The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is preparing to export its first petrol cargo to Asia, marking a pivotal shift from regional to global fuel trade. The 650,000 barrels-per-day Lagos-based mega refinery is set to load 90,000 metric tonnes of gasoline for shipment on June 22, according to sources close to the development.
This move will be the refinery’s first gasoline export outside the African continent since it began full-scale commercial operations last year, signaling increased confidence in the plant’s output quality and capacity to meet international market demands.
The gasoline cargo will be lifted by independent global oil trading giant, Mercuria, according to a Reuters report, which quoted a spokesperson from the refinery affirming the refinery’s market-driven approach.
“We sell our products to those who are willing to give us the highest price. It’s the buyer’s right to take the products to any destination of their choice,” the Dangote representative stated.
Since the start of gasoline production in September 2024, the refinery has been focused primarily on West African markets, meeting domestic and regional demand amid Nigeria’s struggle to reduce dependence on imported fuel.
However, the planned shipment to Asia marks a strategic expansion beyond Africa and reflects the refinery’s operational stability, capacity ramp-up, and alignment with international fuel standards.
Industry analysts view this development as a game-changer for Nigeria’s downstream oil sector and a validation of Aliko Dangote’s long-term vision to transform Nigeria into a net exporter of refined petroleum products.
“This development shows the Dangote refinery’s growing global importance as a gasoline supplier, and the company’s confidence that production is now stable enough to meet Nigeria’s domestic needs,” said Clementine Wallop, Director at Horizon Engage, a political risk consultancy.
As part of its evolving strategy, the Dangote refinery has also ramped up its importation of U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil, which offers higher reformate yields and superior gasoline blending quality.
“WTI offers higher yields of reformate and has better gasoline blending capabilities,” noted Randy Hurburun, a senior refinery analyst at Energy Aspects, while speaking to Bloomberg.
This operational decision underscores the refinery’s technical versatility and positioning to supply high-grade gasoline that meets global benchmarks.
Commissioned in early 2024, the $19 billion Dangote Refinery is Africa’s largest refining complex and one of the largest in the world by capacity. Built by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, the plant is designed to process 650,000 barrels of crude per day, with the capacity to meet 100% of Nigeria’s fuel consumption and generate surplus for export.
The refinery began production in phases—starting with diesel and naphtha in January 2024, before transitioning into gasoline output later in the year. It is expected to redefine Nigeria’s energy landscape by drastically reducing fuel import dependency and enhancing forex inflows from refined product exports.
Exporting to Asia—an ultra-competitive energy market dominated by Middle Eastern and Western suppliers—signifies the refinery’s readiness to compete globally. It also opens doors for new international trade routes and bilateral energy cooperation.
Economists suggest that sustained global exports from Dangote’s facility could bolster Nigeria’s external reserves, improve trade balance, and create stronger downstream linkages that benefit local job creation and energy security.
Moreover, this move supports the Nigerian government’s efforts to fully deregulate the downstream sector and stimulate investment into critical infrastructure.
While the refinery continues its phased ramp-up, stakeholders are optimistic about its long-term contribution to Nigeria’s economy and energy independence.
With gasoline exports now heading to international markets, Dangote Refinery is not just a domestic solution to Nigeria’s fuel crisis but a bold entrant into the global energy market.