Nigeria recorded a major increase in petrol exports in the first half of 2026, with the value of exported Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) reaching about ₦998.5 billion, according to a report citing trade data.
The figure represents a sharp increase compared with the same period previously, with Nigeria’s petrol exports rising roughly sixfold. The development comes as domestic refining capacity expands and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery increases production and distribution of refined petroleum products.
The growth in petrol exports also reflects a changing position for Nigeria in the regional petroleum market. Rather than relying heavily on imported refined products, Nigeria is increasingly supplying refined petroleum to markets outside the country.
Industry analysts have linked the increase partly to the ramp-up of the Dangote refinery, which has a nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day and has been expanding its output of refined products.
The development could have implications for Nigeria’s foreign-exchange earnings and its role in supplying petroleum products across West Africa. However, the value of exports in naira is also affected by exchange-rate movements and international oil prices, meaning the headline figure should be considered alongside the actual volumes exported.
The latest trade data adds to signs of a changing petroleum landscape in Nigeria, as domestic refining becomes a larger part of the country’s downstream oil industry.
