Nigeria's Crude Output Growth Stunted by ExxonMobil's Erha Field Decline

Nigeria's streak of five consecutive monthly increases in crude oil output came to an end in July 2026, according to recent data. The country averaged 1.5052 million barrels per day (MBPD) that month, down from the June 2026 production of 1.5552 MBPD.

This represents 100% of Nigeria's OPEC quota of 1.5 MBPD and marks the third-best output in 2026 so far. However, a 50,000-barrel-per-day (BOPD) month-on-month shortfall is viewed as disappointing given the current high optimism.

ExxonMobil's Erha field was responsible for most of the decline, with production plummeting from 65,950 BOPD in June to 31,980 BOPD in July 2026. The drop at this critical oil field contributed significantly to Nigeria's failure to maintain its upward trend.