The total value of crude exported from Nigeria to the United States, India, Netherlands, Italy and six other countries in the last quarter of 2012 was N3.098tn.
The National Bureau of Statistics stated this in its fourth quarter 2012 trade statistics report signed by the Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr. Yemi Kale.
The report revealed that the value of the crude exported to the United States in the quarter under review was N723.49bn; India, N678.4bn; Netherlands, N409.68bn; Italy, N238bn; United Kingdom, N246.4bn; and Spain, N326.98bn.
Others are China, N15.56bn; Brazil, N290bn; South Africa, N132.75bn; and Ireland, N37bn.
The report also put the total merchandise trade for the fourth quarter of 2012 at N7.185tn, representing an increase of N6.4bn or 0.1 per cent over what was recorded in the third quarter of the same year.
The report further stated that the crude oil component of the total trade increased by N 1,596tn or 11 per cent over the level recorded in 201.
Similarly, the Federal Government had said it would increase crude oil exports to 76 cargoes in May, 2013. A revised loading plan for April revealed that 66 shipments had been planned to be exported.
Three Bonny Light cargoes, two of Brass River and one Okono consignment were said to have been deferred to May from April.
The final loading programme indicated that the country planned to ship 11 consignments of Qua Iboe, nine of Forcados, eight each of Bonny Light and Agbami, five each of Akpo, Bonga and Brass River, four of Erha, three each of Amenam, Escravos, Usan and Yoho, two lots of Abo, Antan and Okwori, and one each of EA Blend, Okono and Pennington in April.
The May programme totals 65 million barrels, or 2.1 million barrels a day, versus 60.2 million, or two million a day scheduled for April.
Loading programmes are monthly schedules of crude shipments compiled by field operators to allow buyers and sellers to plan their supply and trading activities.
The PUNCH had reported on April 3 that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was also working out measures to boost the exploration and export of crude, despite the massive oil theft going on in the sector.
“The NNPC has been working on boosting crude export and the Group Managing Director sees this as very important,” the General Manager, Media Relations Department, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Mr. Omar Ibrahim, told our correspondent in Abuja.