- NNPC will begin exporting its new Cawthorne crude grade in March 2026, with first shipments scheduled for March 24–25.
- The light, sweet crude is similar in quality to Nigeria’s premium blends and could push national output toward 1.7 million bpd.
- Analysts say the move may raise foreign earnings and strengthen Nigeria’s position in future OPEC+ quota negotiations.
Nigeria’s state oil firm, NNPC, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, is preparing to introduce a new crude oil blend known as Cawthorne, with its first export cargoes expected in the third week of March 2026.
Tenders have already been issued for shipments slated for March 24–25.
The Cawthorne grade is classified as a light, sweet crude with an API gravity of 36.4, placing it close in quality to Nigeria’s highly sought-after benchmark blends valued by refiners for strong gasoline and diesel yields.
It will be exported from the FSO Cawthorne vessel, which has a storage capacity of roughly 2.2 million barrels and serves production fields in the Eastern Niger Delta.
Part of Strategy to Revive Oil Production
Industry analysts say the launch forms part of Nigeria’s broader push to restore oil output after years of disruption caused by pipeline vandalism, theft, and operational setbacks.
Recent production has climbed to about 1.65 million barrels per day above the country’s quota under the OPEC+ agreement and could approach 1.7 million bpd if the new grade performs as projected.
Cawthorne follows the introduction of other domestically developed crude streams such as Utapate (2024) and Obodo (2025), reflecting efforts to diversify export offerings and attract a wider range of international buyers, particularly refiners seeking light sweet crude.
