Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery is set to load a 90,000 metric ton shipment of gasoline bound for Asia on June 22, 2025, marking its inaugural delivery outside the West African region. This milestone cargo is being arranged via the Switzerland‑based trading house Mercuria, signaling the refinery’s shift toward serving global demand. Since commencing gasoline production in September 2024, the facility had previously restricted exports regionally. The decision to venture into long‑haul markets like Asia reflects newfound confidence in its production consistency and surplus capacity, enabling it to both meet Nigeria’s domestic fuel requirements and engage in competitive international trade.
Analysts see this move as a strategic leap. The Dangote Refinery, with its 650,000 barrels‑per‑day capacity, has rapidly established itself as Africa’s energy powerhouse. By selling to the highest bidder “regardless of destination,” it further positions itself as a global player rather than a purely regional supplier. As Clementine Wallop from Horizon Engage noted, this export “demonstrates the growing influence of the Dangote refinery as a global gasoline supplier,” underlining that production levels are now reliable enough to secure local supply while expanding exports. The June 22 shipment sets a precedent, opening doors to Asian markets and reshaping Nigeria’s role in the global petroleum supply chain.
The Naija Lowdown Writer 