Dangote Refinery Exports 1.66bn Litres in April

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals exported about 1.66 billion litres of refined petroleum products in April 2026, according to fresh data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The exports included 513m litres of petrol, 534m litres of diesel, and 615m litres of aviation fuel, marking the refinery’s highest monthly export volume since operations began.

This development comes amid rising US-Iran tensions and fears of disruption to global fuel supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for oil and gas shipments.

Industry experts say geopolitical uncertainty has boosted demand for alternative suppliers, positioning Nigeria as a growing export hub. The Dangote refinery, with a 650,000 bpd capacity, is currently the only major functional refinery producing enough for both domestic use and exports.

The NMDPRA report showed the refinery operated at nearly 100% capacity utilisation in April, with domestic refineries receiving 18.37m barrels of crude, up from 13.11m barrels in March.

Daily production averaged 53.6m litres of petrol, of which 40.7m litres were supplied locally and 17.1m litres exported. Diesel output averaged 23.6m litres daily, with exports accounting for 17.8m litres, while aviation fuel exports stood at 20.5m litres daily, compared to 2.6m litres supplied locally.

The strong aviation fuel exports come weeks after Nigerian airlines warned of possible shutdowns due to rising fuel costs, underscoring the refinery’s role in stabilising supply.

Despite increased refining activity, petrol prices remained high, with crude averaging $120.55 per barrel in April. Analysts say the refinery’s exports highlight Nigeria’s transition from a major importer to a net exporter of refined products, with global instability accelerating demand for Nigerian fuel.