Nigeria has scored a major win in its energy sector: for the first time, the Dangote Refinery has exported a gasoline (petrol) shipment to the United States that meets U.S. fuel standards. The cargo, carried on the tanker Gemini Pearl, consisted of about 320,000 barrels of gasoline. Vitol bought that cargo from Mocoh Oil (Dangote’s export arm) and then sold most of it on to Sunoco, which discharged the shipment at its Linden facility in New Jersey.
The Dangote Refinery is one of the largest in the world, with a designed processing capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. It began full operations in 2024, with certain parts of the plant operating before that, and has increasingly ramped up production. That capacity gives Nigeria the ability not only to meet much of its own refined fuel demand but also to generate surplus for export.
Earlier in 2025, in February and March, the United States became a net exporter of crude to Nigeria for a short time. The U.S. exported about 111,000 barrels per day to Nigeria in February, and about 169,000 barrels per day in March. This was unusual because traditionally Nigeria exported crude and imported refined products.
Also noteworthy is that before the U.S. shipment, Dangote had already begun exporting gasoline beyond Nigeria’s borders, including to Asia. In June 2025, for instance, a gasoline cargo of about 90,000 metric tons was shipped out from Dangote to Asian buyers.
While exact revenue figures for the U.S. gasoline shipment have not been published, there are several indicators and estimates that suggest this could be highly valuable to Nigeria’s economy. Dangote’s chairman has estimated that Africa loses around US$90 billion annually to fuel imports because many countries cannot refine enough fuel domestically, importing large volumes instead. Dangote claims its refinery helps reduce those losses.
If we consider that gasoline prices in international trade can vary widely depending on quality, delivery costs, and fuel specifications, exporting 320,000 barrels might fetch tens of millions of dollars, possibly more, depending on the margin. The fact that the gasoline meets U.S. standards is particularly important—it commands higher market value. Beyond the direct revenues, there is also potential savings for Nigeria through reduced import bills, strengthened foreign exchange earnings, and better trade balances. In fact, reports indicate that Nigeria registered a trade surplus of about US$8.4 billionin the first six months of 2025, a backdrop to this export achievement.
This export is more than just a symbolic first. It demonstrates that Dangote Refinery has reached a level of production and quality sufficient to compete in stringent markets like the U.S. It could mark a shift in how Nigeria earns foreign exchange and balances energy trade. Being able to export gasoline rather than just crude or relying wholly on imports gives the country greater control over its energy destiny.
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