Nigeria’s fuel imports have fallen to their lowest level in eight years, as the Dangote refinery ramps up production, reshaping the country’s energy landscape.
Data from analytics firm Vortexa Ltd shows that between January 1 and 24, 2025, fuel shipments into Nigeria averaged 110,000 barrels per day. This is a sharp decline from the over 200,000 barrels per day recorded in 2017, with some months exceeding 400,000 bpd.
The shift is forcing European refiners to find new buyers. “A large part of the slowdown in Nigeria’s gasoline imports is due to the ramp-up of the Dangote refinery. Northwest Europe will have to find alternative homes for its gasoline supplies,” said Vortexa analyst Samantha Hartke.
Dangote Refinery Disrupts Global Oil Trade
With a refining capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the Lagos-based Dangote refinery is Africa’s largest and one of the biggest in Europe. Though not yet running at full capacity, it has already reshaped fuel markets.
Gasoline stockpiles in Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp—Europe’s major fuel hub—have surged to record highs, according to Insights Global. This signals a decline in demand from Nigeria, historically one of its largest buyers.
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Meanwhile, the refinery is expanding its storage capacity to accommodate more crude. According to a report by Nairametrics, Dangote is constructing new storage tanks capable of holding 6.3 million barrels. It is also set to receive a shipment of 12 million barrels of U.S. crude next month.
For decades, Nigeria relied on expensive fuel imports despite being Africa’s largest oil producer. But the Dangote refinery is changing that by reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.
Aside from meeting domestic demand, the refinery is now exporting refined fuel to Ghana, Togo, Cameroon, South Africa, Angola, and even Europe. However, challenges remain, as Dangote is still sourcing crude from the U.S. due to difficulties in securing local supply.
As production scales up, experts believe Nigeria could soon become self-sufficient in refined petroleum, easing pressure on its foreign reserves and stabilizing local fuel prices.
