Dangote Group orders China-built ships to support 1.4 million bpd refinery expansion
Dangote Group plans to build a new shipping fleet in Chinese shipyards starting around 2029 to handle the annual 1,800 vessel calls required for its doubled oil refining capacity.
The Dangote Group is negotiating with Chinese shipyards to construct a new fleet of vessels. Edwin Devakumar, vice president for oil, gas and fertiliser, stated that new vessels are being considered to cut freight costs and meet cargo demands. He noted the refinery currently handles 900 ships annually, a figure that will rise to 1,800 ships per year once capacity doubles to 1.4 million barrels per day in five years. Data indicates Chinese shipyards hold significant market share globally, with Clarksons Research citing nearly 67 percent of the global orderbook market share in 2025. Devakumar added that the first batch of orders could arrive as early as 2029. While no specific number of vessels was confirmed, the scale of required transportation is clear given the refinery's output target.
