The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has said it has started exporting a new crude oil grade, Cawthorne, as part of efforts to boost production and expand Nigeria’s footprint in the global market.
In a statement by its chief corporate communications officer, NNPC said the first cargo of the Cawthorne blend was shipped on April 5 aboard the MT Eburones vessel to the Netherlands.
NNPC announced the new crude grade in February.
NNPC stated that the 950,000-barrel cargo was loaded through the Cawthorne floating storage and offloading (FSO) vessel located offshore Bonny, Rivers state, adding that the facility is expected to improve evacuation from oil mining lease (OML) 18 and strengthen export efficiency.
“Cawthorne blend crude, the latest addition to Nigeria’s basket of crude grades, has an API gravity of 36.4, placing it firmly within the light, sweet category, comparable to Bonny Light, and highly valued in the global market for its superior petrol and diesel yields,” the statement reads.
“NNPC Ltd confirms that on Sunday, April 5, 2026, the Cawthorne blend crude, which was loaded on the MT Eburones vessel, is headed to the Netherlands and onward to the global market.”
The company said the introduction of the new grade is in sync with its strategy to optimise production, diversify export streams, and improve competitiveness in the international oil market.
The firm said the start of Cawthorne builds on recent additions such as Nembe and Utapate crude grades, reflecting a “structured approach” to expanding Nigeria’s crude oil portfolio.
Speaking on the development, group chief executive officer of NNPC, Bayo Ojulari attributed the milestone to policy reforms under President Bola Tinubu and partnership with industry stakeholders, including the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
“This milestone reflects the direction we have set for NNPC Limited, one anchored on execution, partnership, and value creation,” he said.
