Oil Markets

As ethanol plays a greater role in European gasoline standards, S&P Global Platts reporters Solomon Lanitis and Joel Hanley discuss the impact of the latest evolution in the best known part of the oil barrel. Following this, Tamara Sleiman hosts another edition of the Platts IMO 2020 Special...

US crude has been gaining market share in Asia, with growing popularity in South Korea, Thailand and Taiwan. S&P Global Platts editors Avantika Ramesh and Ada Taib examine how the flow of US crude in to the region has been affecting demand for Far East Russian crude grades.

Tankers have been seized, drones downed, and warships scrambled but oil prices have barely registered the escalating tension in the Persian Gulf. S&P Global Platts reporters Robert Perkins and Emma Thomas discuss with Joel Hanley the factors keeping a lid on prices, and why values on crude oil...

Talks of closures are over for now and a clutch of run cuts at European refineries, followed by a significant outage in the US, is propping up sentiment. Refineries reporter Elza Turner tells the latest to Joel Hanley. Later in the program, Tamara Sleiman talks to Philip Reeder and Lara Berton...

The UK and Iran are facing off against one another over oil tankers and this is spooking both shippers and oil producers, with ripple effects across the markets. News reporters Jack Jordan and Miriam Malek discuss the implications with Eleni Pittalis.

The US is diversifying its sources of imports, but while this might sound dismal for European producers there is still a varied landscape of shorts out there and the outlook for producers is bullish. Francesco di Salvo talks to Solomon Lanitis and Joshua Brown. Meanwhile, on the high seas, Alex...

Singapore-based S&P Global Platts editors Eesha Muneeb and Avantika Ramesh examine the impact on prices as well as the level of concern among Asian refiners, traders and buyers, amid the geopolitical tension brewing in the Middle East, particularly after US President Donald Trump indicated a...

Production is at fresh lows and prices are following suit, but there are signs Angola is taking steps to stem the decline. Joel Hanley talks to Eklavya Gupte and Kristi Rotlaender about an expected upturn in demand for Angola's heavy sweet crude, and China's role as a major buyer.

Crude oil pipeline contamination in Europe has boosted gasoline cracks, which are masking a softer reality across regions. S&P Global Platts editors Eleni Pittalis, Solomon Lanitis and Tamara Sleiman discuss market dynamics on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as the product offering from...

After months near parity, the spread between high and low sulfur fuel oil has suddenly blown out. What's behind this move and what could it mean for the feedstocks market? Eleni Pittalis and Sarah-Jane Flaws explain all to Joel Hanley.

The expiration of the US-issued Iranian sanctions waivers has now passed, leaving regular buyers of Iranian crude – and the fuel oil market – short of a regular supply line. S&P Global Platts reporters Tamara Sleiman and Eklavya Gupte tell Joel Hanley who they think the winners...

A high dose of organic chlorides in Urals crude oil has shut down European refineries and led to severe logistical and price complications. S&P Global Platts reporters Paula Vanlaningham and Robert Perkins tell Joel Hanley the latest on the scandal.

The US announced the end of all waivers from Iran oil sanctions when they expire on May 2. Ada Taib, Eesha Muneeb and Andrew Toh, S&P Global Platts editors in Asia, examine what this announcement means to crude oil buyers in the region, with China, India, and South Korea being among the biggest...

As ever, the Middle East Petroleum & Gas Conference has provided plenty to talk about from currency rows to Trump tweets. Fresh from Dubai, Dave Ernsberger, S&P Global Platts global head of energy, and Vera Blei, global director of oil markets, join Joel Hanley, editorial director,...

With heavy sour crudes seeing remarkable value versus their light sweet counterparts, how are Russia's Urals and the Europe's fuel oil markets responding? S&P Global Platts reporters Gillian Carr and Sarah-Jane Flaws give Joel Hanley the lowdown.

Forward prices of high sulfur fuel oil are seeing understandable pressure as 2020 approaches. S&P Global Platts reporters Tamara Sleiman and Jack Jordan discuss this with Joel Hanley, as well as the possible options for bitumen producers looking for a new benchmark.

