Dangote Refinery to Export Gasoline to Asia for the First Time

The Dangote Refinery is set to make its first gasoline export outside West Africa, with a 90,000 metric ton shipment headed for Asia, marking a new milestone in the company’s international expansion.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the cargo is scheduled to be loaded by trading firm Mercuria on June 22, as reported by Reuters. This will be the refinery’s first gasoline consignment to leave the West African region since it began operations.

A Growing Global Footprint

The 650,000 barrel-per-day facility, located in Lagos, Nigeria, has gradually expanded its export portfolio beyond regional markets. Earlier this year, the refinery shipped low-sulfur straight-run fuel oil (LSSR) to Singapore, indicating a shift in trade flows toward Asia.

LSSR is often blended with other fuels to create low-sulfur fuel oil (LSFO), which is used in marine bunkering and refining.

In addition to its growing presence in Asia, the refinery has also made strides in the Middle East and North America. Notably, two shipments of jet fuel have been exported to Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest energy company. Meanwhile, the U.S. has received about 1.7 million barrels of jet fuel from Dangote via six separate vessels bound for key ports.

Redefining Africa’s Role in Global Oil Trade

The Dangote Refinery is positioning itself as a major disruptor in the global fuel supply chain. In January, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) noted that Dangote’s entry into the export market is already impacting Europe’s traditional role in supplying gasoline to Africa.

Analysts warn that the refinery’s rise could effectively end Europe’s decades-long dominance in the continent’s gasoline trade, a business estimated at $17 billion annually. In April, Dangote’s refinery was ranked ahead of Europe’s ten largest refining facilities in terms of capacity, underscoring its emerging global significance.

What This Means for Nigeria

For Nigeria, the refinery’s expanding export activities mark a significant economic turning point. Beyond reducing the country’s dependence on imported refined products, the Dangote Refinery is beginning to generate foreign exchange through fuel exports, a major boost to a nation long reliant on crude oil sales.

As global demand for cleaner, low-sulfur fuels increases and trade routes shift, the Dangote Refinery appears well-positioned to become a central player in the future of global energy logistics.