Global oil trader Vitol and North American distributor Sunoco received the first U.S. gasoline import from Nigeria’s new Dangote refinery on Monday. The shipment, carried by the tanker Gemini Pearl, represents a milestone for the 650,000-barrel-per-day facility after months of anticipation and scrutiny.
Energy markets had closely watched for confirmation that the refinery’s fuel could meet strict American standards, a benchmark now quietly achieved. Vitol bought roughly 320,000 barrels of gasoline from Switzerland-based Mocoh Oil, selling most of it onward to Sunoco, shipping data confirmed.
The vessel discharged at Sunoco’s Linden terminal near New York Harbor, marking the refinery’s entry into one of the world’s toughest markets. Neither Vitol nor Sunoco immediately commented, while Mocoh, which recently partnered with Dangote to export products, also declined to respond.
After repeated delays, Dangote has surged into operation, reshaping global flows with rising output and reducing Nigeria’s dependence on foreign imports. Exports are expected to target Europe and now, as shown, North America, adding a fresh layer of competition to the global fuels trade.
A second cargo, sold by Glencore to Shell, is expected in New York Harbor by September 19 aboard the vessel MH Daisen. A third shipment, purchased by Vitol, is due around September 22 on the Seaexplorer, though destinations may shift with market conditions.
Analysts say the refinery’s entry signals sweeping change in fuel trade routes, though production setbacks may slow the momentum temporarily. IIR Energy has warned that the gasoline unit could be shut for up to three months, pausing Dangote’s exports just as they begin. For now, the refinery’s breakthrough shipment writes a new chapter in the global energy story, where Nigeria emerges as a key supplier.