The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stepped up fuel exports in recent weeks as refinery shutdowns in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Middle East Gulf create supply gaps in the international market. According to reports, the $20bn refinery, located in Lekki, Lagos, exported significant volumes of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel in August, taking advantage of the regional shortfall.
A senior official at the plant, who declined to be named, confirmed that Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automotive Gas Oil (diesel), and Jet A1 (aviation fuel) were among the products exported. Between June and July, the refinery had already delivered two long-range cargoes of fuel to the Middle East Gulf, sources disclosed.
Industry analysts noted that refinery maintenance in the region is tightening supply, pushing buyers to alternative sources. Argus Media reported that Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, has already shut down two of its refineries and is preparing additional facilities for extended maintenance. The company’s 460,000 barrels per day (bpd) Satorp refinery in Jubail is scheduled for a 60-day shutdown in November and December, while its Riyadh refinery will also undergo maintenance in the fourth quarter. This comes after earlier disruptions at Aramco’s 400,000 bpd Jizan refinery, where a key reformer unit was taken offline in July. Similarly, operations at the Yasref refinery in Yanbu, a joint venture between Aramco and Sinopec, have been scaled back as its reformer runs at reduced capacity.
Elsewhere, Kuwait National Petroleum Company is planning a 30-day maintenance shutdown of several units at its Mina Abdullah refinery, which processes 490,000 bpd. Adding to the tight supply outlook, demand in India is expected to increase after the monsoon season, further limiting the volume of refined products available for export.
This combination of factors has driven Middle East Gulf import levels to their highest in seven months. Ship-tracking firm Vortexa reported that gasoline imports into the region climbed to 1.03 million tonnes in July, a 35 per cent rise from June and the largest volume since January. The trend continued into August, underscoring the scale of the regional shortfall. Saudi Arabia’s gasoline imports surged to 478,000 tonnes in July, up sharply from 144,000 tonnes in June, while the United Arab Emirates imported 864,000 tonnes in August, compared to 648,000 tonnes in the previous month.
Amid the heightened demand, Dangote’s refinery has emerged as a key supplier. Though Argus suggested that operational issues at the 650,000 bpd facility might persist until early September, the refinery dismissed the claims, stating that it was on track to increase capacity to 700,000 bpd by December. Industry experts also highlighted that if technical issues with its fluid catalytic cracker are resolved, Dangote could expand exports significantly.
The changing dynamics have also impacted pricing. Gasoline premiums in the Middle East Gulf have strengthened, with Pakistan State Oil receiving offers at premiums of $7–12 per barrel over the regional benchmark for July–September cargoes. Meanwhile, India’s Nayara Energy has faced export challenges due to European Union sanctions, temporarily disrupting supplies to Aramco.
