Dangote Petroleum Refinery has exported over two million barrels of jet fuel to the United States and approximately 130 million litres to Saudi Arabia.
According to data from ship-tracking service Kpler, six vessels carrying around 1.7 million barrels of jet fuel from Dangote Petroleum Refinery arrived at US ports this month. Another vessel, the Hafnia Andromeda, is set to arrive at the Everglades terminal on March 29 with approximately 348,000 barrels of jet fuel.
The US imports in March highlight the refinery’s capacity to produce high-quality products that meet international standards.
The exports to Saudi Arabia, specifically to Saudi Aramco, demonstrate the refinery’s growing influence in global fuel markets. This achievement positions Nigeria as a key player in serving markets beyond Africa, including the Middle East and potentially Europe.
With a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the Dangote refinery is poised to disrupt global fuel trade dynamics by establishing itself as a major supplier in the Atlantic Basin.
Experts assert that this development should bring immense pride to Nigerians, as it attests to the unparalleled quality of the refinery’s products and the trust that the international community places in Dangote Refinery.
The shipments from the Dangote Refinery—Africa’s largest with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd)—highlight its potential to reshape global fuel trading dynamics and establish a new swing supplier in the Atlantic Basin.
This shipment to the United States follows three jet fuel cargoes, totalling around 130 million litres, exported from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. The refinery has already demonstrated its ability to compete with European refiners on gasoline (PMS) exports, and these jet fuel shipments to the United States could challenge the economics of domestic producers in the world’s largest fuel-consuming nation.
According to chief operating officer of TankTiger, Steven Barsamian, “The surge in demand, partly driven by the influx of supply from Nigeria, is expected to lower jet fuel prices in the US ahead of the peak summer travel season. According to trade analysts and storage brokers, US jet fuel imports from Dangote Refinery are expected to decrease aviation fuel prices during this period. US jet fuel imports in March have averaged around 226,000 bpd, the highest since February 2023, underlining the global demand for products from Dangote Refinery.”
The Dangote Refinery, which commenced production in January 2024, has already exported its products to almost every continent. While the surge in US imports was partly triggered by a maintenance-related shutdown at the Phillips 66 Bayway refinery in New Jersey, analysts believe the choice of Dangote’s products highlights its growing presence in international markets, having successfully competed with European refiners in gasoline exports.
Economist and chief executive officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf, stated that Dangote Refinery’s export of jet fuel to the United States is a point of pride for Nigeria, highlighting the quality, standard, and trust that the international community places in the refinery.
“Nothing could be more prideful for us as a country than the fact that we now have a refinery producing products that can be exported to the United States. It speaks to the quality, standards, and trust that international communities have in Dangote Refinery, because these are markets that don’t compromise on quality.
They have stringent standards, and if they deem it worthy to import from Nigeria, it is a source of great pride,” he said.
The former director-general of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) also noted that Dangote Refinery is enhancing Nigeria’s position on the global stage and should be supported by both citizens and the government.
“That is why all of us—citizens and the government—should do everything to support the refinery, as it is breaking many barriers and boosting our country’s reputation. The lesson here is that we should support the Dangote Refinery and other refineries with similar capacities, as they can provide us with significant leverage,” he added.
Public policy expert Dr Abimbola Oyarinu stated that the Nigerian economy would be better today if the country had functional refineries in the past rather than just exporting crude oil while importing refined petroleum products.
“This is something that should have been addressed since 2014. Things wouldn’t have reached this point—such as high inflation and unemployment—if we had a functioning refinery. However, the government and the people failed to act until Dangote stepped in with significant investment. The Dangote Refinery is not only reducing foreign exchange outflow, but it is also bringing in foreign exchange. Unfortunately, despite this, some of the elite and those in power are still intent on sabotaging the refinery and Dangote himself,” he said.
The university lecturer also warned that the difficulty of doing business and the frustration of local investments could discourage future investors.
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