Fresh data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority NMDPRA shows that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals exported an estimated 1.66 billion litres of refined petroleum products in April 2026.
The report indicates that the exports were recorded amid rising global tensions, particularly in the Middle East, where concerns over disruptions to key oil shipping routes have heightened uncertainty in international fuel markets.
According to the NMDPRA fact sheet, Nigeria exported about 513 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 534 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil also known as sel, and 615 million litres of aviation fuel during the period under review.
The Dangote refinery, located in Lekki, Lagos State, remains the country’s only major operational facility with large scale refining capacity sufficient for both domestic consumption and export. It is currently Nigeria’s dominant source of refined petroleum products.
The data shows that this is the first time the refinery has achieved such a high monthly export volume, particularly in jet fuel and sel, highlighting its growing influence in global fuel supply chains.
Industry analysts noted that geopolitical inility involving the United States and Iran has contributed to concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit corridor. This has increased demand for alternative fuel suppliers such as Nigeria.
The NMDPRA report revealed that local refineries operated at an average capacity utilisation of 99.12 percent in April, with the Dangote refinery accounting for the bulk of production. It reportedly operated at full capacity on most days during the month.
During the same period, domestic refineries received 18.37 million barrels of crude oil, an increase from 13.11 million barrels recorded in March, reflecting improved feedstock supply.
Daily production figures showed that petrol output averaged 53.6 million litres, with 40.7 million litres supplied locally and 17.1 million litres exported each day. sel production stood at 23.6 million litres daily, with exports significantly exceeding domestic supply levels.
Aviation fuel also recorded strong export performance, with 20.5 million litres exported daily compared to 2.6 million litres supplied locally. This comes amid concerns from domestic airline operators over rising aviation fuel costs.
The report further stated that Nigeria is increasingly becoming a net exporter of refined petroleum products, driven largely by output from the Dangote refinery, which has significantly reduced reliance on imports.
Despite the rise in domestic refining, petrol prices remain high across the country due to global crude oil costs, which averaged 120.55 dollars per barrel during the month.
The NMDPRA also noted that petrol consumption in Nigeria averaged 51.1 million litres daily, slightly above its estimated benchmark, while sel consumption stood at 17.3 million litres daily.
As global energy markets continue to shift due to geopolitical inility, experts say Nigeria’s refining capacity could play a key role in strengthening foreign exce earnings and improving regional energy security.
However, the regulator also confirmed that petrol import licences are still being issued despite growing domestic production, indicating a transitional phase in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
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