South Africa now tops the list due to declining refining capacity and increasing demand.”
Nigeria is no longer Africa’s top importer of petroleum products following a surge in output from the privately owned Dangote Refinery, industry sources confirmed Thursday.
The 650,000-barrel-a-day plant, operational since late 2024, has significantly reduced Nigeria’s reliance on foreign refined fuel.
CITAC, a leading African energy consultancy, said South Africa has now overtaken Nigeria, importing 4.2 million tons of refined products in Q1 2025 compared to Nigeria’s 3.1 million.
“Nigerian imports are dropping as a result of the continued operation of Dangote,” said Elitsa Georgieva, Executive Director at energy consultancy CITAC.
For decades, Nigeria—despite being a major crude producer—struggled with local refining due to underinvestment and mismanagement.
Dangote’s refinery marks a pivotal shift.
South Africa’s refining output has declined due to accidents and underinvestment, forcing it to meet over 60% of demand through imports.
Georgieva added: “Since the beginning of this year, South African imports have been consistently highest in sub-Saharan Africa.”