Oil Markets

In this episode of the Oil Markets Podcast, senior editor Emma Kettley and associate editor David Lewis discuss with Paul Hickin the recent changes in crude flows and how Russian crude finds its way in new markets. Our experts explain the changing trade patterns in Europe where participants shun Russian barrels, which surprisingly didn’t prevent Urals exports to reach three-year highs in May. Tell us more about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our two-minute survey here: https://bit.ly/plattspod22

In this episode of the Oil Markets Podcast, light ends pricing editors Sarah Hernandez and Jordan Daniel and Americas clean products manager Matthew Kohlman discuss the record-high gasoline prices that are impacting drivers across the US. They discuss historically low inventories, how a shortage of octanes is driving up prices for premium grades, what the outlook is for gasoline demand, and prices through the rest of the summer. This Oil Markets podcast was produced by Jennifer Pedrick in Houston.

In this episode of the Oil Markets Podcast, associate editors Stepan Lavrouk, Lawrence Toye and Kelly Norways discuss with John Morley the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the fuel oil and bunker markets. Our experts explore the tightness in the VLSFO market and the way refineries and buyers are adapting to the new market fundamentals, where many companies avoid Russian product while others benefit from discounted prices. Tell us more about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our two-minute survey here: https://bit.ly/plattspod22

Asian gasoil and gasoline cracks have surged in May, amid the war between Russia and Ukraine that started in late February. Asian refineries are looking to raise run rates or delay their planned maintenance this spring to meet the demand. In this podcast, S&P Global Commodity Insights' experts—Jonathan Nonis, Reetika Porwal and Joshua Ong from the Platts pricing team and JY Lim, advisor for Asia-Pacific oil markets -- discuss the contributing factors and the future trajectory of the markets.  

The recent round of Q1 earnings calls for US refiners and upstream producers were almost unanimously upbeat. Crude prices of $100+/b oil and unusually high natural gas prices, coupled with changing oil flows from the war in Ukraine, have sparked buoyant US diesel demand while the need for energy security has led to a climbing rig count in both the domestic shale patch and more offshore projects. Americas oil news director Jeff Mower sits down with senior downstream editor Janet McGurty and senior upstream editor Starr Spencer to discuss recent trends and future outlooks for US producers and refiners. This Oil Markets podcast was produced by Jennifer Pedrick in Houston.

In the background of the pandemic, IMO 2020 was reshaping the landscape of traditional marine fuels. Now, more than two years since the pandemic began, the US Gulf Coast 0.5%S market has established new standards for supplying this fuel. It came with unique blending challenges. The USGC HSFO market has also taken on a new life as a secondary option as a marine fuel. In this Oil Markets podcast, S&P Global Commodity Insights' Beth Brown and Patrick Burns discuss the recent decision to eliminate hand blends from trades reported in the Platts Market on Close assessment process in the US and how trading in these markets has evolved. This Oil Markets podcast was produced by Jennifer Pedrick in Houston.

From the maximization of middle distillates yields by refiners to the impact of Chinese lockdowns on the Asia petrochemical sector, our editors explore the implication for European gasoline's blending margins. In this episode of the Oil Markets podcast, EMEA refined products associate editorial director Francesco Di Salvo speaks with gasoline editor Lucy Brown and naphtha editor Vinicius Maffei about the reasons for the record spread between gasoline and naphtha in Northwest Europe, a key measure of blending economics. This Oil Markets podcast was produced by Jennifer Pedrick in Houston.

The global fuel oil supply chain has in the recent past been impacted by tight product availability due to the war in Ukraine and the subsequent restrictions on Russian oil purchases.  The Asian fuel oil market, which accounts for roughly half of the global marine fuel demand, has been severely stretched too. One of the most harrowing incidents of fuel contamination in recent history at the world's largest bunkering hub Singapore has only exacerbated the tight supply situation. Not surprisingly then, the Asian fuel oil market participants have been closely monitoring the evolving demand-supply dynamic in China, a major producer-supplier of marine fuel. They are tracking not only the impact from oil demand loss, but also, how it may potentially sway the government's decision on the timing and quantum of the second round of fuel oil export quota. In this podcast, S&P Global Commodity Insights' Rajesh Nair, Atsuko Kawasaki and Zhuwei Wang discuss the various scenarios that are likely to play out and its impact on the Asian fuel oil market.

What exactly defines the origin of an oil product? How is self-sanctioning affecting Russian diesel and gasoil exports? And how is Russian-origin diesel being treated in the spot market? In this episode of the Oil Markets Podcast, Richard Swann, S&P Global Commodity Insights’ Director for clean refined products, discusses with Francesco Di Salvo, Associate Editorial Director for European refined products, the question of origin of diesel imported into Europe and the different approaches taken by oil majors and trading companies to handle Russian-origin oil products. Tell us more about your podcast preferences so we can keep improving our shows. Take our two-minute survey here: https://bit.ly/plattspod22

In the ever-evolving crude market, the dearth of crude from Iran, Venezuela and, most recently, Russia, has led Asian refiners to buy up tight supplies of heavy Latin grades as a replacement. Buying interest for these grades from Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador has been reported in recent months, but availability is limited and a surge in supply from the US could send the market spinning yet again. Americas crude manager Laura Huchzermeyer leads the discussion with Maria Eugenia Garcia, senior editor for Latin American crude, Pankaj Rao, editor for Asian and Middle East crude markets, and Dania el Saadi, senior editor of Middle East News.