Nigeria’s emergence as a growing exporter of refined petroleum products has been largely driven by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, according to the latest assessment by the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The EIA said Nigeria’s seaborne petroleum product shipments averaged 561,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the second quarter of 2026, compared with an annual average of just 79,000 bpd in 2023.
The sharp increase has strengthened Nigeria’s presence in the international refined petroleum market while also reducing the country’s reliance on imported products.
The Dangote refinery has been central to that shift since it began operations in January 2024. Data from energy intelligence firm Vortexa cited by the EIA showed that about 350,000 bpd of the 561,000 bpd shipped during the second quarter of 2026 were exports. That compares with an average of only 46,000 bpd exported in 2023.
The development marks a significant change for a country that had traditionally depended heavily on imported refined petroleum products despite being one of Africa’s largest crude oil producers.
“With increased supply of petroleum products from the country’s largest refinery, imports fell, exports increased, and Nigeria became more self-sufficient in refined petroleum products,” the EIA said.
Before the Dangote refinery came on stream, Nigeria’s state-owned refineries collectively shipped less than 100,000 bpd of petroleum products for both domestic and international markets.
The refinery’s contribution became even more significant after maintenance and expansion work was completed in February 2026. The project increased its crude distillation capacity from 650,000 bpd to 700,000 bpd, allowing it to process more crude and increase the availability of refined products.
The rise in Nigeria’s petroleum product shipments also coincided with disruptions to global energy supply caused by tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. According to the EIA, those disruptions created additional demand for refined products from alternative suppliers, providing another boost to Nigerian shipments.
The refinery’s impact has not been limited to exports. Domestic petroleum product distribution has also increased substantially as its output has become more available within Nigeria.
Intra-Nigerian shipments reached 211,000 bpd in the second quarter of 2026, up from 81,000 bpd in 2025 and just 33,000 bpd in 2023.
The figures suggest that the Dangote refinery is playing an increasingly important role in reshaping Nigeria’s petroleum market, simultaneously supporting domestic supply and creating a larger export stream.
With the refinery operating at a higher capacity following its expansion, Nigeria’s position in the regional and international refined petroleum products market could continue to strengthen, particularly if domestic production remains sufficient to reduce the country’s dependence on imports.
