The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) is preparing to export a newly developed crude oil grade called Cawthorne starting in March 2026, in a move expected to further lift the country’s oil production and strengthen its presence in global markets.
The first cargoes of the light, sweet grade are scheduled for shipment in the third week of March, with tenders already issued for March 24–25 loadings.
The crude will be exported from the Floating Storage and Offloading vessel (FSO) Cawthorne, which has a storage capacity of about 2.2 million barrels and will serve fields in the Eastern Niger Delta.
The new Cawthorne grade has an API gravity of 36.4, making it similar in quality to Nigeria’s benchmark Bonny Light a light sweet crude prized by refiners for its high gasoline and diesel yields.
Analysts say launching Cawthorne is part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to revive oil production after years of disruption from pipeline vandalism, theft, and operational challenges.
Nigeria’s crude output has rebounded in recent months, standing at around 1.65 million barrels per day (bpd) above its OPEC+ quota of 1.5 million bpd and the new grade could push average production closer to 1.7 million bpd for the remainder of the year.
This gradual recovery follows the rollout of two other home-grown crude grades in recent years Utapate in 2024 and Obodo in 2025 aimed at expanding Nigeria’s export streams and reducing reliance on traditional grades.
For Abuja, the launch of Cawthorne comes at a time when the country is seeking to secure a higher production target within the OPEC+ grouping, reflecting improved operational stability and output performance.
The continued diversification of crude grades also helps NNPC appeal to a wider range of international buyers, especially refiners looking for light sweet barrels.
Energy market observers say Nigeria’s move could help shore up foreign exchange earnings and bolster fiscal revenues, which remain heavily dependent on oil.
At the same time, sustained production gains may give Abuja leverage in negotiations over future OPEC+ quotas, particularly as the country works to balance export growth with compliance obligations.
