Ghana’s imports of refined petroleum products fell by 12.67% in the first half of 2026, following a sharp increase in domestic refinery output, according to the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC).
COMAC’s half-year industry report, citing data from the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), said total imports declined to 2.79 million metric tonnes, from 3.20 million tonnes during the corresponding period in 2025.
The decline represents a reduction of 405,148 tonnes, with import volumes falling in every month of the first half of the year.
February recorded the largest monthly decline.
Ghana imports refined petroleum products from several countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria and Togo.
Gasoil, commonly known as diesel, remained the country’s largest imported petroleum product, accounting for about 48.6% of total imports.
Gasoline, or petrol, imports stood at 1.11 million tonnes, representing 39.9% of total imports.
Combined, diesel and petrol accounted for approximately 88.5% of Ghana’s refined petroleum product imports during the period.
LPG imports amounted to 167,127 tonnes, while aviation turbine kerosene and fuel oil imports stood at 122,695 tonnes and 31,447 tonnes, respectively.
COMAC attributed the decline in imports largely to increased domestic refinery production.
Domestic petroleum product output rose by 350.7%, from 159,627 tonnes in the first half of 2025 to 719,414 tonnes during the first half of 2026.
Production also increased by 5.5% in the second quarter compared with the first quarter.
Sentuo Oil Refinery accounted for the bulk of the increase, producing 656,471 tonnes, equivalent to 91.3% of total domestic output.
Ghana Gas Company Limited produced 37,455 tonnes, while Platon and Akwaaba contributed smaller volumes.
Gasoil production reached 326,684 tonnes, while gasoline output stood at 236,654 tonnes.
Together, the two products represented 78.3% of total domestic production.
Production of aviation turbine fuel, residual fuel oil and condensate also increased during the period.
LPG production, however, declined by 54%, from 51,143 tonnes to 23,516 tonnes, with no LPG production recorded in the second quarter.
The report said increased local refining was helping Ghana reduce its dependence on imported gasoline and gasoil, although domestic production remained heavily concentrated at Sentuo Oil Refinery.
While imports declined, Ghana’s petroleum product exports more than doubled during the period.
Exports increased by 103.3%, rising from 276,413 tonnes in the first half of 2025 to 561,924 tonnes in the first half of 2026.
Ghana exported petroleum products to regional markets, including Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
The second quarter accounted for 54.7% of total half-year exports, compared with 45.3% in the first quarter.
Gasoil was the leading export product, with 267,869 tonnes, followed by gasoline at 183,529 tonnes.
Together, the two products accounted for 80.3% of Ghana’s total petroleum product exports in the first half of 2026.
