
Oil Markets
S&P Global Commodity Insights analysis of key oil price movements across the globe.
Latest episodes

Apr 20, 2023 • 13min
Italy’s Eni finds success in Mexico’s oil upstream
Italy’s Eni has been one of the most successful drillers in Mexico. One of many E&P companies active in Mexico’s upstream auctions following the country’s 2013-2014 liberalization, Eni was the first independent to produce in Mexican waters in 2019. Most recently, Eni announced a 200 million boe discovery at the Yatzil well in the Salina sub-basin, and has just been given approval to drill another offshore exploration well. Jeff Mower, director of Americas oil news, and Sheky Espejo, Mexico energy correspondent, discuss what Eni’s success means for Mexico’s struggling oil output. Register for the Middle East Petroleum & Gas conference here

Apr 13, 2023 • 18min
Non-dollar oil trade: a distant dream or a feasible reality?
The debate over the use of alternative currencies in global oil trade has intensified over the past one year following the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has not only dramatically reshaped oil flows but also altered energy relations between producers and consumers. But there are questions as to how quickly the global trading community can embrace alternative currencies while balancing the risks associated with moving away from the US dollar. In a wide-ranging discussion with Asia Energy Editor Sambit Mohanty, renowned commodities investor and chairman of Beeland Interests Inc. Jim Rogers, and two senior leaders at S&P Global Commodity Insights - Dave Ernsberger, Global Head of Market Reporting and Trading Solutions, and Chief Energy Strategist Atul Arya - share their views on the challenges and opportunities ahead as debate on the subject intensifies.

Apr 5, 2023 • 17min
OPEC+ oil production cuts shake oil markets
Increased volatility, rising prices and strained geopolitical relations. These are some of the side-effects of the latest OPEC+ production cut. Meanwhile, Platts Market on Close crude assessments fully reflect traders' sharp reaction to the surprise move amid uncertainty in various oil grades. In this episode of the Platts Oil Markets podcast, S&P Global Commodity Insights editors Rosemary Griffin, Sam Angell and Luke Stuart join Joel Hanley to discuss the immediate impact of the OPEC+ announcement, the decision by Russian sellers to change the way they price barrels, and potential threats to an already fragile global oil supply. Join us at MPGC 2023! The 30th Annual Middle East Petroleum & Gas conference (MPGC) will be brought to you by S&P Global Commodity Insights, along with the host, Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) on 22-23 May 2023 in Dubai, UAE. Registrations are open! Related Platts price assessments: PCAAS00 - Dated Brent PCAAT00 - Dubai Mo01 (NextGen MOC) Urals FOB Primorsk Urals FOB Novo Afra AAGZS00 - Urals FOB Novo SuezDWCUA00 - Urals DAP West Coast India AAEJD00 - Kirkuk FOB Ceyhan

Mar 30, 2023 • 16min
March Mayhem: HSFO supply glut vs. high freight
US fuel oil stocks in the first quarter of 2023 reached their highest levels since April 2020. Traders have had to alleviate their oversupply by exporting, though high freight rates have made profits more difficult to find. In this Oil Markets episode, Americas fuel oil experts Beth Brown and Patrick Burns sit down with Americas shipping experts Catherine Rogers and Catherine Kellogg to discuss how traders have had to shift routes and export heavier material to find an open arbitrage. Prices in this episode: PUAFZ00 (USGC HSFO) TDUCG00 (Dirty USG-UKC Aframax)

Mar 16, 2023 • 16min
What is next for Africa's oil products markets?
In this episode of the Platts Oil Markets podcast, Francesco Di Salvo is joined by Gary Clark, Patrick McAllister and Matthew Tracey-Cook to explore the theme of evolving standards and specifications for transport fuels in the continent reflecting on the main takeaways of ARDA Week 2023. Price assessments discussed in this episode: FOB ARA 0.1% gasoil barges: #AAYWT00 FOB AR 10ppm premium gasoline barges: #PGABM00

Mar 9, 2023 • 13min
Oil at CERAWeek: Production and export challenges compound on rising demand
Energy stakeholders from around the world gathered in Houston this week for CERAWeek by S&P Global to talk about the biggest issues and current trends in the energy industry. On the oil front, speakers and panelists highlighted permitting timelines amid record-high export crude demand, while a shift in hedging practices was seen in light of recent volatility in crude prices. In this Oil Markets podcast, Jeff Mower sits down with Dave Ernsberger and Binish Azhar to discuss these topics and others coming out of the conference. Register here for the World Petrochemical Conference, March 20-24

Mar 2, 2023 • 11min
King of the barrel: will jet or diesel win the battle in 2023?
The year 2023 did not start as expected: China suddenly dropped all COVID restrictions, boosting sentiment in the global jet market, while diesel prices fell despite the ban on Russian oil product imports into the EU from 5 February. As a result, European jet fuel cracks jumped above diesel, but the spread narrowed by the end of February and the two products are now neck and neck, raising the question of which one will be maximised by refiners, thus tightening the supply of the other in the coming months. In this episode of the Platts Oil Markets Podcast, S&P Global Commodity Insights experts Maxim Kotenev and Gary Clark join Francesco Di Salvo to discuss the outlook for the jet fuel market, its potential impact on other middle distillates and whether a recession is likely to prevent aviation from fully recovering from the pandemic. Related price symbols: Diesel: CIF ARA 10ppm ULSD cargoes #AAVBG00 Jet fuel: CIF NWE jet fuel cargoes #PJAAU00

Feb 23, 2023 • 17min
Asia prepares for two-way oil product flows as EU ban takes effect
With the European Union's ban on Russian oil products coming into effect, the spotlight is now on Asia as the market tries to find answers to the extent to which the region can absorb Russian products displaced from Europe and how Asian refiners can take advantage of the product vacuum in other regions of Europe. In a wide-ranging discussion with Asia Energy Editor Sambit Mohanty, S&P Global Commodity Insights senior experts Jonathan Nonis, Wendy Cheong and Zhuwei Wang discuss the outlook for potential changes in product flows, such as diesel, naphtha and LPG, that Asia could see, as well as the pricing, shipping and logistics challenges that could arise with long-distance product shipments.

Feb 16, 2023 • 13min
Boom in US crude exports: WTI Midland flows to Europe set to soar
In March, Europe is set to experience a record surge in WTI Midland crude flows from the US, as demand for American crude booms. In the latest Platts Oil Markets podcast we explore the key drivers behind this increase in demand and the push and pull factors fueling the growth in US crude exports to Europe. Join editorial director John Morley and editors David Lewis, Sam Angell, and Vinicius Maffei for valuable insights into the latest developments in the global oil market and the implications for the energy industry. Related price assessments: WTI Midland CIF Rotterdam vs Dated Brent: WMCRB00 Naphtha CIF NWE cargo M1 crack: AAECX00 Gasoline Eurobob 10ppm FOB ARA barge crack: ABWFL00

Feb 9, 2023 • 15min
Q4 earnings tell a tale of inflation and underinvestment
Oil and gas producers and service companies have been reporting their fourth-quarter earnings over the past few weeks. And, apart from the headline-grabbing record profits, we’ve seen some common themes and concerns emerge. While companies have generally been more optimistic as far as inflation and bottlenecks go, they also continue to express concerns about underinvestment. What does this mean for oil and gas production? Jeff Mower, director of Americas oil news, is joined by senior oil editor Starr Spencer and natural gas editor Dylan Chase to discuss these issues and more. Subscribe to Platts Dimensions Pro for access to assessments and premium content covering Midland WTI (PCACJ00), Waha gas (IGBAD21) and much more.