The United States Energy Information Administration, EIA has identified the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as a major driver of the seven-fold increase in Nigeria’s seaborne petroleum product exports since 2023.
According to the EIA, Nigeria’s seaborne petroleum product shipments averaged 561,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the second quarter of 2026, up sharply from the annual average of 79,000 bpd recorded in 2023.
The agency attributed the growth largely to the commencement of operations at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in January 2024, noting that increased refinery output has boosted domestic supply, reduced imports and expanded Nigeria’s presence in international petroleum markets.
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 exported, compared with an annual average of 46,000 bpd in 2023.
The EIA said increased supply from the country’s largest refinery had transformed Nigeria’s petroleum products market, with imports declining as exports increased.
Before the Dangote Refinery began operations, Nigeria’s state-owned refineries collectively shipped less than 100,000 bpd of petroleum products domestically and internationally. Shipments increased significantly following the refinery’s start-up and received another boost after maintenance and expansion activities were completed in February 2026.
The agency noted that the refinery’s crude distillation capacity increased from 650,000 bpd to 700,000 bpd following the expansion, allowing it to produce more refined petroleum products.
Domestic shipments also rose significantly, according to the report. Intra-Nigerian petroleum product shipments averaged 211,000 bpd in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 81,000 bpd in 2025 and 33,000 bpd in 2023.
The increased domestic supply has also reduced Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products. The country, which imported nearly 400,000 bpd of petroleum products in 2023, recorded seaborne imports of less than 130,000 bpd in the second quarter of 2026, according to the EIA.
Nigeria’s exports to international markets also increased, with Vortexa data showing that shipments to Europe averaged 130,000 bpd in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 40,000 bpd in 2025 and 15,000 bpd in 2023.
The EIA said disruptions to petroleum supplies through the Strait of Hormuz also contributed to increased demand for refined products from alternative sources during the period.
The report highlights the growing role of the Dangote Refinery in Nigeria’s energy security, domestic fuel supply and emergence as an exporter of refined petroleum products.
Meanwhile, Dangote Refinery has announced plans to add another 700,000 bpd of fully complex refining capacity by the end of 2028. The additional capacity would bring its total potential refining capacity to about 1.4 million bpd.
The refinery’s Chief Executive Officer, David Bird, said long-lead equipment had already been procured, while construction contracts were being awarded for the expansion.