LAGOS — Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has commenced exports of a new crude grade called Cawthorne, the company said on Wednesday, as Nigeria moves to ramp up flagging production and claw back market share in the global energy basin.
The introduction of the Cawthorne Channel Light stream marks the second major export grade launched by Africa’s largest producer in six months, following the debut of the Nembe grade in late 2025.
The new grade, sourced from the eastern Niger Delta, is a sweet, light crude with specifications similar to Nigeria’s flagship Bonny Light. It is expected to be a primary feedstock for refiners in Europe and Asia seeking low-sulfur gasoline and jet fuel components.
Output of the new grade is estimated at between 50,000 and 70,000 barrels per day (bpd), according to traders and preliminary loading schedules.
“This is a significant milestone in the Company’s drive to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production and expand its portfolio of globally competitive export streams,” NNPC said in a statement.
The launch comes at a critical time for the Nigerian economy. The government is under pressure to boost foreign exchange liquidity and meet its 2026 budget targets, which are heavily dependent on oil revenues and a steady production floor.
Nigeria has struggled for years to meet its OPEC+ production quotas due to aging infrastructure, large-scale theft, and a lack of investment in new deepwater projects.
Market analysts say the addition of Cawthorne, alongside the Nembe stream, signals a more aggressive push by NNPC Ltd and the Nigeria Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to offset declines in older fields and provide a buffer against localized supply disruptions.
The first cargoes of Cawthorne have already been scheduled for loading this month, adding to the roughly 30 other grades Nigeria currently offers to the international market.
