The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is gaining a competitive edge in the Nigerian fuel market as oil marketers increasingly turn to the refinery for petroleum products due to rising import costs. According to the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, the estimated cost of importing petrol and diesel into Nigeria has surpassed the refinery's selling prices. As of September 17, 2026, Dangote's gantry price for Premium Motor Spirit stood at N1,350 per litre, compared to an estimated import parity price of N1,364.02 to N1,365.02 per litre.
The price gap between importing fuel and buying from Dangote is also evident in automotive gas oil, commonly known as diesel. Dangote's gantry price for diesel is N1,850 per litre, while the estimated landed cost is N1,933.56 per litre on the spot market and N1,934.91 per litre on a seven-day average. This makes lifting diesel from Dangote about N83.56 to N84.91 per litre cheaper than importing it. The refinery's coastal price for diesel is $1,580.75 per metric tonne.
Fresh petroleum product cargoes continue to move through Nigeria's coastal supply chain, with vessels carrying petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, and butane recorded across Lagos, Warri, and Port Harcourt. According to the latest tanker position report, 219,000 metric tonnes of petroleum products were recorded across the three locations between September 14 and 20. Many of the vessels were loaded at the Dangote refinery, while others were supplied from different sources.
In Lagos, several vessels carrying petroleum products from Dangote have been recorded. The 20,000MT Um Balwa, carrying AGO for PPMC, arrived on September 9 and berthed at New Oil on September 17. Another vessel, Ashabi, carrying 15,000MT of Jet A1 and 10,000MT of AGO for Ardova and CITA, berthed at Bulk Oil on September 20 after loading at the Dangote plant. Matrix Energy also received two PMS cargoes, one carrying 20,000MT and the other 25,000MT.
In Warri, Rain Oil received 15,000MT of PMS aboard Bora, which berthed at its depot on September 16. The vessel was loaded at NY Maria, with discharge ongoing. Another 15,000MT AGO cargo aboard Stellar for Rain Oil berthed at Cybernetics on September 17. Rain Oil also received 15,000MT of PMS aboard Princess Oge, which berthed at Parker on September 19 after loading at NY Maria.
The tanker movements suggest that Dangote-refined products are continuing to form a significant part of the coastal supply chain. MEMAN's data also showed that aviation turbine kerosene gantry price was listed at $1,646.75 per metric tonne, while the estimated landed cost stood at N1,867.01 per litre on the spot market. The refinery's coastal price for ATK was $1,616.75 per metric tonne. For Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Dangote's gantry price was N925,000 per metric tonne.
The continuing movement of fresh cargoes comes amid changes in the economics of importing petroleum products. Marketers have to weigh prevailing international prices, exchange rates, freight, and other landing costs against locally refined supplies. Some filling stations along the Lagos-Ibadan highway have reduced their petrol pump prices below N1,400 per litre, selling the product at around N1,370 and N1,390.
Key points
- Dangote refinery's gantry price for petrol is N1,350 per litre, cheaper than import parity price.
- Importing fuel is becoming more expensive due to rising international prices and exchange rates.
- Dangote-refined products continue to form a significant part of Nigeria's coastal supply chain.
