Oil Markets

With longer-haul voyages and the 'dark fleet' growing, tight freight availability is pushing shipping rates to fresh highs. What does strong shipping market mean for the crude competing to replace Russian flows?S&P Global Commodity Insights reporters George Papageorgiou, Sam Angell, and George Delaney discuss with Joel Hanley the spike in rates and the effect on oil from the Mediterranean and Africa. Related stories: Soaring tanker freight depresses FOB differentials for Med, West African crudes FEATURE: Growing maritime risks as shadow tanker fleet expands to cover Russian trades Related price assessments: AAGXN00 - Qua Iboe FOB Nigeria vs WAF Dtd Strip AAGXJ00 - Urals Rotterdam vs Med Dtd Strip TDACS00 - West Africa-UKC 260kt $/mt TDACR00 - West Africa-UKC 130kt $/mt TDABL00 - Ceyhan-Med 80kt $/mt

The tug-of-war between Asia and Europe for sourcing oil is set to intensify as the European Union's ban on Russian seaborne crude inches closer. From Middle East to Africa, suppliers are already feeling the pressure of how to split supplies between different regions. In a wide-ranging discussion with Asia Energy Editor, Sambit Mohanty, S&P Global Commodity Insights' experts--Andy Critchlow, Head of News for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Paul Sheldon, Chief Geopolitical Advisor, and Kang Wu, Head of Global Oil Demand and Asia Analytics--share their insights on some of the biggest challenges the market may face after sanctions are imposed, the strategy of OPEC+ and the hurdles in making the G7 price cap work. Subscribe to Platts Dimensions Pro for access to assessments and premium content covering crude oil. Related content: Energy Security Sentinel

In this episode of the Platts Oil Markets podcast, S&P Global Commodity Insights editors Robert Perkins, Virginie Malicier and David Lewis discuss with John Morley what has already changed in the oil markets since February 24 and the expected impact of upcoming sanctions, from the ban on exports of Russian crude oil to Europe and the US for any loading after December 5, to the ban on exports of oil products into Europe from Feb. 5 and the shipping insurance ban from December as well. Related price assessments: Non-Russian diesel: CIF ARA 10ppm ULSD cargoes #AAVBG00 Diesel including Russian origin: CIF ARA 10ppm ULSD "all origins" cargoes #ALORA00 Dated Brent: #PCAAS00 Russian crude oil: Urals CIF NWE #AAGXJ00 New assessment of Kazakh origin Urals (started on Nov. 1): CIF Med KEBCO #KBCOA00

The US Gulf Coast crude market is exporting record volumes while also seeing sky-high freight rates. This dynamic has been playing out consistently for the past few months, but how are these exports continuing to move in such great volumes despite this major headwind? In this episode of the Platts Oil Markets Podcast, S&P Global Commodity Insights crude and shipping experts Laura Huchzermeyer, Kristian Tialios and Catherine Kellogg discuss the factors that are contributing to these high freight rates and how they are impacting US Gulf Coast exports. Subscribe to Platts Dimensions Pro for access to assessments and premium content covering Platts AGS (AGSAA00), 130kt Suezmax Brazil-UK Continent (ABRKB00), 270kt USGC-China (TDUCB00) and much more.

What role will oil play in mitigating Europe's natural gas problem this winter? With energy costs skyrocketing since the start of the Russian-Ukraine war, industries and households across the continent have been looking across the barrel for practical alternatives to natural gas. In this episode of the Platts Oil Markets Podcast, S&P Global Commodity Insights associate editors Aly Blakeway and Patrick McAllister explore with Francesco Di Salvo to what degree LPG and gasoil may be utilized in the short-term to replace natural gas. LPG: CIF ARA large propane cargoes PMABA00 LPG barges: FOB ARA propane barges PMAAS00 0.1% gasoil: FOB 0.1% gasoil barges AAYWT00 ULSD: FOB ARA 10ppm diesel barges AAJUS00

Oil product market sentiment in Asia has been volatile due to the larger-than-expected Q4 exports from China. The uncertainty saw the region's best-performing product crack for the year -- ULSD -- falling by a record 30% in just two trading sessions in the first half of September. As trading sentiment slowly recovers, the Asian oil market has to adjust to the expected increase in oil products from China over the next few months amid gloomy macroeconomic scenario. In a discussion, S&P Global Commodity Insights' experts Jonathan Nonis, Oceana Zhou, Su Yeen Cheong, and Zhuwei Wang talk about the impact of China's Q4 oil products export this late in the year and what it means going forward. Subscribe to Platts Dimensions Pro for access to assessments and premium content covering Platts Gasoline Unl 92 FOB Spore Cargo (PGAEY00), Platts Gasoil FOB Spore Cargo (POABC00) and much more.

The gasoline and diesel markets in Northwest Europe have tightened as France seeks alternative sources of supply due to strike at five of the country's six refineries. Though negotiations are ongoing at ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies, and strike action might stop soon, supply disruptions are expected to continue at least for a few weeks. In this bonus episode of the Platts Oil Markets Podcast, S&P Global Commodity Insights senior editors Virginie Malicier and Elza Turner discuss with Francesco Di Salvo why these social movements had such an impact on road fuel prices. This week's episode: It's been a perfect storm for Midwest gasoline supply Related price symbols: PCAAS00 - Dated Brent AAJUS00 - ULSD 10ppmS FOB ARA Barge ABXGT00 - ULSD 10ppm CIF NWE basis Le Havre Cargo Eur cents/liter AARIN00 - ICE LS Gasoil at London MOC Mo01 (NextGen MOC) AARIO00 - ICE LS Gasoil at London MOC Mo02 (NextGen MOC)

Though summer driving season is already in the rearview mirror, gasoline differentials in the US Midwest and West Coast apparently haven't gotten the memo. A flurry of planned and unplanned refinery outages in both regions have pressured already-tight supply dynamics as the rest of the world scrambles to secure gasoline supply. S&P Global Commodity Insights gasoline reporter Anna Trier speaks with Debnil Chowdhury, Americas Head of Refining and Marketing at SPGCI, about how refinery issues catapulted Chicago gasoline differentials to all-time highs and what relief, if any, is on the horizon for Midwest production.

S&P Global Commodity Insights senior leaders Richard Swann and Dave Ernsberger discuss with Joel Hanley the issues highlighted by Singapore's APPEC event, the first fully in-person edition of Asia's leading oil forum in two years. Topics for under discussion included energy security, OPEC+ cuts, the price cap on Russian oil, Chinese quotas, and more, showing once again how this important event helps shape the energy conversation. Related price assessment: Dated Brent: PCAAS00

The strength seen across European and African crude oil markets in the spring and summer has largely been eroded as focus shifts to the potential demand reduction caused by economic slowdowns. There are some potential headwinds on the horizon that could shift this more bearish picture however, with multiple supply disruptions hitting the North Sea, Mediterranean, and West Africa. In this episode of the Platts Oil Markets Podcast, S&P Global Commodity Insights editors David Lewis and Sam Angell join John Morley to discuss the latest news shaping European crude markets. Price assessments discussed in this episode: Dated Brent outright price (PCAAS00) CPC Blend vs forward Dated Brent (AAHPL00) WAF Index vs forward Dated Brent (AWAFB00)