Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery exported an estimated 57 million barrels of jet fuel between April 2024 and April 2026, according to shipping data compiled by energy intelligence platform Kpler, underscoring the refinery’s growing influence in regional and international fuel markets.
The export figures highlight the rapid expansion of Africa’s largest refinery, which has emerged as a major supplier of aviation fuel to markets across Africa, Europe and the Americas within two years of commencing operations.
Analysis of Kpler data showed that monthly export volumes fluctuated sharply during the 25-month period, reflecting changing demand conditions and evolving production capacity.
Shipments began at relatively modest levels in early 2024 before accelerating significantly through 2025 and early 2026.
Exports averaged about 20,000 barrels per day in April 2024 before rising to roughly 70,000 bpd in May and easing to around 50,000 bpd in June.
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Volumes continued to fluctuate throughout 2024, strengthening toward the end of the year as refinery operations stabilised and international demand increased.
By February 2025, exports surged to approximately 115,000 bpd, followed by about 110,000 bpd in March, marking the refinery’s first major leap in aviation fuel shipments.
Another sharp increase was recorded in July 2025 when exports climbed to around 145,000 bpd, among the highest levels during the review period.
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The strongest monthly performance came in April 2026, when shipments reached an estimated 160,000 barrels per day following disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East and the conflict involving Iran and the United States.
The cumulative export estimate was calculated by multiplying monthly average shipment figures by the number of days in each month.
The data suggested that Africa remained the refinery’s largest export destination, receiving an estimated 23 million barrels over the period.
Europe accounted for approximately 17 million barrels, while the Americas received about 11 million barrels.
Industry analysts said Europe’s growing share reflected the refinery’s increasing competitiveness in global markets, particularly as supply concerns and geopolitical instability reshaped fuel trade routes.
According to industry publication Oilprice.com, domestic demand for jet fuel in Nigeria stands at about 13,000 bpd, significantly below the refinery’s export volumes.
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In March alone, the refinery reportedly exported close to 100,000 bpd of aviation fuel, with Europe absorbing nearly half of the shipments.
France, Spain and the United Kingdom were among the leading European destinations for Nigerian jet fuel exports in early April.
The report added that the refinery could potentially redirect more cargoes from African markets to Europe in search of higher profit margins.
“In practice, Dangote could shift as much as an additional 40,000 bpd of jet exports away from regional buyers to Europe without straining domestic supply,” Oilprice.com stated.
The export growth comes despite ongoing tensions within Nigeria’s domestic aviation industry over rising aviation fuel prices.
Earlier this year, local airlines threatened operational disruptions over the cost of JetA-1 fuel, while marketers and industry operators debated pricing mechanisms.
An official of the Dangote Group said the company could not subsidise aviation fuel prices after already absorbing costs linked to petrol and diesel supply.
Amid the pricing disputes, the refinery said it exported more than one billion litres of jet fuel between March and April 2026.
According to the company, approximately 876,000 metric tonnes of aviation fuel were shipped to Europe during the period, including 456,000 tonnes in March and another 420,000 tonnes by April 20.
The refinery said the volumes reflected expanding production capacity and improved export logistics, further positioning Nigeria as an emerging player in the global downstream petroleum market.
The growing export footprint is also seen as a key test of Nigeria’s ambition to transform from a major fuel importer into a regional refining and petroleum export hub.
