Uche Cecil Izuora
Two new crude grades recently introduced in global market have hit a combined production capacity of 12.16 million barrels between January and May 2026.
Nigeria recently expanded its crude oil portfolio with two new grades: Utapate and Cawthorne.
While the Utapate production reached 8.75 million barrels, averaging about 58,000 barrels per day, Cawthorne output totaled 3.41 million barrels, rising steadily from 12,000 barrels per day in January to nearly 31,000 barrels per day in April.
Both grades possess qualities that are highly valued in global markets. They are light, low-sulfur crudes that produce high yields of gasoline and diesel. Utapate also stands out for its relatively low carbon footprint, thanks to the elimination of gas flaring at its production site.
These characteristics have made both grades particularly attractive to European and Asian refiners seeking alternative supply sources following the disruption of shipping routes linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
“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,” said Andy Odeh, Communications Director at NNPC Ltd.
Production volumes remain below expectations, particularly at Utapate. The field was expected to reach 80,000 barrels per day by the end of 2025, according to a target announced by Nicolas Foucart, Managing Director of NNPC E&P, during the field’s launch in July 2024.
As of May 2026, output stood at 59,170 barrels per day, roughly 26 per cent below the target level.
Despite these shortfalls, the two new grades form part of a broader recovery in Nigeria’s oil sector. In May 2026, the country produced an average of 1.53 million barrels per day, surpassing its OPEC quota of 1.5 million barrels per day for the first time in 15 months.
Including condensates, which contributed an additional 170,000 barrels per day, total production reached 1.7 million barrels per day, according to NUPRC figures.
The increase comes amid growing efforts by oil-importing countries to diversify supply sources.
Nations such as Indonesia have increased purchases of African crude grades that do not depend on Persian Gulf shipping routes.
Nigeria has benefited directly from this trend. During the first four months of 2026, the country exported approximately $2.4 billion worth of crude oil to Indonesia alone, according to data from Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency.