Yemisi Izuora
Nigeria’s crude oil exports are on track for a month-on-month rise in March after a string of loading delays pushed back some cargoes.
Exports are slated to reach 1.62 million barrels per day (bpd) in March on 55 cargoes, up from a revised February loading schedule of 1.48 million bpd on 46 cargoes.
Shipments of Erha and Qua Iboe that were originally planned to load in February were deferred, adding to the March exports and taking away from the original February plan of 1.62 million bpd, loading programmes compiled by Reuters revealed.
The March increase comes despite only two cargoes of Bonga crude oil. Traders said the field has planned maintenance from mid-February until the end of the month that had cut into exports.
Field operator Shell has declined to comment on maintenance plans. Planned exports also include four cargoes of Akpo condensate for a total of 129,000 bpd, compared with February’s exports of four cargoes for a total of 136,000 bpd.