The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) is set to commence export of a new light, sweet crude grade known as Cawthorne from March 2026.
An NNPC spokesperson confirmed the development, describing it as part of efforts to increase output and consolidate Nigeria’s recent recovery in crude oil production.
The move aligns with Nigeria’s broader strategy to boost production after years of constraints caused by pipeline vandalism and crude theft.
Cawthorne crude is scheduled for export in the third week of March and has an API gravity of 36.4, making it similar in quality to Nigeria’s Bonny Light.
A trader disclosed that NNPC had issued a tender last week for cargo loading between March 24 and 25.
Analysts at Kpler noted that the new grade is expected to be exported via the Floating Storage and Offloading vessel Cawthorne, which has a storage capacity of about 2.2 million barrels.
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The vessel is designed to enhance transportation and production from Oil Mining Lease 18 and nearby assets in the Eastern Niger Delta.
Kpler estimates that Cawthorne could increase Nigeria’s crude and condensate output from roughly 1.65 million barrels per day to around 1.7 million barrels per day for the remainder of the year.
Nigeria’s crude oil production has gradually approached its OPEC+ quota of 1.5 million barrels per day, with output at 1.48 million barrels per day in January.
The introduction of Cawthorne crude could expand Nigeria’s crude offerings to international refiners and improve market flexibility amid changing global demand.
It follows the launch of two other new grades — Obodo in 2025 and Utapate in 2024 — as Africa’s top oil exporter seeks to strengthen its standing within OPEC.
In November 2024, NNPC officially launched the Utapate crude oil blend in the international market, describing it as a milestone for Nigeria’s export profile.
The continued rollout of new crude grades signals Nigeria’s determination to increase production resilience and diversify export streams.
