Angola overtook Nigeria in the second quarter of 2016 as the leading oil producer in Africa, according to data on oil production released on Tuesday by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The data released by OPEC in its latest monthly report on the oil market, based on secondary sources, shows Angola in the second quarter produced 1.776 million barrels per day, against Nigerian production of 1.539 million barrels per day.

The picture presented by OPEC shows that it was precisely in the second quarter of 2016 that Angola overtook Nigeria as the leading oil producer in Africa, based on secondary sources.

Data on oil production of OPEC members based on direct communication only indicates that in the second quarter Angola produced 1.730 million barrels per day, with no figures provided by Nigeria.

However, the picture drawn by OPEC shows that in 2015 Angola was already producing more than Nigeria (1.767 million barrels per day compared to 1.748 million), a difference that became more pronounced in the first quarter of 2016, with Angola producing 1.773 million barrels a day and Nigeria 1.667 million.

In June, Angola produced 1.773 million barrels per day and Nigeria 1.523 million, according to secondary sources and 1.752 million barrels per day according to direct communication. Nigeria did not provide OPEC with direct figures. (macauhub/AO)