Oil Markets

There is growing optimism that 2022 will turn out to be the strongest year for Asian oil demand since the outbreak of COVID-19 more than two years ago. With consumption patterns looking increasingly resilient in top consumers China and India, demand may finally be on a sustained upward trend after a long period of uneven growth. But the market will be looking for answers to some key questions. Will Asia’s oil demand in 2022 rise above 2019 level despite the emergence of omicron? Can high oil prices create hurdles for demand recovery? And finally, what's in store for oil as Asia speeds up efforts to embrace the energy transition process? In a wide-ranging discussion with S&P Global Platts Asia Energy Editor Sambit Mohanty, Global Head of Oil Markets Vera Blei and Asia Head of Content Calvin Lee share their insights on some of the top themes for Asian oil markets in 2022.

Despite falling passenger numbers, airlines are facing soaring fuel bills. S&P Global Platts reporters Virginie Malicier and Lawrence Toye discuss with Joel Hanley what’s behind the supply/demand imbalance that’s pushing jet fuel prices to fresh highs.

Looking ahead into 2022, US crude oil export flows will continue to recover and grow as demand and prices surge, but will we see export volumes return to the record levels we were seeing a couple of years ago? S&P Global Platts US crude managing editor Laura Huchzermeyer, US Gulf Coast crude reporter Kristian Tialios, and Platts Analytics' North American oil analyst Lisa Orme discuss market trends impacting the waterborne crude oil market on the US Gulf Coast, along with the forecast for volumes in 2022.

As the world has slowly emerged from a lockdown-ridden 2020, the oil markets have had to adjust. Platts reporters from around the world discuss the fundamental highlights of the year, and take a look at what 2022 might bring. Based in Asia, the Americas, and Europe respectively, Sambit Mohanty, Richard Swann, and Joel Hanley bring insight from their regions and look at the big issues driving markets today and tomorrow.

Sustainable aviation fuel is gaining popularity among renewable fuel manufacturers. The SAF market is poised for rapid growth in the coming years as global and regional emissions programs look to decarbonize the carbon-intensive aviation sector. SAF is becoming an important initiative in many renewable diesel projects, in part of manufacturers' efforts to gain policy support, like the tax credit in the Biden administration’s Build Back Better Act. However, the market faces additional hurdles like competition for feedstocks and high production costs. Senior oil writer Janet McGurty and Americas biofuels manager Josh Pedrick talk through the emerging trends in SAF and some of the challenges facing the market.

Oil markets crashed on the emergence of the omicron variant of COVID-19, leaving market jitters and increased volatility. S&P Global Platts reporters Nick Baldwin and Virginie Malicier discuss with Joel Hanley the reaction and prospects in crude oil and jet fuel, two of the most pandemic-sensitive markets in the oil world.

The Asian jet fuel market is finally witnessing renewed interest after COVID-19 unleashed an unprecedented crisis in the aviation industry. Heightened vaccination rates in many Asian countries, relaxation of zero-COVID tolerance policies by many countries, and the introduction of vaccinated travel lanes by various nations has boosted jet fuel prospects. The optimism around air travel bodes well for jet fuel demand and prices. Yet, the threat of the pandemic still lingers. With aviation's environmental impact also in focus, many Asian airlines are forging ahead with the use of sustainable aviation fuel. In a discussion with S&P Global Platts Senior Editor for Petroleum News Surabhi Sahu, Head of global demand and Asia analytics Dr Kang Wu and Associate Editor Oil markets Amy Tan share their insights into what the future holds for the jet fuel market and the feasibility of the widespread adoption of sustainable aviation fuels.

The strong backwardation in diesel and gasoline forward pricing is reflective of a tight fundamental picture for road fuels in Europe as demand steadily rises and refineries grapple with high crude feedstock and running costs as natural gas prices soar, curtailing supply. Amid this market tightness, inventories continue to draw as the opportunity cost of storage rises, reducing supply buffers. At the same time, refiner hedging is exacerbating the strength in calendar time spreads. In this episode of the Oil Markets Podcast, S&P Global Platts Global editors Rowan Staden-Coats and Lucy Brown discuss with Joel Hanley backwardation and what it means for road fuel markets in Europe.

Demand to ship gasoline on Colonial Pipeline has outpaced available space since October, a first in 19 months. The Atlantic Coast has seen higher demand, and imports are low. The spread between offline gasoline prices at the end of Line 1 in Greensboro, North Carolina, and prices at the origin in Houston, Texas, have reached their widest seasonal level in the last three years. In the meantime, Gulf Coast shippers are paying a premium to ship their barrels as soon as possible. In this episode of the Oil Markets Podcast, S&P Global Platts gasoline editors Anna Trier and Sarah Hernandez discuss why this is happening and what the impact is on gasoline prices in the Gulf and Atlantic Coast regions.

The continued strength in the Brent complex as a whole, demonstrated by the Dated Brent benchmark breaching the $85/b threshold in late October, masks the differing supply and demand dynamics for both sweet and sour grades in Europe, arguably low global stock levels, selective refinery demand and declining official selling prices or OSPs by National Oil Companies. With OPEC+ set to meet on Nov. 4, how will these producers react to a mixed physical picture amid diplomatic pressure to pump more? In this episode of the Oil Markets Podcast, S&P Global Platts Global Brent lead Emma Kettley and Head of Oil News in London Paul Hickin discuss with Joel Hanley the most recent trends in the North Sea crude complex and its effect on important regional crude spreads ahead of the key OPEC+ meeting.