Barely a year after commencing operations, Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery has achieved a major milestone as its petrol (gasoline) reached the United States for the first time.
Global oil trader Vitol and North American fuel distributor Sunoco confirmed receiving the historic shipment on Monday, according to vessel-tracking data and industry sources. The consignment, delivered aboard the tanker Gemini Pearl, was discharged at Sunoco’s Linden facility in New York Harbor, marking a breakthrough for the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery.
Industry observers say the development proves the refinery’s ability to meet the strict quality standards required for U.S. motor fuels. Vitol reportedly bought around 320,000 barrels from Geneva-based Mocoh Oil and resold most of the volume to Sunoco.
Mocoh Oil, which earlier this year announced a partnership with Dangote Refinery to export refined products, declined to comment on the trade, while Vitol and Sunoco have yet to issue formal statements.
The facility, one of the world’s largest, has steadily ramped up production after several delays, reshaping global energy flows and significantly reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel. Industry sources reveal that a second shipment — sold by Glencore to Shell — is en route aboard the MH Daisen and is expected to arrive in New York around September 19. A third cargo, purchased by Vitol, is scheduled to be delivered by the Seaexplorer around September 22, though destinations may shift depending on market conditions.
At a press briefing on Monday, Dangote Group President, Aliko Dangote, disclosed that the refinery has exported over 1.1 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) between June and early September 2025. He said the refinery is now capable of fully meeting Nigeria’s domestic demand while generating substantial foreign exchange earnings through exports.
Looking ahead, Dangote revealed plans to raise the refinery’s production capacity to 700 million barrels per day next year — a move expected to further strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global oil market.
