Nigeria has emerged as Europe’s leading external supplier of jet fuel, surpassing the United States, following a sharp rise in exports driven by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
According to data from S&P Global Commodity Insights, Nigeria exported an estimated 466,000 metric tonnes of aviation fuel to Europe in June 2026, making it the highest monthly shipment since the refinery began operations and since the country became a net exporter of jet fuel in 2024.
The volume, equivalent to about 582.5 million litres, is valued at approximately ₦757 billion (about $553 million) based on an estimated domestic price of ₦1,300 per litre.
The report showed that Nigerian exports nearly doubled from 232,000 metric tonnes in May to 466,000 metric tonnes in June, while shipments from the United States to Europe declined from 560,000 metric tonnes to 399,000 metric tonnes within the same period.
The United States had earlier recorded a peak of 818,000 metric tonnes of jet fuel exports to Europe in April.
The surge in Nigerian exports comes despite a softer European jet fuel market, with the Northwest Europe benchmark price dropping from $1,694.25 per metric tonne in March to $981.75 by the end of June, driven by high refinery output and weaker-than-expected summer demand.
Market analysts attributed the oversupply to increased production from European refineries, alongside strong exports from both the United States and Nigeria.
A fuel trader quoted by Platts noted that the combined effect of global refinery output, including Nigeria’s rising supply from the Dangote facility, contributed significantly to the market surplus.
The development underscores the rapid rise of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as a major global player in refined petroleum exports. Since commencing operations, the refinery has expanded shipments of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel to markets across Africa, Europe, and beyond, significantly reducing Nigeria’s dependence on fuel imports and reshaping its role in global energy trade.
