Cargo linked to the Dangote Refinery accounted for an estimated 30.4% of Nigeria’s total port throughput in the first half of 2026, making the refinery one of the country’s largest sources of maritime traffic. The estimate is based on figures released in September by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), which reported that Nigerian ports handled 68.29 million metric tons of cargo between January and June, up from 60.84 million metric tons in the corresponding period of 2025.
Lekki Port handled approximately 27.32 million metric tons, or about 40% of national cargo throughput, during the first half of 2026. NPA Managing Director Abubakar Dantsoho said operations associated with Dangote Refinery accounted for 76% of Lekki’s throughput. Based on that share, refinery-linked cargo is estimated at approximately 20.76 million metric tons, equivalent to 30.4% of national port traffic. The calculation relies on rounded percentages published by the authority, so the exact refinery contribution may differ.
Lekki was already a major hub in Nigeria’s maritime sector, accounting for 40.6% of national cargo throughput in 2025, according to figures previously reported by Ecofin Agency. Its share remained close to 40% in the first half of 2026, but the latest figures highlight how heavily the port’s performance now depends on Dangote’s industrial operations.
Dangote Refinery, which has an initial processing capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, has become a major user of maritime services and infrastructure around Lekki. Its operations require crude oil imports and shipments of refined petroleum products, supported by specialised marine facilities, storage infrastructure and tanker-handling services. In May 2025, Dangote Industries said its operations could require about 240 crude oil tankers and 600 refined-product vessels annually, although those figures were projections of shipping requirements rather than confirmed vessel movements.
The company has also pursued additional port infrastructure, announcing plans in 2025 for a deep-sea port in the Olokola Free Trade Zone in Ogun State. Ogun State authorities said the Federal Government approved the project’s launch in January 2026. Meanwhile, vessel activity at Lekki increased by 48.4% in the first half of 2026, while average vessel turnaround time rose from 2.1 to 3.3 days. The NPA figures do not separate tanker movements from container traffic, so it remains unclear whether the longer turnaround time reflects petroleum operations, container handling or other activities.
Nigeria’s overall cargo growth was accompanied by increases in other maritime segments. Container traffic rose by 10.3% to approximately 815,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in the first half of 2026. Outbound cargo grew faster than inbound shipments, rising by 23.5% to approximately 29.2 million metric tons, while inbound cargo increased by 5.6% to 38.4 million metric tons.
Onne Port, which handled about 22.7% of national cargo throughput, recorded a 26.6% increase in vessel calls and reduced average turnaround time from 3.6 to 3.3 days. Its traffic includes substantial energy-related shipments, particularly liquefied natural gas. However, the NPA data do not show how much of the increase in outbound cargo came from Dangote’s operations, nor how much of the additional 7.45 million metric tons handled nationally was attributable to the refinery.
Dangote’s expanding maritime activity also raises questions about the distribution of port revenues. Petroleum shipments generate demand for pilotage, towage, navigation, marine security and specialised terminal services. The revenue generated from those activities depends on tariffs, ownership arrangements and concession agreements. The NPA has not disclosed the share of its revenue attributable to Dangote-related cargo, meaning the refinery’s estimated 30.4% share of national tonnage cannot be treated as an equivalent share of port revenue.
Future NPA statistics, including comparable refinery-linked shipment data for 2025 and 2026 and a breakdown of port charges, would help clarify Dangote’s contribution to cargo growth and its financial importance to Nigeria’s maritime sector.