Gasoline imports into west African continued to trend far below year-ago levels in July, although a rise in cargo arrivals in Nigeria raised total import volumes on the month.
African countries from Senegal to Angola bought 1.163mn t of gasoline from outside the region last month, according to Kpler tracking data. The data points to a rebound from an 8½-year low of 1.02mn t in June, driven by larger imports into Nigeria primarily, as well as Angola, Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
West Africa's gasoline imports were down by 26.9pc in January-July from the same period in 2024, according to Kpler vessel tracking data.
Nigerian imports rose by 179,000t on the month to 509,000t in July, Kpler data suggest, as market participants suggested Dangote's gasoline sales price increases made imports more competitive. Dangote gasoline prices at the gantry climbed to N860/litre on 1 August from N840/l at the start of July, according to local fuel brokers. And 37,000t-sized UKC-west African clean product tanker freight rates fell to a nine-month low of $25.50/t in July, improving freight economics for gasoline sales from Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp to west Africa.
Traders also imported gasoline into Nigeria "against the perception of a longer refinery maintenance turnaround" at the country's 650,000 b/d Dangote refinery, one market participant told Argus. The Dangote refinery "firmly dismissed recent reports alleging a shutdown of its operations", group chief branding and communications officer Anthony Chiejina told Argus on 8 August.
European deliveries of gasoline to west Africa similarly picked up on the month by 113,000t to 994,000t in July, but were down by 23.3pc on the year.
