* Less than 20 cargoes of Nigerian crude were still available, traders said, with January loading programmes expected to start emerging on Friday.

* Only a handful of Bonny Light, Qua Iboe and Forcados cargoes were left. Bonny was being shown at a premium to dated Brent of $1.60 to $1.70 a barrel and Forcados at $1.70.

* December loading Bonga was said to be sold out.

* The January Angolan programme was not expected to emerge until Monday.

* Unipec bought a cargo of Angolan Nemba from Chevron.