Africa’s top oil producer offers another cargo of its newest Cawthorne crude as Middle East supply risks grow

Nigeria is offering another cargo of its newest crude grade to international buyers, strengthening its push to diversify exports as disruptions in the Middle East increase interest in oil supplies outside the region.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the country’s state-owned energy company, issued a tender for a 950,000-barrel cargo of Cawthorne crude scheduled to load on 21 and 22 September, according to tender documents seen by Reuters.

NNPC is also offering a separate 950,000-barrel cargo of Bonny Light, one of Nigeria’s best-known export grades, for loading between 30 September and 1 October.

Bids for both cargoes close at 8 p.m. West Africa Time on 4 August, with the oil offered on a free-on-board basis.

The latest tender gives Cawthorne another opportunity to establish itself in the international crude market only months after Nigeria launched the grade as part of efforts to reverse years of production decline and broaden its export portfolio.