Why Nigerian Marketers Are Re-Importing Dangote Fuel Through the Lomé Hub

Nigerian fuel marketers are increasingly re-importing refined products from Dangote Petroleum Refinery via the offshore ship-to-ship hub in Lomé, Togo. This pattern continues even as domestic output rises, pointing to price gaps between local and international markets. At a MEMAN webinar on West African pricing, an industry analyst noted that from March to May, over 70% of waterborne fuel imports into Lagos originated from Dangote volumes shipped through Lomé. Diesel shows the same trend, underscoring Dangote’s growing regional influence. Lomé remains a vital transshipment hub since many West African ports cannot berth fully laden medium-range tankers. Cargoes are offloaded in Togo and transferred to smaller vessels for delivery across Nigeria and neighboring countries. The speaker also highlighted shifting price dynamics. Gasoline in West Africa now trades above European levels, with Dangote fuel pegged to Lomé benchmarks. The US–Iran war has further elevated Dangote’s role, boosting exports beyond the region.

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