Western Africa’s clean petroleum product (CPP) imports have fallen sharply, dropping 44% year-on-year between April and May, according to Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.
Import volumes declined from 1,144 thousand barrels per day (kbpd) to just 642 kbpd over the period, marking a significant shift in regional trade flows. The reduction in import volumes has had a pronounced effect on shipping demand, cutting tonne miles by 47% year-on-year and lowering the region’s share of global CPP tonne mile demand.
This substantial decline reflects changing dynamics within Western Africa’s energy market, with potential implications for global freight movements and shipping capacity across the region. The contraction is likely linked to increased domestic refining capacity, particularly with the ramp-up of major refining facilities in the region reducing reliance on imported refined products.
For freight forwarders and shipping operators, the shift represents a notable change in established trade routes, requiring adjustments to capacity planning and route optimisation. As Western Africa continues to develop its domestic refining infrastructure, the long-term outlook for CPP imports into the region remains uncertain.