Nigeria’s seaborne petroleum product exports have risen seven-fold since 2023, driven largely by increased production from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) has said.
The EIA disclosed this in its latest report on Nigeria’s petroleum market, stating that the country’s seaborne petroleum product shipments averaged 561,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the second quarter of 2026, compared with an annual average of 79,000 bpd in 2023.
The agency said the sharp increase had strengthened Nigeria’s position in the international petroleum products market, particularly as supply disruptions affected other producing regions.
According to the report, the Dangote refinery, which began operations in January 2024, has been central to the increase in Nigeria’s refined petroleum product output.
Data from energy intelligence firm Vortexa cited by the EIA showed that Nigeria exported about 350,000 bpd of petroleum products in the second quarter of 2026, compared with an annual average of 46,000 bpd in 2023.
The agency said increased output from the refinery had also reduced Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products while improving domestic supply.
“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 agency said.
Before the Dangote refinery came on stream, Nigeria’s state-owned refineries collectively shipped less than 100,000 bpd of petroleum products for domestic and international markets.
The EIA said petroleum product shipments increased substantially after the Dangote refinery commenced production and rose further after maintenance and expansion work was completed in February 2026.
The expansion increased the refinery’s crude distillation capacity from 650,000 bpd to 700,000 bpd, enabling it to produce more refined petroleum products.
The impact has also been reflected in domestic distribution, with intra-Nigerian petroleum product shipments rising to 211,000 bpd in the second quarter of 2026.
This was more than double the 81,000 bpd recorded in 2025 and significantly above the 33,000 bpd recorded in 2023.
The EIA said the increase showed the growing role of the Dangote refinery in supplying petroleum products to different parts of the country.
At the same time, Nigeria’s reliance on imported refined products has declined sharply.
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 has also increased its presence in the international market, with Europe emerging as one of the major destinations for its refined petroleum products.
Vortexa data showed that exports 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 supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz had further increased demand for refined petroleum products from alternative sources, contributing to the rise in Nigeria’s exports.
The development has positioned the Dangote refinery as an increasingly important source of refined petroleum products for Nigeria and international markets.
The refinery is also planning another major expansion, with an additional 700,000 bpd of fully complex refining capacity expected to come on stream by the end of 2028.
The planned expansion would raise the facility’s total capacity from its current 700,000 bpd 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.
SOURCE: newspeakonline.com
