Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) is set to import its first-ever cargo of Nigerian Bonny Light crude oil in September 2025, according to two sources familiar with the deal. The 500,000-barrel shipment, supplied by global commodities trader Vitol, will be loaded later this month and is expected to arrive in Karachi by late September.
Neither PRL nor Vitol has issued an official statement regarding the price or terms of the deal, which has not yet been made public.
Pakistan Refinery and its Shift From Traditional Reliance
This purchase marks a notable shift from Pakistan’s traditional reliance on Middle Eastern crude, mainly sourced from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The decision reflects a broader trend among Asian refiners, who are increasingly exploring non-Middle Eastern options like U.S. West Texas Intermediate and Kazakh CPC Blend, driven by the rising cost of Gulf-region oil.
The Bonny Light purchase of Pakistan Refinery is significant not only because of its high gasoline and diesel yields, but also because it’s Pakistan’s first recorded import of this particular Nigerian grade. While a Nigerian Yoho crude shipment was documented in 2014, Bonny Light has never been officially imported—until now.
The announcement follows Pakistan’s first deal for U.S. crude (also with Vitol), which Cnergyico is expected to receive in October 2025.
With oil imports valued at $11.3 billion in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, crude and petroleum products remain Pakistan’s single largest import item, accounting for nearly 20% of the country’s total import bill. This diversification move could potentially reduce costs and boost refining flexibility amid shifting global energy markets.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, August 7th, 2025
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