Dangote Refinery Overtakes US as Top Jet Fuel Supplier to Europe in June
By Victor Idajili
Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery has hit a major export milestone, shipping more jet fuel to Europe in June than the United States.
According to a market report by S&P Global Commodity Insights, the refinery exported about 466,000 metric tonnes of aviation fuel to Europe last month. At an estimated domestic value of N1,300 per litre, that’s roughly N757 billion worth of jet fuel — about 582.5 million litres.
It’s the highest volume Nigeria has sent to Europe since it became a net exporter of aviation fuel in 2024, when Dangote started producing jet fuel.
Europe-bound jet fuel shipments from Nigeria jumped from 232,000 metric tonnes in May to 466,000 metric tonnes in June.
At the same time, US exports to Europe fell sharply. American shipments dropped from a record 818,000 metric tonnes in April, to 560,000 metric tonnes in May, and down to 399,000 metric tonnes in June. That left Nigeria ahead of the US for the month.
A trader explained the glut: “Jet is oversupplied because of high local refinery production; refineries pushed back maintenance to make the most of the high prices. The US and Dangote also shipped large volumes.”
European jet fuel prices have cooled off after spiking during the Middle East conflict. The July price for Northwest Europe jet fuel fell to $981.75 per metric tonne on June 30, down from an all-time high of $1,694.25 per metric tonne in March. The August contract also dropped to $968.25 per metric tonne.
With prices still attractive for exporters, more cargoes are expected from the Middle East and India in coming months. Saudi Arabia’s shipments to Europe rose from 7,000 metric tonnes in May to 106,000 metric tonnes in June, while India’s went from 129,000 metric tonnes to 197,000 metric tonnes.
Traders say the market’s next move will depend on what happens in the Strait of Hormuz and how quickly Middle Eastern refineries recover from recent disruptions. Stronger summer travel and refiners shifting more to diesel production could also help balance things out.
The June jet fuel numbers are part of a bigger trend. Data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority showed Dangote exported an estimated 1.66 billion litres of refined products in April 2026 alone. That included 615 million litres of aviation fuel, 534 million litres of diesel, and 513 million litres of petrol.
The refinery had already exported about 434 million litres of petrol in March after local production exceeded demand.
With Dangote now the only major refinery in Nigeria running at scale, the country has flipped from being a big importer to an exporter of refined products for the first time in decades.
Analysts say jet fuel exports could climb further if instability in the Middle East continues to disrupt traditional supply routes to Europe.
