Nigeria’s seaborne refined petroleum exports to Europe surged by about 767 per cent to an average of 130,000 barrels per day (b/d) in the second quarter of 2026, from 15,000 b/d in 2023, as rising output from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery reshapes the country’s petroleum trade.

The development was disclosed by the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) in an analysis published on Monday, August 24, 2026, based on petroleum shipping data from Vortexa.

According to the EIA, Nigeria’s seaborne petroleum product exports to Europe averaged 130,000 b/d in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 40,000 b/d in 2025 and 15,000 b/d in 2023.

The sharp increase marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s petroleum trade, particularly with Europe, which has traditionally been an important source of refined petroleum products imported into the country.

World Bank World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS) data showed that Nigeria imported petroleum products worth about $5.8 billion from Belgium and $2.6 billion from the Netherlands in 2023.

The trend has, however, changed significantly with the expansion of domestic refining capacity, led by the Dangote refinery.
The refinery, located on the outskirts of Lagos, now has a crude oil distillation capacity of 700,000 b/d following maintenance completed in February 2026.

The increased capacity has enabled Nigeria to process more crude domestically, reducing its dependence on imported refined products while creating additional volumes for export.
The EIA said the impact of the refinery’s operations was reflected in Nigeria’s changing petroleum shipping patterns.

“Before the Dangote refinery came on stream, Nigeria’s state-owned refineries were shipping less than 100,000 b/d of petroleum products by sea to domestic locations and foreign markets,” the agency said.

In contrast, intra-Nigerian petroleum shipments rose to 211,000 b/d in the second quarter of 2026, from 81,000 b/d in 2025 and 33,000 b/d in 2023.

At the same time, Nigeria’s seaborne petroleum product imports fell sharply, from nearly 400,000 b/d in 2023 to less than 130,000 b/d in the second quarter of 2026.

The increase in exports has also extended beyond Europe, with Nigerian refined petroleum products gaining ground in markets across Africa, Asia and Oceania.

According to the EIA’s destination data, Europe accounted for about 130,000 b/d of Nigeria’s seaborne refined-product exports in the second quarter of 2026, making it one of the country’s largest regional markets.

African countries received almost 120,000 b/d during the period, up from 89,000 b/d in 2025, indicating that Nigeria’s expanding refining capacity is increasingly serving both domestic and regional markets.

Nigeria also exported about 110,000 b/d of refined petroleum products to Asia and Oceania in the second quarter.

Overall, the country exported about 350,000 b/d of refined petroleum products during the period.

The growth in refined petroleum exports comes as the Dangote refinery continues to expand its operations and increase its contribution to Nigeria’s petroleum supply chain.

The refinery is owned by Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, and has become a major factor in Nigeria’s transition from a heavy importer of refined petroleum products to an emerging exporter.

The company is also planning a further expansion of the refinery’s capacity.
Dangote plans to add another 750,000 b/d crude distillation unit, which would increase the refinery’s overall capacity to about 1.45 million b/d. The additional unit is targeted for completion in 2028.

The planned expansion comes as Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals moves closer to a proposed listing on the Nigerian Exchange.

The refinery has secured a $1 billion underwriting programme ahead of its planned initial public offering (IPO). The programme comprises a completed and funded $600 million private placement and an additional $400 million underwriting commitment to support the IPO, subject to regulatory and market conditions.

The planned listing is expected to take place on the Nigerian stock market by October, subject to regulatory approval and other conditions.

Dangote’s refining ambitions also extend beyond Nigeria, with plans for another large-scale refinery in Kenya.

The proposed facility is expected to be located in Lamu and could cost about $17 billion, with construction projected to take up to five years.

The project forms part of Dangote’s broader strategy of expanding refining capacity across Africa and could involve equity participation from East African governments.

Kenyan presidential economic adviser David Ndii said Dangote had offered countries in the region a combined 30 per cent equity stake in the proposed refinery, with Kenya considering a 10 per cent stake, while Ethiopia and Rwanda have also expressed interest.

The expansion of Nigeria’s refining capacity is expected to further alter the country’s position in the regional petroleum market, with increased domestic supply potentially reducing imports while creating greater volumes of refined products for export.