Precious Anga
Lagos — Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery has emerged as the world’s largest exporter of jet fuel in April, driven by increased production capacity and shifting global supply chains disrupted by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The development was contained in a recent S&P Global Energy report, which featured comments from the refinery’s Chief Executive Officer, David Bird, following an interview at the Lagos-based facility.
According to the report, disruptions in global aviation fuel trade routes created a supply gap that repositioned major non-Middle East refiners, with Dangote Refinery taking a leading role in meeting international demand.
S&P Global Commodities at Sea data revealed that the refinery recorded a surge in aviation fuel exports after the escalation of conflict in the Middle East altered established shipping and supply patterns across key markets.
“After the Middle East war began, Dangote shifted to ‘max jet mode,’ and in April it became the world’s single largest exporter of aviation fuel,” the report stated.
The refinery, which has reached an estimated production capacity of about 650,000 barrels per day, has continued to operate at near-peak levels following its phased ramp-up. It has also adopted a flexible blending system that allows it to process additional feedstocks, including GTL naphtha and Bonny condensate, to boost gasoline and jet fuel output.
Bird explained that sustaining large-scale output requires stronger logistics coordination and more sophisticated trading systems, especially as the refinery expands beyond reliance on domestic crude supply.
He also noted that Dangote Refinery is gradually transitioning into a merchant refining model, positioning itself as an active participant in global crude and refined product trading rather than a domestically focused processor.
As part of its long-term strategy, the refinery is expanding its crude slate beyond Nigerian light sweet grades to include heavier and more complex blends. It is currently capable of processing about 40 crude types, with plans to increase that capacity as operations scale.
Bird disclosed that the company is targeting a future expansion to 1.4 million barrels per day, which would require sourcing crude from multiple regions, including the United States, the Middle East and parts of South America.
He added that the refinery is pursuing long-term supply agreements with governments, airlines and national oil companies, as it gradually shifts away from spot-market transactions.
The report further highlighted Dangote’s ambition to operate at the level of global refining hubs such as Singapore’s Pulau Bukom facility, which processes over 100 crude grades.
Beyond refining, the company is also investing in logistics and infrastructure development across Africa, including proposed storage hubs in Namibia, pipeline discussions in Zambia and expanded storage networks in East and Central Africa.
Bird said the broader vision is to transform the Lekki Free Zone into a fully integrated industrial and energy hub anchored on refining, petrochemicals and export logistics.
The surge in jet fuel exports comes amid global market disruptions linked to tensions involving the United States, Iran and Israel, which affected shipping through the Strait of Hormuz a critical route responsible for about 20 per cent of global oil and fuel trade.
The resulting supply constraints tightened global jet fuel availability and pushed up international prices, creating an opening for refiners outside the Middle East to capture market share.
In Nigeria, rising aviation fuel costs had earlier forced government intervention. In April, authorities introduced price caps and a 30-day credit window for airlines to ease operational pressures, with Jet A1 prices benchmarked between ₦1,760 and ₦2,037 per litre across major cities.
Earlier in May, Dangote Refinery reduced its ex-depot aviation fuel price from ₦1,750 to ₦1,650 per litre and introduced a 30-day interest-free credit facility for airline operators and marketers.
The refinery also moved Jet A1 transactions from dollar-based pricing to naira-denominated sales, a step widely seen as an effort to stabilise domestic aviation costs and reduce foreign exchange pressure on operators.
With its growing export footprint and aggressive expansion strategy, Dangote Refinery is fast positioning itself not only as a continental refining leader but also as a key player in global aviation fuel supply chains.
This article was originally posted at sweetcrudereports.com
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