SANGOTEDO, Nigeria – The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, the world’s largest single-train refinery, has made a significant mark on the global energy market with over two million barrels of jet fuel exported to the United States in March 2025.
This surge in exports highlights the refinery’s ability to produce world-class fuel and its growing influence in the global fuel trade, particularly in the Atlantic Basin.
According to ship-tracking service Kpler, six vessels carrying approximately 1.7 million barrels of jet fuel from Dangote’s refinery have arrived at U.S. ports this month, with an additional 348,000 barrels expected to arrive on March 29 aboard the Hafnia Andromeda.
The shipments, which come from a refinery with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, demonstrate Dangote’s potential to reshape global fuel trading dynamics.
This marks a crucial development in Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Dangote Refinery, which began production in January 2024, has already demonstrated its competitiveness on the global stage.
Notably, it has challenged European refiners in gasoline (PMS) exports and is now extending its reach into the jet fuel market.
The U.S., which is the world’s largest fuel consumer, now imports Dangote’s jet fuel—a move expected to have significant economic implications, including a potential decrease in jet fuel prices ahead of the peak summer travel season.
Steven Barsamian, Chief Operating Officer of TankTiger, noted that the influx of supply from Nigeria would help reduce jet fuel prices in the U.S. due to increased demand for Dangote’s products.
“The surge in demand, partly driven by the influx of supply from Nigeria, is expected to lower jet fuel prices in the US ahead of the peak summer travel season,” he stated.
These exports to the U.S. follow a series of shipments to Saudi Arabia, where the refinery sent three cargoes of jet fuel totalling around 130 million litres.
This growing export capacity signals that Dangote Petroleum Refinery could become a key player in reshaping the global fuel market.
Dr. Muda Yusuf, Economist and Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises (CPPE), expressed immense pride in Nigeria’s achievement, noting that the refinery’s success marks a significant leap for the country’s energy sector.
“Nothing could be more prideful for us as a country than the fact that we now have a refinery producing products that can be exported to the United States,” he said, praising the refinery’s adherence to international quality standards.
The success of Dangote’s refinery not only represents a leap in Nigeria’s energy capabilities but also enhances the country’s position on the global stage, Yusuf added.
He urged Nigerians to fully support the refinery as it continues to break barriers and boost the nation’s global reputation.
Public Policy Expert Dr. Abimbola Oyarinu also highlighted the refinery’s positive impact on Nigeria’s economy.
Reflecting on the country’s past reliance on crude oil exports and the importation of refined products, he said, “This is something that should have been addressed since 2014. Things wouldn’t have reached this point—such as high inflation and unemployment—if we had a functioning refinery.”
Dr. Oyarinu lamented that despite the success of the Dangote Refinery, some local elites and individuals in power continue to undermine its achievements, cautioning that such actions could deter future investments in Nigeria.
“The Dangote Refinery is not only reducing foreign exchange outflow, but it is also bringing in foreign exchange. It is unfortunate that despite this, some elites are still intent on sabotaging the refinery and Dangote himself,” he added.
