Dangote exports 1.66bn litres amid global oil crisis

Fresh figures released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority have shown that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery exported about 1.66 billion litres of refined petroleum products in April 2026 amid growing geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran.

Analysis of the NMDPRA’s April 2026 fact sheet showed that the refinery exported 513 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, 534 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil, also called diesel, and 615 million litres of aviation fuel during the period under review.

The development comes as concerns mount over possible disruptions to global fuel supply routes following the escalating conflict in the Middle East and uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping corridor.

The Dangote refinery remains Nigeria’s only major operational refinery currently producing sufficient refined petroleum products for both domestic use and export.

The latest export volume represents the refinery’s highest monthly shipment so far, particularly for aviation fuel and diesel, underscoring the growing importance of the 650,000 barrels-per-day facility located in Lekki, Lagos State.

The combined exports translate to an average of about 55.4 million litres daily.

Industry stakeholders said rising geopolitical uncertainty had increased global demand for refined petroleum products from alternative suppliers such as Nigeria, especially from buyers in Europe, Africa and parts of Asia seeking more reliable fuel sources.

According to the NMDPRA report, local refineries operated at an average capacity utilisation of 99.12 per cent in April, with the Dangote refinery accounting for most of the production.

The regulator noted that the refinery achieved 100 per cent capacity utilisation for most days in April.

The report further revealed that domestic refineries received 18.37 million barrels of crude oil during the month, an increase from the 13.11 million barrels recorded in March.

Despite rising domestic supply obligations, the refinery sustained strong export performance. Average daily petrol production stood at 53.6 million litres, with 40.7 million litres supplied locally and 17.1 million litres exported daily.

Diesel production averaged 23.6 million litres per day, while exports accounted for 17.8 million litres daily, more than twice the domestic supply volume of 8 million litres per day.

For aviation fuel, exports reached 20.5 million litres daily, compared to domestic supply of 2.6 million litres per day.

The strong jet fuel export performance comes weeks after domestic airline operators raised concerns over rising aviation fuel costs and threatened operational shutdowns.

Nigeria is also said to have become a net exporter of petrol for the first time in decades following increased output from the Dangote refinery. In March, the refinery reportedly exported about 434 million litres of petrol after domestic production exceeded local consumption.

The latest figures highlight Nigeria’s gradual shift from a major importer of refined petroleum products to an emerging export hub in Africa.

Analysts believe jet fuel exports could rise further if instability in the Middle East continues to affect traditional supply chains serving Europe and other global markets.

The Middle East remains a major source of global aviation fuel exports, with the Strait of Hormuz playing a strategic role in transporting crude oil and refined petroleum products worldwide.

The NMDPRA report also showed that Nigerians consumed an average of 51.1 million litres of petrol daily in April, slightly above the regulator’s 50 million litres benchmark.

Diesel consumption stood at 17.3 million litres daily, while aviation fuel consumption averaged 2.5 million litres per day.

Despite increased local refining activities, fuel prices remained high nationwide. The regulator attributed the situation partly to international crude oil prices, which averaged $120.55 per barrel during the month, while gasoline prices stood at $1,074.97 per metric tonne.

The Dangote refinery is expected to play a major role in strengthening Nigeria’s energy security and boosting foreign exchange earnings as global fuel trade patterns continue to shift.

Meanwhile, despite rising local production and exports, the NMDPRA has continued issuing licences for petrol importation into the country.