Nigeria’s petroleum trade is undergoing a major transformation as seaborne refined petroleum product exports have risen sevenfold since 2023, driven largely by increased output from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, according to Business Insider Africa. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), based on Vortexa Analytics figures, shows Nigeria exported an average of 350,000 barrels per day in the second quarter of 2026, compared with just 46,000 bpd in 2023.
At the same time, Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products has fallen sharply. Seaborne imports dropped from nearly 400,000 bpd in 2023 to below 130,000 bpd in the second quarter of 2026, as domestic refinery output increasingly supplies the local market. Total petroleum product shipments from Nigeria averaged 561,000 bpd during the quarter, including domestic transfers between Nigerian ports.
The shift is also opening new export markets. Nigeria’s refined product exports to Europe averaged 130,000 bpd in the second quarter, compared with 15,000 bpd in 2023, while shipments to other African countries reached nearly 120,000 bpd. Intra Nigerian product shipments also climbed to 211,000 bpd, highlighting the refinery’s growing role in redistributing fuel across the domestic market.
The development strengthens Nigeria’s position in the regional energy market and could improve the country’s trade balance by reducing refined fuel imports while generating export revenues. Dangote Group is already planning another 750,000 bpd crude distillation unit, which would further expand refining capacity if completed as planned by 2028.
