Higher overseas shipments come as gas production rises 4.6%, while 131.6bn cubic feet is flared…..
Nigeria’s natural gas exports continued to gather pace in 2026, rising by 19.25% year-on-year in the first eight months of the year, according to data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Export volumes reached 733,778 million standard cubic feet (MMSCF) between January and August, compared with 615,370 MMSCF recorded during the same period in 2025.
The increase means Nigeria shipped an additional 118,408 MMSCF of gas to international markets during the eight-month period, reinforcing the growing contribution of natural gas to the country’s export earnings and foreign exchange inflows.
The latest figures, obtained from NUPRC data, also show that the growth in exports came alongside a moderate increase in overall gas production.
Nigeria produced 1.92 million MMSCF of natural gas between January and August 2026, up from about 1.84 million MMSCF produced in the corresponding period of 2025.
The increase represents growth of approximately 4.6% year-on-year.
Non-associated gas accounted for 963,321 MMSCF of the output, slightly ahead of associated gas production, which stood at 959,941 MMSCF.
August was particularly strong, with total gas production reaching 245,439.13 MMSCF, compared with 227,015.22 MMSCF recorded in August 2025.
Export volumes also remained strong in the month, reaching 92,410.74 MMSCF, significantly above the 65,732.24 MMSCF recorded in August 2025.
Despite the increase in international shipments, a substantial portion of Nigeria’s gas production was consumed within the domestic economy and in upstream operations.
Domestic gas sales stood at 516,780 MMSCF during the eight-month period, while another 525,768 MMSCF was used in the field.
Combined, the two categories accounted for a major portion of the gas produced during the period.
NUPRC data indicate that about 1.78 million MMSCF, representing roughly 92.4% of total production, was utilised between January and August.
The figures highlight the competing demands on Nigeria’s gas resources as the country seeks to increase exports while also expanding domestic gas supply for power generation, industrial activity and other economic uses.
Gas strengthens its role as an export earner
The rise in physical gas shipments comes as Nigeria continues to record stronger earnings from the commodity.
Central Bank of Nigeria data showed that gas export earnings reached $2.53 billion in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting increased receipts from the sector.
Nigeria’s gas export earnings had also risen to $10.51 billion in 2025, compared with $8.66 billion in 2024.
The stronger performance has increased the importance of natural gas to Nigeria’s external earnings as the country looks to broaden its export base beyond crude oil.
Earlier NUPRC data also showed that average daily gas production reached 7.93 billion standard cubic feet per day in May 2026, compared with 7.88 billion standard cubic feet per day in May 2025.
Flaring remains a challenge
The improvement in exports and production, however, has come alongside continued gas flaring.
Nigeria flared 131,564 MMSCF of gas between January and August 2026, according to NUPRC figures.
August recorded the highest monthly flaring volume so far this year, at 18,350.55 MMSCF. That represented 7.48% of the month’s total gas production.
The August rate was higher than the 6.72% recorded in July and marked the highest monthly flaring level recorded so far in 2026.
The regulator has continued to push for greater utilisation of Nigeria’s gas resources, particularly through increased investment in gas infrastructure and development of previously uncommitted reserves.
Focus shifts to unlocking more gas resources
NUPRC’s Gas Development Roadmap is targeting more than 55 trillion cubic feet of uncommitted gas reserves as part of efforts to attract fresh investment and accelerate development across the sector.
Nigeria has more than 200 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, giving the country significant potential to expand production, increase exports and supply more gas to the domestic market.
The latest export figures suggest that international demand is already translating into higher shipment volumes. The challenge for the sector will be converting Nigeria’s vast reserves into sustained production while reducing gas flaring and ensuring that increased output also supports domestic energy and industrial needs.
NUPRC noted that the July and August 2026 figures, including gas shrinkage, remain provisional and could be revised following the regulator’s third-quarter gas data reconciliation exercise.
