Oil Markets

S&P Global Commodity Insights
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Sep 11, 2025 • 26min

Seasonal gasoline transition in US shapes refining strategies, blendstock trade

As the US transitions to higher-volatility gasoline grades, refiners are adjusting their strategies to balance supply and demand amid seasonal maintenance and export pressures, which also have implications for butane demand. In this episode, the team unpacks the mechanics of the RVP transition, the impact of refinery issues in Mexico, and the growing demand for LPG in Southeast Asia. Jeff Mower, director of Americas oil news, discusses these seasonal shifts with light ends pricing manager Sarah Hernandez, LPG price reporter Hunter Marrow, and senior oil news reporter Janet McGurty.  Links:  US gasoline RVP calendar Gasoline Unleaded 87 USGC Prompt Pipeline AANY105 Butane FOB ARA PMAAC00 ULSD USGC Prompt Pipeline AATGY00
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Sep 4, 2025 • 15min

What is behind diverging LPG fundamentals over the summer period?

During the summer season, warmer temperatures and muted levels of demand should traditionally bring length to the LPG markets. This certainly appears to have materialized in the propane markets, but a tightness in the butane market seems to be painting a different picture. How has supply been affected over the summer months, and what can we expect from the LPG market in the short-term with re-emerging trends such as winter gasoline blending? Join host Gary Clark in a conversation with frontline reporters Geraint Moody and Matthew Tracey-Cook.  
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Aug 28, 2025 • 25min

APPEC to look at Asia's changing energy narrative amid tariffs and transition

APPEC to look at Asia's changing energy narrative amid tariffs and transition   Navigating trade, technology and transition—that's the theme of this year's Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference, or APPEC 2025, by S&P Global Commodity Insights. It is scheduled to take place during September 8-11 in Singapore, where CEOs, government officials and market experts will share their insights on geopolitical influences on energy markets, technological innovation, and disruptions, redefined decarbonization strategies and price outlooks. Delegates will also seek answers on how Asia is navigating a multi-faceted energy future to ensure energy security at a time when many countries are faced with high trade tariffs and sanctions on energy producers are either limiting or diverting energy flows. In this episode of Platts Oil Markets Podcast ahead of APPEC, Asia energy editor Sambit Mohanty discusses with Vera Blei, head of Market Reporting and Trading Solutions, Calvin Lee, head of Asia Content, and Pulkit Agarwal, head of India Content, some of the key themes that will dominate discussions at APPEC. Related links: APPEC 2025 - Register your interest
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Aug 21, 2025 • 24min

Drones hammer Russian, Ukrainian energy infrastructure amid push for peace deal

The world's attention has turned the US in recent days after back-to-back peace summits separately involving Russia's and Ukraine's presidents. But in the absence of a ceasefire deal, drone attacks have taken on a new intensity, continuing to claim civilian lives and knocking out critical infrastructure. In the past week alone, Russia has sustained damage to at least five major oil refineries, as well as its main crude pipeline link into Central Europe. Meanwhile, its own attacks risk straining fragile ties with neighbors like Azerbaijan. Join London oil news reporters Kelly Norways and Nick Coleman to unpack the impact of a new destructive chapter in the region's drone warfare, with insights from Platts refining expert Elza Turner. Links:Russia restores oil flows to Hungary and Slovakia after Druzhba pipeline damage Russia strikes Ukraine's damaged oil refinery again in major drone strike (subscriber content) Ukraine hits fifth Russian refinery in week ahead of Trump-Putin talks (subscriber content) Russia targets Ukrainian gas grid facility in latest drone attacks: ministry (subscriber content)
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Aug 14, 2025 • 23min

What’s in store for US diesel and jet?

US diesel prices have rallied this summer as strong export demand has helped to tighten inventories, while jet fuel prices have remained stable. With diesel stocks remaining tight, export demand, refinery maintenance and hurricane season present upside risks to prices. In contrast, jet fuel is well supplied, keeping a lid on prices. The outlook for both diesel and jet fuel has been complicated by US trade negotiations, with tariffs putting demand into question. What do recent travel warnings mean for jet demand? Why is the Caribbean pulling more US diesel? How will refinery closures on the US West Coast change jet flows? And what are the implications of the One Big Beautiful Bill on diesel and jet? Tune in as Jeff Mower, director of Americas oil news, digs into these and other questions with senior distillates reporters Aaron Tucker and Benjamin Peyton. Links: Jet Fuel USGC Prompt Pipeline Differential to NYMEX ULSD (NextGen MOC) ADIAS00 Jet Kero Los Angeles CA Pipeline vs NYMEX NY ULSD Mo01 AANVY00 Renewable Volume Obligation Current Year RVOR002 ULSD USGC Prompt Pipeline AATGY00 ULSD New York Harbor Barge AATGX00 ULSD No2 CARB Diesel Los Angeles CA Pipeline POAAK00  
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Aug 7, 2025 • 21min

