Oil Markets

Pressure on availability of sour crude could be brewing amid tension in the Middle East, with the potential for US involvement in the area to result in sanctions on Iraqi exports. Platts reporters William Bland and Eklavya Gupte discuss with Joel Hanley where recent events in the region could take us in this podcast, recorded on Tuesday. Also, Seth Clare, Britt Russell-Webster and Tom Washington update Tamara Sleiman on how VLSFO and distillates are faring at the start of 2020.

With industrial action seen across many industries in France, Platts reporters Virginie Malicier and John-Laurent Tronche tell Joel Hanley of the impact on the country's refinery business and what it could mean for prices.

As the clamor for greener fuels grows ever louder, bunker players are already looking forward to the next big thing. Platts bunker reporters Jack Jordan and Tom Washington discuss with Joel Hanley the alternative fuels being eyed as replacements for oil. And in the latest IMO 2020 podcast, Tamara Sleiman talks to Britt Russell-Webster and Eleni Pittalis on the industry's final preparations ahead of the much talked about January 1 deadline.

In a rare move, Qatar Petroleum issued a tender this month that included a cargo of its Marine Crude grade. It was made even more unusual by the fact that the tender cargo was priced as a differential against Platts Dubai crude assessments. In this episode of S&P Global Platts Oil Markets podcast, editors Eesha Muneeb and Ada Taib examine how Qatar's move could potentially impact pricing of Middle Eastern crudes.

Surging popularity for 0.5% sulfur marine fuel is boosting the new fuel's cracks to twice that of refining mainstay gasoline, product reporters Tom Washington and Solomon Lanitis tell John Morley. Upstream, crude reporters Emma Kettley, William Bland and Amanda Flint update Tamara Sleiman about the widening sweet-sour crude spread.

Middle distillates have been drifting into the a softer patch on the back of frustrated expectations for IMO 2020. Amid this, arrivals of VLCCs carrying middle distillates have impacted European and African markets, middle distillates specialists Virginie Malicier and Gary Clark tell Francesco Di Salvo.

The cost of shipping refined products from Europe to West Africa has risen strongly in recent weeks, making shippers rethink their strategies. Platts reporters Chris To and Solomon Lanitis discuss with Joel Hanley how the rise in freight rates is leading to companies doing extra journeys to make...

Asian end-users faced a month of soaring crude oil prices in October after freight rates surged to record highs earlier this month. Editors Vickey Du and Avantika Ramesh look at how end-users have responded and which grades in particular have benefitted from the expensive freight.

Much is made of the new 0.5% sulfur standard in marine fuels come IMO 2020 but what of the well-established 3.5% fuel market? How are prices reacting to the upcoming changes in shipping standards? Platts reporters Tamara Sleiman and Britt Russell-Webster join Joel Hanley to discuss the short-term...

With Otto von Bismarck’s famous quote likely ringing in his ears, Saudi King Salman welcomed Russia’s President Putin this week. Oil, OPEC, and cooperation were high on the agenda, but will Putin’s visit to the Middle East prove more successful than the Saudi orchestra’s...