Oil Markets

Russia's Urals crude oil grade has been volatile recently, briefly reaching a six month high in mid-March before rapidly falling back in the space of two weeks. What have been the fundamentals driving this change, and what has the impact been on the European crude markets? Platts' team leader for...

Record low temperatures in Japan are causing utilities to burn more direct burning crude for power generation. Daniel Colover, Platts Asia crude oil managing editor, and Ada Taib, senior editor for oil, discuss the continued pickup in demand for direct burning crude in Japan even after the cold...

Charles Goldner, EMEA diesel editor, and Olivier Lejeune, EMEA team leader for middle distillates, discuss the recent decision by UK oil importers to enact a new test on diesel filter-blocking tendency. This could make it more difficult to export Russian diesel to the country. This is the latest in...

Ellie Weir, team leader for EMEA shipping and Shubh Shukla, West of Suez freight editor, discuss the shipping security measures now recommended by the Norwegian Maritime Authority, following the hijacking of a vessel off shore Luanda, Angola in January. This is the latest in a series of weekly...

The Chinese oil sector is traditionally controlled by the state but this seems about to change as China's largest refiner, Sinopec, announced plans to seek investment for its oil product marketing and retail division. Song Yen Ling, Platts senior writer for oil and gas news, discusses the...

Benno Spencer, senior managing editor Europe and Africa oil and Marko Trtica, fuel oil editor, discuss the recent strength seen in Northwest European low sulfur fuel oil, stemming from regional outflows to the US due to unprecedented cold across the Atlantic and European refinery maintenance. This...

Ilana Djelal, associate editorial director, clean products EMEA, and Eline Potié, middle distillates editor, discuss trends and flows in the European gasoil market. This is the latest in a series of weekly podcasts aimed at highlighting significant news stories from around the energy world....

Mediterranean-Japan freight rates have shot up over $3 million, the highest in over a year. Wanda Wang, Platts Asia shipping editor, explores how the West of Suez market and Aframaxes have pushed the rates up and shares market sentiments on the sustainability of the rates. This is the latest in a...

Aframax rates have risen sharply, promptin ships to ballast from the East to the West. Sameer Mohindru, Platts Asia senior editor for shipping and freight, discusses the performance of Aframax rates in 2013 and what events are rocking the boat for the market this year. This is the latest in a...

The North Sea crude oil market has weakened dramatically as Asian buying interest dries up ahead of refinery maintenance. Platts' Europe and Africa crude oil Team Leader Robert Beaman discusses these developments with North Sea editor Ned Molloy and West Africa editor Eklavya Gupte. The team...

Andrew Bonnington, editorial director for European and African Oil, discusses why airfares have not fallen in line with jet fuel prices, with Philippe Casey from the jet fuel desk. As the public outcry for lower airfares grows, Andrew and Philippe examine why hedging in the paper market prevents...

Benno Spencer, senior managing editor, Europe and Africa Oil, John Morley, West of Suez freight editor, and Eklavya Gupte, West African crude editor, discuss the factors that have contributed to the recent record strength in the dirty tanker market while also focusing on the impact of the strength...

China's bunker fuel sales were estimated at 10 million mt in 2013, a 10% decrease from 2012. Atsuko Kawasaki, Platts Asia oil editor, examines the reasons behind the drop and shares market expectations for the year ahead. This is the latest in a series of weekly podcasts aimed at highlighting...

Olivier Lejeune, team leader for European and African middle distillates, discusses a bearish start to 2014 for diesel, jet fuel and gasoil markets with editors David Elward and Robert Friend. Rising exports from the US and new refining capacity coming online in the Middle East is already putting...

Platts Europe & Africa crude oil team leader Robert Beaman discusses recent developments in Libyan crude exports with Urals and Mediterranean editor Paula VanLaningham. As some Libyan crude returns to market from the west of the country while exports from the east remain limited, they discuss...

Robert Beaman, managing editor for European and African crude oil, discusses the widening contango on the ICE Brent Futures structure with crude editors Eklavya Gupte and Ned Molloy. As steep contango encourages traders to put Atlantic Basin, Persian Gulf and Asian crudes into inland and floating...

Niels von Hombracht, a specialist in the field of the storage and logistics of crude oil, petroleum products and chemicals, discusses with John Kingston, Platts news director, the most pressing issue for the oil storage market and trends driving storage issues for crude versus storage issues for...

Eklavya Gupte, European feedstocks market editor and Chris Vowden, European fuel oil and feedstocks team leader, discuss the recent strength on the European vacuum gasoil market and how the increase in US gasoline values and an open arbitrage has provided a huge boost to the VGO market in Europe....

Despite muted growth in demand in the past year, gasoil is one product to watch in coming months. Song Yen Ling, senior writer for Platts oil and gas news, examines the general outlook for Chinese oil demand and notable developments in the market. This is the latest in a series of weekly podcasts...