Nigeria overtakes U.S. as Europe's top jet fuel supplier with 466,000-tonne June exports from Africa's largest refinery

Nigeria's Dangote Petroleum Refinery has overtaken the United States as Europe's largest external supplier of jet fuel, exporting an estimated 466,000 metric tonnes of aviation fuel to the continent in June, according to new data from S&P Global Commodity Insights.

• Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Nigeria became Europe's largest external supplier of jet fuel in June, overtaking the United States.
• Nigeria exported 466,000 metric tonnes of aviation fuel to Europe in June, the highest export volume since Dangote began operations in 2024.
• While Dangote surged, US jet fuel exports to Europe declined significantly, and European market prices dropped.
• Dangote's rapid growth in fuel exports aligns with the company's plans to expand refining capacity continent-wide.

The shipment, equivalent to about 582.5 million litres of jet fuel, was worth an estimated ₦757 billion (approximately $553 million) at an estimated domestic price of ₦1,300 per litre.

This marks the highest volume exported from Nigeria to Europe since the country became a net exporter of jet fuel in 2024 following the commencement of production at the Dangote Refinery.

According to S&P Global's Commodities at Sea (CAS) data, Nigerian exports nearly doubled from 232,000 metric tonnes in May to 466,000 metric tonnes in June, while U.S. shipments to Europe fell sharply from 560,000 metric tonnes to 399,000 metric tonnes over the same period.

The United States had previously recorded a historic 818,000 metric tonnes of exports to Europe in April.

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The surge comes despite a cooling European jet fuel market. S&P Global said the Northwest Europe jet fuel benchmark declined from a record $1,694.25 per metric tonne in March to $981.75 per metric tonne by the end of June as high refinery output and weaker-than-expected summer aviation demand created an oversupplied market.

A European fuel trader told Platts that increased production by local refineries, combined with strong exports from the United States and Dangote, contributed to the surplus.

Dangote's growing influence in global fuel markets

The latest export figures highlights how quickly the Dangote Refinery has evolved into a significant player in international fuel markets.

Since beginning operations, the refinery has expanded exports of gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel to destinations across Africa, Europe and other global markets, helping reposition Nigeria from one of the world's largest fuel importers to a major exporter of refined petroleum products.

The refinery's growing footprint also aligns with Dangote Industries' broader ambition to build a continent-wide energy network. The company recently announced plans to invest an additional $46 billion between 2026 and 2028 across its refining, cement and fertiliser businesses.

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As part of that strategy, Dangote plans to construct a 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Kenya, which will complement the group's planned 1.4 million barrels per day of refining capacity in Nigeria.

Together, the facilities would create a 2.1 million-barrel-per-day refining network stretching from West to East Africa, strengthening regional fuel security and reducing dependence on imported petroleum products.

Competition for Europe's fuel market intensifies

While Dangote strengthened its position in Europe during June, competition is expected to intensify as more suppliers return to the market.

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S&P Global noted that improving shipping conditions through the Suez Canal and recovering refinery operations in the Middle East are expected to boost exports from major producers.

Saudi Arabia increased jet fuel shipments to Europe from 7,000 metric tonnes in May to 106,000 metric tonnes in June, while exports from India climbed from 129,000 metric tonnes to 197,000 metric tonnes.

Analysts also expect refiners to shift production toward diesel, which currently offers stronger profit margins than jet fuel. Even so, Dangote's record June exports highlight the refinery's growing ability to compete with established global suppliers and influence fuel trade flows well beyond Africa.