Ghana’s refined petroleum product imports fell 12.67% in the first half of 2026 as domestic production increased, according to a report by the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC).
Total imports declined to 2.79 million metric tonnes from 3.20 million tonnes a year earlier, a reduction of 405,148 tonnes, COMAC’s half-year industry report said, citing data from the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
Ghana sources refined petroleum products from countries including the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria and Togo.
Total import volumes were lower in every month of the period, with February recording the largest decline.
Gasoil, or diesel, remained the largest imported product at about 48.6% of total imports. Gasoline, or petrol, imports totalled 1.11 million tonnes, accounting for 39.9%.
Together, the two products represented approximately 88.5% of refined petroleum imports.
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports reached 167,127 tonnes, while aviation turbine kerosene and fuel oil imports totalled 122,695 tonnes and 31,447 tonnes, respectively.
The report attributed the decline in imports to increased domestic refinery output.
Domestic production rose 350.7% to 719,414 tonnes in the first half of 2026 from 159,627 tonnes a year earlier. Output also increased 5.5% in the second quarter compared with the first.
Sentuo Oil Refinery drove the increase, producing 656,471 tonnes, or 91.3% of total domestic output, according to the report.
Ghana Gas Company Limited produced 37,455 tonnes, while Platon and Akwaaba contributed smaller volumes.
Gasoil and gasoline production reached 326,684 tonnes and 236,654 tonnes, respectively, together accounting for 78.3% of total output.
Production of aviation turbine fuel, residual fuel oil and condensate also increased. LPG output, however, fell 54% to 23,516 tonnes from 51,143 tonnes, with no production recorded in the second quarter.
The report said increased local refining was helping reduce dependence on imported gasoline and gasoil, although production remained heavily concentrated at Sentuo.
Ghana’s petroleum product exports more than doubled to 561,924 tonnes in the first half of 2026 from 276,413 tonnes a year earlier, an increase of 103.3%.
The country exports petroleum products to regional markets, including Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
The second quarter accounted for 54.7% of half-year exports, compared with 45.3% in the first quarter.
Gasoil was the leading export product at 267,869 tonnes, followed by gasoline at 183,529 tonnes. Together, they accounted for 80.3% of total exports.
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