Dangote Refinery has emerged as the world’s largest exporter of jet fuel in April. This was disclosed in a recent S&P Global Energy report featuring comments from the refinery’s chief executive officer, David Bird, during an interview conducted at the facility in Nigeria.
The report highlighted how changing global supply patterns increased demand for alternative aviation fuel suppliers, positioning Dangote Refinery as a major beneficiary of the disruption.
The S&P Global Energy report showed that jet fuel became a major driver of export growth in April as global supply disruptions redirected aviation fuel trade patterns across key markets.
According to S&P Global Commodities at Sea data, the refinery became the world’s largest exporter of aviation fuel in April after the Middle East conflict disrupted established supply routes.
“After the Middle East war began, Dangote shifted to ‘max jet mode,’ and in April it became the world’s single largest exporter of aviation fuel,” the report stated, according to S&P Global Commodities at Sea data.
The refinery reached full production capacity of about 650,000 barrels per day following a gradual ramp-up phase and has maintained near-peak output levels.
The facility has been operating a flexible blending system, importing feedstocks such as GTL naphtha and Bonny condensate to increase gasoline yields beyond its base configuration.
Bird said sustaining output at scale requires greater trading sophistication, improved logistics coordination, and stronger supply chain reliability as operations expand beyond local crude limitations.
The report also noted that the refinery is transitioning toward a merchant refining model where it actively trades crude and refined products in international markets rather than operating solely as a domestically focused processor.