Tainted crude: Europe responds to Azeri Light contamination

An outbreak of crude contamination impacting Azerbaijan’s Azeri Light supply has set Europe’s refiners on edge. As buyers seek to avoid being hit with corrosive organic chlorides, prices for the premium crude grade have tumbled, and some refiners have been forced to draw on emergency oil reserves. Kelly Norways, a downstream oil news reporter, is joined by senior news team editor Nick Coleman, Sam Angell, manager of Platts EMEA crude oil pricing and light ends reporter Dias Kazym to discuss the impact for crude and products in the impacted regions.
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Jul 31, 2025 • 26min

Tightness in USGC heavy crude puts spotlight on Canadian access

Heavy crude supplies to the US Gulf Coast have tightened. Waterborne imports have dropped sharply, driven largely by declines from Mexico and Venezuela. Canadian wildfires have further limited access to heavy barrels, and refiners like Valero are starting to feel the squeeze. Why are Mexican and Venezuelan crude imports collapsing, and can they recover? Why aren’t USGC refiners just turning to Canada via pipeline to replace lost barrels? What Canadian pipeline expansion plans are in the works to bring more crude to the USGC or overseas markets?  Jeff Mower, director of Americas oil news, speaks with senior oil news editor Ashok Dutta and Canadian oil market reporter Alex Saucer to break down what’s driving the tightness and where new supply might come from. Links: Pacific Cold Lake vs ICE Brent ATMXC00 Pacific Dilbit vs ICE Brent ATMXG00 Western Canadian Select at Hardisty vs WTI CMA AAPPP00 Western Canadian Select at Cushing vs WTI CMA AAWTZ00
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Jul 24, 2025 • 25min

EU sanctions, ceasefire, and OPEC+ move—what are the implications for Asia

  Oil is going through a period of uneasy calm. The higher-than-expected rise in OPEC+ production quotas for August, combined with a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, has provided oil markets some breathing space and introduced a bearish sentiment to prices, but new EU sanctions on Russia and the possibility of additional secondary sanctions by Washington could alter the price and trade flow scenarios. In this episode of Platts Oil Markets Podcast, Asia Energy Editor Sambit Mohanty discusses with Rahul Kapoor, vice president and head of oil shipping analytics at S&P Global Commodity Insights, and Dan Colover, head of oil and chemicals market engagement, on the implications of some of these developments on Asia.
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Jul 17, 2025 • 18min

Second UK refinery collapse puts focus on survivors

With the UK at risk of losing its second oil refinery in less than six months, Europe's refining sector is showing growing signs of strain. In this episode of the Platts Oil Markets podcast, Gary Clark is joined by reporters Elza Turner and Kelly Norways to unpack why healthy margins are failing to prevent closures in a year that has already seen the most shutdowns since the coronavirus pandemic. Links: UK faces surge in imports amid new refinery closure risk (Subscriber content) UK's Lindsey refinery resumes fuel deliveries as government battles local shortages (Subscriber content)  AAVBG00 - ULSD 10ppmS CIF NWE Cargo PJAAU00 - Jet CIF NWE Cargo
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Jul 10, 2025 • 27min

LPG boom: Exports, tariffs, and summer demand support North American NGLs

In this episode, the Americas NGLs pricing team discusses Gulf Coast and Canada NGL market dynamics. Light ends manager Sarah Hernandez and LPG reporters Hunter Marrow and Marcus Still review conditions from 2024 that led to record-high export premiums and compare those conditions with the current market context. They also analyze changes in export flows amid geopolitical tensions and discuss possible summer challenges for the supply-demand balance of Gulf Coast and Canadian LPG. Links:Propane FOB USGC AAXIN00Propane Enterprise Mt Belvieu Mo01 PMAAY00Isobutane Enterprise Mt Belvieu PMAAB00 Isobutane Sarnia Mo01 AEDMF00

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