Nigeria will begin exporting a newly introduced light, sweet crude oil grade called Cawthorne in March, marking another step in efforts to raise national oil output and stabilise production levels.

A spokesperson for Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited confirmed that the first cargo of the new crude stream is expected to be loaded in the third week of March. The development comes as Nigeria works to strengthen its standing within OPEC+ and push closer to its official production quota.

Cawthorne crude has an API gravity of 36.4, placing it in the same quality range as Bonny Light, one of Nigeria’s most sought-after export blends. Its light and low-sulphur profile makes it attractive to refiners seeking higher yields of petrol and diesel.

NNPC recently issued a tender for the new grade, with loading scheduled for late March. Industry data provider Kpler noted that exports will be handled via the Cawthorne floating storage and offloading vessel, which can hold about 2.2 million barrels. The facility supports production from Oil Mining Lease 18 and nearby fields in the eastern Niger Delta.

Analysts estimate that the addition of Cawthorne could lift Nigeria’s combined crude and condensate supply from roughly 1.65 million barrels per day to around 1.7 million barrels per day, provided operations remain stable and market conditions are favourable.

Nigeria’s current OPEC+ production quota is 1.5 million barrels per day, while actual output stood at about 1.48 million barrels per day in January. Recent improvements in pipeline security and reduced oil theft have helped output recover after years of disruptions linked to vandalism and insecurity.

Cawthorne becomes the third new crude grade introduced by Nigeria in recent years, following Obodo in 2025 and Utapate in 2024. Energy experts say expanding the range of export grades allows the country to reach more buyers, improve pricing flexibility, and reduce reliance on a few flagship blends.