Europe is increasingly sourcing jet fuel from Nigeria’s Dangote refinery as it seeks to replace disrupted supplies from the Middle East. Analysts say the shift underscores Nigeria’s rapid emergence as a key alternative aviation fuel hub for Western markets amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, operating at large scale since early 2026, has ramped up exports of aviation fuel as Middle Eastern flows to Europe decline due to conflict and security restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz. Trade data show that Europe, which previously relied on the Gulf for the bulk of its jet fuel imports, is now drawing record volumes from Nigeria and the United States to stabilise supply.
Despite this international demand, Nigeria’s own jet fuel consumption remains relatively modest at about 13,000 barrels per day, leaving a significant surplus for export. In March alone, Dangote exported around 100,000 barrels per day of jet fuel, highlighting how the refinery’s output far exceeds domestic needs and is being channelled into overseas markets, particularly Europe.
Industry sources and airline groups in Nigeria have described Dangote as a game-changer, noting that the refinery now supplies the vast majority of Jet A1 used domestically while simultaneously shipping large cargoes to Europe. European buyers, facing elevated prices and fears of shortages, have become major off-takers of Dangote’s aviation fuel, a trend experts expect to deepen if Middle Eastern disruptions persist.
