Nigeria’s seaborne petroleum product exports have risen sharply in recent years, with the Dangote Petroleum Refinery emerging as the main driver of the growth. According to data from the United States Energy Information Administration, Nigeria shipped an average of 561,000 barrels per day in the second quarter of 2026, a big jump from the 79,000 barrels per day recorded in 2023.
The sharp increase followed the start of operations at the Dangote Refinery in January 2024. Figures from energy intelligence firm Vortexa showed that about 350,000 barrels per day of the second-quarter total were exported, up from an annual average of 46,000 barrels per day in 2023. The refinery’s output has also boosted domestic supply, cutting Nigeria’s reliance on imported refined products.
With more fuel available locally, Nigeria’s state-owned refineries now send far less product abroad. Shipments rose further after the refinery completed maintenance and expansion work in February 2026, pushing its crude distillation capacity from 650,000 barrels per day to 700,000 barrels per day.
The EIA noted that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz added to demand for alternative sources of refined products, further lifting Nigeria’s export volumes. Intra-country shipments also grew significantly, reaching 211,000 barrels per day in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 33,000 barrels per day in 2023.
