(Updates May volumes with further delays)

LONDON, May 9 (Reuters) - Nigerian crude oil exports are expected to rise to 1.98 million barrels per day in June, including Bonny Light, after a dip to about 1.63 million bpd in May, traders said on Friday.

The preliminary June programmes for Bonny Light show the grade's exports should average about 237,000 bpd, including 3 cargoes delayed from May, they said.

Oil traders had been closely watching June programmes and revisions to May loading dates, especially the main grades Bonny Light and Qua Iboe, because recent sabotage attacks and a strike in April have hit Nigeria's production significantly.

The full production level of Nigeria's light, sweet Bonny Light is about 400,000 bpd. The recent spate of rebel attacks to oil facilities forced operator Royal Dutch Shell <RDSa.L> was forced to shut 164,000 bpd of its production in May.

The major still has the force majeure in place on the grade's exports throughout May.

The revised May loading dates show Bonny Light loadings are likely to be delayed by about a week.

Traders described the delay as unexpectedly minor and June Nigerian exports were set to recover relatively quickly from May.

"It is not much of the delay," a trader said.

The delay is likely to reduce Bonny Light exports to about 215,000 bpd for May, compared with the original export volume of about 306,000 bpd.

Total crude oil exports from Nigeria in May would fall 47,000 barrels from April to reflect the delays of Bonny Light, Qua Iboe and Brass River.

On Thursday, traders said Qua Iboe loadings in May were expected to be delayed by 13-15 days.

In late April, Exxon Mobil <XOM.N> had to shut all of its 800,000 bpd oil production in Nigeria, including Qua Iboe, due to an eight-day strike.

Exxon has resumed production since then and it has lifted a force majeure.

(Reporting by Ikuko Kao)