Dangote Industries has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Japan’s Mitsui Chemicals to establish joint petrochemical production in Nigeria. The collaboration will utilise feedstock from Dangote’s 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Lagos, further strengthening Nigeria’s industrial capacity.
Details of the Partnership
According to a release by Mitsui Chemicals, the agreement involves the transfer of resin and fertiliser technology to the planned joint venture. The partnership leverages Dangote’s refinery feedstock while benefiting from Mitsui’s global experience in petrochemical manufacturing.
This deal is designed to allow Dangote to expand into the petrochemical sector using raw materials from its own refinery. Mitsui Chemicals, in turn, will build on its success with resin and PET production through its existing partnership with Siam Cement Group in Thailand.
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The MoU was signed during the Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Yokohama, facilitated by AAIC Holdings to encourage wider Japanese corporate participation in Africa’s petrochemical market.
Mitsui Chemicals stated:
“We will jointly explore concrete possibilities to contribute to strengthening the living foundations and developing regional industries in African countries, including Nigeria.”
The deal also marks Dangote’s continued effort to expand its petrochemicals division and grow its market share across West Africa.
The Dangote Refining and Petrochemicals Complex, inaugurated in January 2024, is the largest on the African continent. In March 2025, the company commissioned its 900,000 mt/year polypropylene plant, aimed at replacing 250,000 mt/year of Nigerian imports.
In May, Dangote signed an exclusive partnership with global distributor Vinmar to market products beyond Africa. With its facilities, the company can now produce 77 grades of polymer.
To support its next phase of expansion, Dangote recently appointed David Bird, former Shell executive, as its first Chief Executive Officer and secured a $4bn loan led by Afreximbank. The company also plans to increase refining capacity to 700,000 barrels per day and establish satellite storage hubs in countries like Namibia.
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The Dangote–Mitsui partnership is a major milestone for Nigeria’s petrochemical industry. It combines local capacity with global expertise, positioning Nigeria as a key hub for industrial production and trade in Africa.
