Dangote Refinery Increases Exports to Africa Amid Oil Disruptions

Nigeria's Dangote Refinery, Africa's largest facility, has ramped up exports of gasoline and urea fertilizer to neighboring countries in West, Central, and East Africa as supply disruptions from the ongoing conflict involving Iran strain global oil markets. The 650,000-barrels-per-day plant in Lagos, operating at full capacity, shipped at least 17 cargoes of gasoline to regional buyers in recent weeks and increased urea shipments to African markets, according to refinery owner Aliko Dangote.

During a tour of the facility on Monday, Dangote emphasized its role in mitigating the crisis. "What I can do is assure Nigerians and most of West Africa, Central Africa, and East Africa, we have the capacity to supply them," he said. The refinery, which can produce up to 3 million metric tons of urea annually, has shifted focus toward African demand, redirecting supplies previously destined for the United States and South America. "In the last couple of days, we've been looking to mostly African countries, which we were not doing before," Dangote added, noting the change responds to heightened regional needs.

The exports come amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, where the conflict...