African countries are increasing diesel and gasoline imports from the United States due to Middle East conflicts disrupting traditional supply routes, highlighting the continent’s ongoing reliance on global refiners.
As wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe continue to reshape global energy trade, African countries are increasingly turning to the United States for fuel supplies, underscoring a vulnerability that even Africa’s largest refinery cannot immediately resolve.
According to data from energy intelligence firms Vortexa and Kpler cited by Bloomberg, US refiners have significantly increased diesel and gasoline shipments to Africa in recent months, making the United States one of South Africa’s leading sources of refined fuel products. The conflict involving Iran has raised concerns about disruptions to shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. Kpler estimates that about 42 percent of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel imports into East and Southern Africa are linked to trade routes passing through the strait.
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South Africa has been particularly affected. Following the closure and conversion of several domestic refineries over the past decade, Africa’s most industrialised economy has become heavily dependent on imported fuel. While the country traditionally sourced much of its diesel and gasoline from the Middle East and India, traders are increasingly turning to refineries in Texas and Louisiana.
The growing reliance on US fuel imports does not reflect a failure of the Dangote Refinery. The facility recently increased crude processing to 700,000 barrels per day, surpassing its original nameplate capacity of 650,000 bpd. However, Africa’s fuel deficit remains enormous. Countries including South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Namibia and Senegal collectively import millions of tonnes of refined petroleum products annually.
According to a report by Accra Street Journal, much of Dangote’s output is absorbed by Nigeria’s vast domestic market. The country consumes about 63.7 million litres of petrol daily, equivalent to roughly 400,000 barrels per day, limiting the amount available for export. The result is a transition period in which Africa benefits from Dangote’s growing output while still relying on global suppliers during times of market stress.
That dependence could diminish significantly if Dangote achieves its announced plans to double refining capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day within the next 30 months. Company executives have also indicated interest in expanding refining capacity elsewhere on the continent. If achieved, the expansion would mark a major shift in Africa’s energy landscape, reducing dependence on imported fuels and shielding African economies from disruptions caused by conflicts in distant regions.
For now, however, the surge in US fuel exports underscores a reality that Africa’s energy transition remains unfinished. While Dangote is rapidly emerging as a strategic supplier for the continent, global refiners still play a crucial role in keeping African economies fuelled when supply shocks hit.
Source: Accra Street Journal
Last Updated on June 13, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
