Oil Markets

As the European ultra-low sulfur diesel complex rallies on concerns around Eastern resupply unable to pass through the Red Sea, gasoil – its high-sulfur counterpart – is under unusual pressure. In this episode of the Platts Oil Markets podcast, editors Natasha Tan and Nadia Bliznikova discuss recent trends with Francesco Di Salvo. Further reading: Med ULSD-gasoil spread at 14-month high on tight diesel, weak gasoil (subscribers) Related price assessments: AAVJJ00 - Gasoil .1%S (1000ppm) CIF Med Cargo (NextGen MOC) AAUQC00 - Gasoil .005%S (50ppm) FOB ARA Barge (NextGen MOC) AAWYZ00 - ULSD 10ppmS CIF Med Cargo

Following a 1 million b/d growth in US oil output in 2023, oil producers and service companies have been warning of slowing growth this year during their fourth quarter earnings calls. Will production surprise to the upside? And what would that mean for US refiners? In this episode of the Platts Oil Markets podcast, senior upstream editor Starr Spencer, senior refinery editor Janet McGurty and midstream editor Binish Azhar discuss these questions and more with host Jeff Mower, Americas Oil News Director. Further reading: ExxonMobil, Chevron tweak Permian operations while nearing 1 million boe/d output Volatile prices, slower growth seen tamping down Helmerich & Payne's 2024 rig count Valero sees wider coastal heavy crude differentials on heavy Q1 turnaround season

In the face of continued security issues in the Red Sea stemming from Houthi attacks on commercial vessels, European trade patterns for oil products across the barrel are changing. S&P Global Commodity Insights’ Robert Perkins, Nadia Bliznikova and Takis Gounaris join Joel Hanley to discuss the impacts the Red Sea disruption are having on the European supply-demand balance for key oil products

Asia so far, has not witnessed any dramatic changes to near-term oil supplies amid the ongoing Red Sea crisis, but refiners are chalking out alternative plans to ensure steady feedstock flows in the event of an escalation -- a move that could inflate insurance costs and crimp refining margins. There has been a strategic push among Asia's top importers to massively diversify their import baskets over the years, as well as expand strategic storage capacities. The market is trying to find answers on whether these developments can come in handy to ensure smooth and uninterrupted supplies of feedstocks. Or are there enough reasons for Asian oil buyers to worry about supplies? In a wide-ranging discussion with Asia Energy Editor Sambit Mohanty, S&P Global Commodity Insights’ Rahul Kapoor, Vice President for Shipping Research and Analytics, and Sameer Mohindru, Senior Editor for Asian Freight Markets, share their views on how some of the recent geopolitical developments could potentially affect Asian oil flows, tanker freight and shipping costs.

With OPEC suggesting in its monthly oil market report that global oil demand growth will outweigh an expected increase in non-OPEC supply across 2024 and 2025, market watchers will be keen to see how the group and its allies respond to still slumping oil prices. In this episode, S&P Global Commodity Insights’ Jim Burkhard, Rosemary Griffin and Charlie Mitchell join Herman Wang to discuss the key points of the group’s latest report, OPEC supply from a wider geopolitical and economic outlook, as well updates on Libyan output and Angola’s decision to leave OPEC at the end of 2023.  London Energy Forum 2024

In this episode, oil experts Ha Nguyen, Felipe Perez, and Pat Harrington discuss Guyana's new crude grades and their impact on global production growth. They delve into production forecasts, the influence of Venezuela, emerging refiner preferences, and the effects of trade disruptions in the Red Sea. Additionally, they explore the potential risks and benefits of Guyanese oil, including its appeal to major companies.

The hosts reflect on the events of 2022 that shaped the oil markets, focusing on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the resulting trade flow redirection. They explore the shift in trade flows of Russian oil, crude, and refined products, including the emergence of Brazil as a key buyer. The impact of sanctions on market flows is discussed, specifically Venezuela's territorial claims on Guiana. The relationship between jet and diesel fuels, sustainable aviation fuel, and refining balances are also explored.

The UK’s Grangemouth refinery is set to cease operations in the coming years to be converted into a fuel import terminal, owner Petroineos has said, with current operations to continue into at least early 2025. The refinery supplies close to 86,000 b/d of transport and heating fuels to the UK market and has a direct pipeline of supply from Forties crude, though has in recent years it has seen its reliance on the North Sea grade wane. The news marks a continuing theme of refinery closures in Europe, with the International Energy Agency estimating close to 610,000 b/d of production capacity being taken offline between 2020 and 2022. In this podcast, S&P Global Commodity Insights’ Global Director of Crude and Fuel Oil markets, Joel Hanley, speaks with Kelly Norways, reporter for downstream oil, Elza Turner, senior editor covering oil markets and Matthew Tracey-cook, associate editor, EMEA Light Ends to discuss the knock-on effects of Grangemouth’s coming closure, and casts an eye on the latest developments in the refining sector in the UK, across Europe and more globally.

A reduction in daily transits at both the Neopanamax and Panamax lock systems have resulted in longer wait times to transit the Panama Canal. These limits to daily transits are expected to continue into 2024, leading shipowners to raise freight costs as they look for reimbursement for higher transit and demurrage fees. As the price of auction slots continues to rise, owners are looking at alternative routes to circumvent the canal altogether. The uncertainty may also affect bunkering demand at what has become one of the biggest hubs in the world. Commodity Insights' Americas dirty products manager Patrick Burns sits down with Americas tankers reporter Catherine Rogers to discuss how shipping markets have been impacted by the continued conservation measures taken by the ACP, what upcoming restrictions mean for shipowners, and how shippers plan to navigate the logistical bottleneck heading into 2024.

The new year looks set to see a seismic shift in China’s oil industry, as concerns grow about the future of crude oil imports and by extension product exports from the country, amid headwinds in the country's refining sector. Questions abound about the impact of China’s reduction in crude imports and the knock-on effect it might have on product exports from the swing exporter.  In this podcast, S&P Global Commodity Insights' Oceana Zhou and Daisy Xu, our China market specialist for oil join Jonathan Nonis, our Associate Editorial Director to discuss some of these questions.