Europe turns to Nigeria for jet fuel as Dangote ships cargo to UK amid US-Iran conflict
Nigeria has emerged as a crucial alternative supplier of aviation fuel to Europe, stepping in as the US-Iran conflict disrupts traditional Middle Eastern flows.
Nigeria has become a key alternative supplier of aviation fuel to Europe due to disruptions from US-Iran tensions affecting traditional Middle Eastern supply routes.
A recent shipment from Dangote Petroleum Refinery to the UK showcases Europe's increasing reliance on West African refineries.
Heightened tensions have caused European jet fuel prices to nearly double, with fears of shortages as the region seeks new suppliers.
Expert analysis suggests Europe will continue turning to West African refineries like Dangote to offset lost supplies, resulting in higher prices that will impact the entire supply chain.
The recent arrival of a Dangote Petroleum Refinery cargo at the UK’s Milford Haven port highlights the growing reliance on West African refiners to stabilize global energy markets.
With Europe sourcing roughly 40 percent of its jet fuel through the Strait of Hormuz - now affected by heightened US-Iran tensions and security restrictions, benchmark north-west European prices have soared to $1,744 per tonne, nearly double pre-war levels.
The Punch reports that an impeccable source at the Dangote refinery in Lekki, Lagos, confirmed that “most of the European countries have been our main buyers,” adding that jet fuel prices are climbing sharply amid tensions in the Middle East. The source spoke in confidence, as they were not authorised to comment publicly.
Industry data and reports by the Financial Times indicate that the Nigerian shipment marks a significant reshuffling of supply chains, with European buyers seeking alternative sources amid fears of shortages following the last known Middle Eastern shipment expected this week.
Europe’s dependence on Middle Eastern supplies, especially after turning away from Russian imports and facing declining domestic refining capacity, has made alternative sources vital.
Lars van Wageningen, research and consultancy manager at Insights Global, said European buyers would increasingly look to West African refineries, including Dangote, to plug the gap.
“The system doesn’t stop — it reshuffles. It’s really a story of rerouting and price adjusting, rather than an outright shortage,” said Matt Stanley, head of market engagement for EMEA and APAC at Kpler.
Consultants warn airlines could feel the impact by April. Janiv Shah, Vice-President of oil markets at Rystad Energy, said, “Market understanding is that fuel shortages are not far away in some countries” and “higher prices are to trickle through the entire supply chain and will be felt by all.”
The UK government confirmed shipments continue from India, the US, the Netherlands, and now Nigeria.
Since reaching full capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the Dangote refinery has exported 12 cargoes totaling 456,000 tonnes of refined fuels, including petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel, to countries across West Africa — such as Ghana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, and Togo — and recently supplied aviation fuel to the United Kingdom.
Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, told Al Jazeera that the facility was nearly running out of aviation fuel and diesel, though petrol stocks remain abundant
The Nigerian cargo reveals Dangote’s growing role in the global oil industry, as European and other buyers pivot to reliable alternative suppliers amid geopolitical uncertainty.
The refinery’s exports demonstrate how West Africa is emerging as a strategic hub for global fuel supply, helping to stabilize markets when traditional flows from the Middle East are disrupted.
This article originally appeared on Africa Business Insider.