Dangote Refinery emerged as the world’s largest exporter of jet fuel in April, driven by rising output levels and disruptions in global fuel trade flows linked to the Middle East conflict.
The development was disclosed in a recent S&P Global Energy report featuring comments from the refinery’s chief executive officer, David Bird, during an interview conducted at the facility in Nigeria.
The report highlighted how changing global supply patterns increased demand for alternative aviation fuel suppliers, positioning Dangote Refinery as a major beneficiary of the disruption.
What the report is saying
The S&P Global Energy report showed that jet fuel became a major driver of export growth in April as global supply disruptions redirected aviation fuel trade patterns across key markets.
According to S&P Global Commodities at Sea data, the refinery became the world’s largest exporter of aviation fuel in April after the Middle East conflict disrupted established supply routes.
- “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, according to S&P Global Commodities at Sea data.
- The refinery reached full production capacity of about 650,000 barrels per day following a gradual ramp-up phase and has maintained near-peak output levels.
- The facility has been operating a flexible blending system, importing feedstocks such as GTL naphtha and Bonny condensate to increase gasoline yields beyond its base configuration.
- Bird said sustaining output at scale requires greater trading sophistication, improved logistics coordination, and stronger supply chain reliability as operations expand beyond local crude limitations.
The report also noted that the refinery is transitioning toward a merchant refining model where it actively trades crude and refined products in international markets rather than operating solely as a domestically focused processor.
More Insights
The refinery is expanding its crude slate beyond Nigerian light sweet crude to include heavier grades and residue blends, with the capability to process around 40 different crude types and plans to increase this number over time. The move forms part of a broader strategy to position the company as a global trader of crude and refined products.
- Bird said the refinery is targeting a future production capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day, which would require sourcing additional crude from regions including the United States, the Middle East, and potentially South America.
- The company is pursuing long-term offtake agreements with governments, airlines, and national oil companies as it gradually shifts away from spot-market-driven sales.
- Bird stated that the long-term ambition is to move closer to global multi-crude benchmarks such as Singapore’s Pulau Bukom refinery, which can process more than 100 crude grades.
- The refinery is also investing in regional infrastructure projects, including proposed storage and logistics hubs in Namibia, pipeline discussions in Zambia, and storage plans across parts of Central and East Africa.
Bird added that the long-term vision is to transform the Lekki Free Zone into a major industrial and energy hub driven by refining, petrochemicals, and export logistics integration.
What you should know
The Middle East conflict involving the United States, Iran, and Israel disrupted global energy markets after Iran threatened and intermittently restricted movements around the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping route that handles roughly 20% of global oil and fuel trade.
The disruption tightened global fuel supply chains and increased international jet fuel prices, creating opportunities for alternative suppliers outside the Middle East.
- The shift in global trade flows contributed to Dangote Refinery’s emergence as the world’s largest exporter of aviation fuel in April, according to S&P Global Commodities at Sea data.
- Rising jet fuel prices increased pressure on Nigeria’s aviation sector, prompting the Federal Government in April to introduce a price cap and a 30-day credit window for airlines to ease operating costs.
- Under the intervention coordinated by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Jet A1 prices were guided within benchmark ranges of N1,760 to N1,988 per litre in Lagos and N1,809 to N2,037 per litre in Abuja.
- Earlier in May, Dangote Petroleum Refinery reduced the ex-depot price of aviation fuel from N1,750 to N1,650 per litre and introduced a 30-day interest-free credit facility for marketers and airline operators.
The refinery also announced that it transitioned Jet A1 transactions from a dollar-based pricing structure to naira-denominated sales as part of efforts to stabilise supply and reduce pressure on domestic airline operators.
