Abuja, Nigeria – 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, marking another step in efforts to increase output and consolidate recent production recovery.
Okay News reports that an NNPC spokesperson confirmed the development, describing it as part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to boost production after years of constraints caused by pipeline vandalism, crude theft, and unrest in oil-producing regions. The launch follows the introduction 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+.
According to sources familiar with the matter, 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, which is prized for high gasoline and diesel yields. NNPC 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.
Kpler estimates that, based on storage capacity, Cawthorne could increase Nigeria’s crude and condensate output from roughly 1.65 million barrels per day to around 1.7 million bpd for the remainder of the year. Nigeria’s crude oil production has gradually approached its OPEC+ quota of 1.5 million bpd, with output at 1.48 million bpd in January, according to OPEC data.
The introduction of Cawthorne crude could expand Nigeria’s offerings to international refiners, improve market flexibility amid changing global demand, attract buyers seeking specific light, sweet crude qualities, and boost foreign exchange earnings. The continued rollout of new crude grades signals Nigeria’s determination to increase production resilience, diversify export streams, and reinforce its role in the global energy market. This new crude oil export represents a strategic addition to Nigeria’s portfolio, strengthening the country’s position as a reliable supplier. Sustained growth in crude oil export volumes will depend on maintaining production stability and security in the Niger Delta.
