The United States imported over two million barrels of aviation fuel from the Dangote refinery in March. This milestone shows the refinery’s growing influence in global fuel trading and its ability to meet the high standards of international markets.
Confirming the shipment in a statement on Tuesday, the Dangote refinery described it as proof of the “unparalleled quality” of its products and the confidence the international community places in the refinery’s output. According to data from ship-tracking service Kpler, six vessels carrying around 1.7 million barrels of jet fuel from the refinery have already arrived at U.S. ports this month. Another vessel, Hafnia Andromeda, is scheduled to deliver approximately 348,000 barrels to the Everglades terminal on March 29.
This export signals a major shift in global fuel trade, positioning the Dangote refinery—Africa’s largest, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day—as a formidable player in the Atlantic Basin. Industry analysts believe that these shipments could disrupt existing supply chains and challenge the dominance of European refiners in the jet fuel market.
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“This shipment to the United States follows three cargoes of jet fuel—totaling around 130 million litres—exported from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. The refinery has already demonstrated its ability to compete with European refiners on gasoline exports, and these jet fuel shipments to the United States could challenge the economics of domestic producers in the world’s largest fuel-consuming nation,” the refinery’s statement read.
Reacting to this achievement, economist and CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises, Dr. Muda Yusuf, described it as a moment of pride for Nigeria. “Nothing could be more fulfilling than seeing a Nigerian refinery producing at a level that meets the strict quality and regulatory standards of the U.S. market. These markets don’t compromise on quality, so the fact that they are importing from Nigeria speaks volumes about the credibility and excellence of the Dangote refinery,” he stated.
With this latest feat, the Dangote refinery is rapidly cementing its status as a game-changer in global oil markets. As demand for high-quality fuel increases, the world is taking notice of Nigeria’s emergence as a key supplier—a development that could redefine the nation’s economic trajectory.
