Fresh data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has revealed that Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals exported an estimated 1.66 billion litres of refined petroleum products in April 2026.
The development comes as rising tensions in the Middle East and growing uncertainty surrounding the conflict involving the United States and Iran continue to threaten global fuel supply routes.
Analysis of the NMDPRA’s April 2026 fact sheet showed that the refinery exported about 513 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), 534 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel), and 615 million litres of aviation fuel during the month.
The Lekki-based refinery remains Nigeria’s only major operational refinery capable of producing refined petroleum products in volumes sufficient for both domestic use and export.
This marks the first time the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery has recorded such a large export volume, especially for jet fuel and diesel, underlining its growing influence in regional and international fuel markets.
The total export volume translates to approximately 55.4 million litres daily.
Industry analysts say geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East has increased demand for refined products from alternative suppliers such as Nigeria, as countries across Europe, Africa and parts of Asia seek more stable fuel sources.
According to the regulator, local refineries operated at an average capacity utilisation of 99.12 percent in April, with the Dangote refinery accounting for nearly all domestic refining output.
The NMDPRA stated that the refinery achieved 100 percent capacity utilisation “for most of the days in April.”
The report also showed that domestic refineries received 18.37 million barrels of crude oil in April, compared to 13.11 million barrels in March.
Despite increased domestic supply commitments, the refinery maintained strong export performance throughout the month.
Average daily petrol production stood at 53.6 million litres, with 40.7 million litres supplied locally and 17.1 million litres exported each day.
Diesel production averaged 23.6 million litres daily, while exports accounted for 17.8 million litres per day, more than double the domestic supply volume of 8 million litres daily.
For aviation fuel, exports reached 20.5 million litres daily, compared to local supply of 2.6 million litres per day.
The strong jet fuel export performance comes amid concerns raised by domestic airline operators over rising aviation fuel costs in Nigeria.
Reports have also indicated that Nigeria has become a net exporter of petrol for the first time in decades following increased production from the Dangote refinery.
The refinery had earlier exported about 434 million litres of petrol in March after domestic production exceeded local consumption.
The latest figures highlight Nigeria’s gradual transition from a major importer of refined petroleum products to a growing export hub within Africa.
The NMDPRA report further revealed that Nigerians consumed an average of 51.1 million litres of petrol daily in April, slightly above the regulator’s 50 million litres benchmark.
Diesel consumption averaged 17.3 million litres daily, while aviation fuel consumption stood at 2.5 million litres per day.
Despite increased refining capacity, petrol prices remained high nationwide. The regulator linked the trend partly to elevated global crude oil prices, which averaged $120.55 per barrel during the month.
The Dangote refinery is expected to play a major role in strengthening Nigeria’s energy security and boosting foreign exchange earnings as global fuel trade patterns continue to shift.
