The first cargo arrived aboard the tanker Gemini Pearl, carrying about 320,000 barrels of gasoline. It was sold by Mocoh Oil to global trader Vitol, which then sold most of it to U.S. fuel distributor Sunoco.
The vessel discharged at Sunoco’s Linden terminal in the New York Harbor area earlier this week, marking the refinery’s first-ever delivery of gasoline that meets U.S. standards.
Two more shipments are expected to follow
One, sold by Glencore to Shell, is aboard the vessel MH Daisen and is expected to reach New York Harbor around September 19.
Another, purchased by Vitol from Mocoh, is on the vessel Seaexplorer and is expected to arrive around September 22.
Industry sources said these delivery dates could still shift depending on market conditions, as cargo destinations are often adjusted based on demand.
The milestone comes as Dangote continues to position itself as a major global fuel supplier, but it also faces short-term challenges.
Its gasoline-producing unit, known as the Residue Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Unit (RFCCU), has been shut since late August due to technical faults, including catalyst leaks, and may remain offline for at least two to three months.
This could slow further exports and affect local supply in the meantime.
It was built to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel by meeting domestic demand and exporting surplus products to international markets.
Earlier this year, the refinery sent its first gasoline cargo to Asia and has also exported jet fuel to Saudi Arabia and low-sulphur fuel oil to Singapore.
Industry analysts say that breaking into the U.S. market is a major step that proves Dangote’s products can meet some of the strictest quality standards, potentially opening the door to more exports to Europe and other premium markets once production stabilises.
