Nigeria Crude OilMerchant
Destination market · Asia

Indonesia's imports of Nigerian crude oil

For Indonesia, Nigeria is not one supplier among many: it has been the country's largest single source of imported crude, bought almost entirely by the state refiner Pertamina.

of Indonesia's 2024 crude and condensate imports came from Nigeria (EIA)1
25%
Nigerian crude to Indonesia in 2024 (EIA estimate)2
95,000 b/d
of Nigeria's 2025 crude export earnings (CBN)3
7.80%

Trade flows

The EIA reports that Nigeria supplied 32% of Indonesia's crude and condensate imports in 2023 and 25% in 2024, when total imports were about 354,000 barrels per day — still the largest share of any origin.1 From the Nigerian side, the EIA estimates 95,000 barrels per day to Indonesia in 2024,2 and the Central Bank of Nigeria records 7.80% of 2025 crude export earnings, about US$2.46 billion.3

Pertamina

In our assessment the attraction is quality: Indonesian refineries historically ran light, low-sulphur domestic crude, and Nigerian grades are a close substitute as that output declines. Kpler has reported Pertamina buying Forcados and Qua Iboe cargoes.4 Pertamina purchases through tenders that are typically won by trading houses and producers' trading arms, with delivery to Indonesian ports — a voyage of roughly a month, which means freight is a significant part of the delivered cost.

What this means

Indonesia illustrates the fit between Nigerian medium and light sweet grades and refineries built for low-sulphur feedstock. It also shows how the trade is conducted: a single, large, state-owned buyer operating a formal tender system. There is no retail market for crude in Indonesia and no route to Pertamina other than its procurement process.

Documented buyers at a glance

Only publicly documented purchases or contractual rights are listed. Inclusion is not evidence that a company is currently seeking Nigerian crude, and no relationship with us is implied.
CompanyTypeEvidence
PertaminaState refinerPurchases of Forcados and Qua Iboe reported by Kpler4
How to read destination data

Nigerian export statistics record the declared destination and are published by value; importer statistics record arrivals by volume. The two rarely match exactly. See the notes on the markets overview.

The qualities of the grades named on this page are in the Nigerian crude grade database. How such cargoes are actually contracted — by tender, under term contracts or through an established trader — is explained in how Nigerian crude oil is sold, and what a buyer should prepare before approaching any seller is in the international buyer centre.

Other destination markets

Sources

  1. U.S. Energy Information Administration — Country Analysis Brief: Indonesia (published 25 August 2025; retrieved 18 September 2026) GovernmentImport shares based on Vortexa tanker tracking.
  2. U.S. Energy Information Administration — Country Analysis Brief: Nigeria (published 18 November 2025; retrieved 18 September 2026) GovernmentExport volumes are EIA and Global Trade Tracker estimates for calendar 2024. Grade table draws on Argus, Reuters and OIES.
  3. Central Bank of Nigeria 2025 Annual Report, as reported by Vanguard — FG's crude export earnings dip 14% to $31.54bn in 2025 — CBN (published 30 July 2026; retrieved 18 September 2026) Secondary sourceGovernment statistics relayed by the press; shares are by export value and record the declared destination.
  4. Kpler — West African crude prices recover on Asian demand (retrieved 18 September 2026) IndustryThe page carries no publication date.

Last reviewed 18 September 2026. Found an error? Tell us — see our methodology and corrections policy.