Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery has made its first petrol export to the United States, even as the country continues to import large volumes of fuel. The shipment, consisting of 300,000 barrels of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), left the Lekki seaport on August 26 and is expected to arrive in New York and New Jersey by September 12, according to S&P Global.
Despite the refinery’s capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, local marketers continue to import fuel, keeping Nigeria dependent on overseas supplies. In June alone, over one billion litres of petrol were imported, while Dangote’s refinery supplied less than 455 million litres.
Since starting operations in 2024, the refinery has aimed to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel and supply both local and international markets. Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, said his goal is to make Nigeria and Africa energy independent and turn the country into a net exporter of petroleum products.
While exports are growing across Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, some domestic petroleum traders have raised concerns that Dangote’s dominance could edge them out of the local market. Billy Gillis-Harry, president of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), said marketers base their buying decisions on cost and profit, and will continue importing fuel if it offers better margins.
Dangote’s refinery has already shipped petrol to African neighbors, Oman, Singapore, and Malaysia. S&P Global reported that June exports reached roughly 90,000 barrels per day, despite maintenance-related production challenges.
The billionaire businessman has also warned against the importation of cheap or substandard fuels, especially from Russia, claiming they undercut local refining and harm the industry. He urged African governments to adopt protective measures for domestic producers, similar to policies in the US, Canada, and Europe.
Between June and July 2025, Dangote’s refinery exported approximately 1 million tonnes of petrol—about 1.35 billion litres—showing its ability to meet both domestic and international demand.
