Dangote Refinery Increases Fuel and Fertilizer Exports to African Markets Amid Supply Crisis

Nigeria’s Dangote refinery has boosted exports of petrol and urea fertilizer to African countries affected by supply disruptions from the Iran war. Operating at full capacity, the refinery has shipped 17 petrol cargoes and increased fertilizer exports, helping stabilize regional markets despite rising domestic fuel prices.

Aliko Dangote has announced a significant increase in exports of petroleum products and urea fertilizer from Nigeria’s Dangote refinery to African countries facing supply disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in Iran. Speaking on Monday during a tour of the refinery near Lagos, the country’s commercial capital, Dangote highlighted the facility’s strategic role in cushioning both Nigeria and neighboring African nations from the full impact of the international supply crisis.
Operating at its maximum capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the refinery has already dispatched around 17 cargoes of petrol to other African countries, he said. Dangote further noted that exports of urea fertilizer had also risen as buyers, facing shortages elsewhere, increasingly turned to Nigeria as a reliable alternative source. In recent days, fertilizer shipments have been directed mainly to African countries, a shift from the refinery’s traditional export markets, which are largely in the United States and South America. Dangote did not provide precise figures for these African-bound shipments, but the facility has the capacity to produce up to 3 million metric tonnes of urea annually, underlining its significant potential to stabilize regional fertilizer supply.
During his visit, Dangote reassured Nigerians and regional partners that the refinery has the capacity to meet demand across West, Central, and East Africa. “What I can do is assure Nigerians... and most of West Africa, Central Africa, and East Africa, we have the capacity to supply them,” he stated, emphasizing the refinery’s role in regional energy security.
Despite operating at full capacity, Nigeria has seen record-high fuel prices, reflecting the global surge in crude oil prices. Dangote indicated that sourcing more crude cargoes priced in local currency could help alleviate domestic fuel costs, making fuel more affordable for Nigerians while maintaining steady export levels.
According to trade sources and a refinery official, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has recently allocated seven crude cargoes for Dangote refinery in May 2026, an increase from five in previous months. This allocation highlights growing coordination between the state-owned company and the private refinery to enhance domestic fuel production, support regional markets, and mitigate the disruptions caused by geopolitical crises like the Iran war.
The refinery’s expanded exports not only contribute to stabilizing fuel and fertilizer availability across Africa but also reinforce Nigeria’s position as a key supplier in the region, demonstrating how private sector initiatives can play a crucial role in addressing both domestic and continental supply challenges.