasting 650,000 barrels of daily capacity.
The players
Dangote Refinery
This facility is a major industrial project with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day aimed at increasing domestic fuel production.
OPEC
This is a permanent intergovernmental organization of oil-exporting nations that coordinates the petroleum policies of its member countries.
The details
Production remains heavily concentrated among members of OPEC and OPEC+. While the Dangote Refinery is moving toward full operational capacity, the regional reliance on imported refined products continues to define the energy landscape.
Timeline
In 2025, Africa maintained a daily production rate of 10 million barrels of crude oil.
Market Landscape
This output confirms the ongoing concentration of production among OPEC members while mirroring the historical trend of African nations exporting crude and importing refined fuel. The sector is currently defined by the transition toward increased domestic refining capacity to displace foreign imports.
Continued reliance on imported refined petroleum keeps domestic energy markets vulnerable to global price fluctuations. Consumers may see varied fuel costs until domestic refining projects reach their full operational potential.
The takeaway
Africa's energy sector is defined by high raw extraction levels that have yet to translate into full energy independence. Future market stability depends on balancing regional crude production with the expansion of domestic refining capabilities.
Further reading
For more analysis on energy output, visit our 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?
