Nigeria Offers 950,000-Barrel Cawthorne Crude Cargo as Middle East Tensions Boost West African Oil Demand
Nigeria is preparing to sell another 950,000-barrel cargo of Cawthorne crude, as the country seeks to build international demand for its newest oil grade amid heightened volatility in global energy markets.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has issued a tender for the Cawthorne cargo, which is scheduled to load on September 21–22.
The shipment will be sold on a free-on-board basis, with buyers taking ownership at the loading terminal.
Cawthorne was introduced to the international market earlier this year as part of Nigeria’s strategy to expand its crude export portfolio and increase production.
The light, sweet crude has an API gravity of 36.4, making it comparable to Nigeria’s established Bonny Light grade and attractive to refiners because of its strong yields of petrol and diesel.
The latest tender comes as global oil markets remain sensitive to disruptions and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Supply concerns have strengthened interest in some West African crude grades, although overall trading activity remains relatively subdued.
Cawthorne is produced from OML 18 in Nigeria’s Niger Delta and is exported through the offshore FSO Cawthorne, which provides storage and evacuation capacity for crude from the asset.
The development is part of Nigeria’s broader effort to reverse years of declining oil production caused by underinvestment, ageing infrastructure, crude theft and operational disruptions.
By introducing new export streams, the country aims to increase production, diversify its customer base and strengthen oil revenues.
The Cawthorne grade has already attracted international buyers since its launch, with earlier cargoes shipped to markets including India and Europe.
NNPC’s continued marketing of the grade indicates that Nigeria is seeking to establish Cawthorne as a regular and competitive addition to its crude export basket, alongside established grades such as Bonny Light, Forcados and Qua Iboe.