S&P Global Platts reporters Emma Kettley and Gillian Carr speak to Joel Hanley about the sudden strong buying interest in the North Sea Dated Brent crude complex, as well as the knock-on effect on grades such as Russia's Urals.

Ahead of the African Refiners' Association conference in Cape Town, S&P Global Platts reporters Francesco Di Salvo and Eklavya Gupte tell Joel Hanley of the trends, challenges and opportunities facing the continent's oil industry.

US crude is returning to China in small volumes, signaling growing confidence among Chinese buyers that the ongoing trade talks between China and the US will yield a favorable outcome. Sinopec most recently bought a VLCC of US crude to be delivered to China in late May, after having halted all...

S&P Global Platts Joel Hanley, Dave Ernsberger and Francesco Di Salvo discuss the highs and lows of London's International Petroleum Week. As ever, the oil industry's flagship gathering provided plenty debate on the markets, as well as talking points on environmental and diversity issues.

As traders are set to gather in London for International Petroleum Week, S&P Global Platts reporters from across the barrel tell Joel Hanley which oil stories will be heard in the meetings and parties around town. Taking in the biggest themes from crude, fuel, distillates and light ends, the...

In this edition of the podcast, S&P Global Platts Francesco Di Salvo joins editors Eklavya Gupte and Philip Reeder to discuss the lead-up to the Nigerian general election on February 16. The election pits incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari against Atiku Abubakar from the People's Democractic...

Sour crude oil differentials have risen sharply relative to sweet crude grades in the Atlantic Basin as OPEC moves to cut back on production, sending the differential between the Brent and Dubai markets to its narrowest levels since 2017. In this edition of the podcast, S&P Global Platts...

S&P Global Platts editors Tamara Sleiman, Philip Reeder and Eklavya Gupte tell Joel Hanley how the inversion in fuel oil and naphtha cracks speaks of structural shortages in heavy ends and very challenging market conditions for the top of the barrel.

Platts editors Joel Hanley and Paula VanLaningham discuss the January 14 subscriber note on the inclusion of offers on a CIF Rotterdam basis into FOB Dated Brent crude oil from November 2019. What could the change mean and what's the feedback been? RELATED DETAILS Subscriber Note: Platts proposes...

The Turkish straits form the link between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean – a crucial choke point for transporting crude oil. But this year, poor weather and frequent closures in the Bosporus and Dardanelles have led to the longest shipping delays through the straits in at least 10 years....

After the recent S&P Global Platts consultation on the Dated Brent benchmark, Platts editors Robert Beaman and Paula Vanlaningham discuss with Joel Hanley the possibility of extra crude oil being delivered into the assessment.

As maritime authorities report a rising number of GPS disruptions, the scale of the digital tampering in an industry which relies heavily on the technology as a navigation tool is coming to light. In this edition of the podcast, S&P Global Platts Iain Stevenson talks with Katherine Dunn to...

S&P Global Platts reporters Virgine Malicier and Francesco Di Salvo tell Joel Hanley about soaring strength in European diesel markets brought on by the chronically shallow Rhine river. Related article (with infographic): Record low Rhine water levels continue to impact commodities

Noteworthy weakness in the European gasoline complex has weighed on light ends fundamentals in recent weeks. A culmination of heavy supply, combined with closed export arbitrage outlets, has lengthened the region and subsequently spilled over into the naphtha market where participants are already...

Despite the environmental pressure on plastics, petrochemical demand is booming. Given the link to oil via naphtha and propane, Platts reporters Philip Reeder and Lara Berton discuss with Joel Hanley the impact of weak petroleum feedstock prices and the large pethchem plant outages on the way.

The European low sulfur vacuum gasoil market has been facing bearish headwinds in recent weeks on the back of rapidly weakening gasoline cracks. S&P Global Platts EMEA fuel oil managing editor John Morley is joined by editors Tamara Sleiman and Solomon Lanitis to examine the current state of...

Shipowners have received some of the first details about the fuel they will be relying on from 2020 this week with some announcements about the new blends for use once the International Maritime Organization's sulfur limit drops to 0.5%. S&P Global Platts Jack Jordan, editorial lead for bunker...

A new swap contract has led to unprecedented transparency in Nigerian crude oil trading. S&P Global Platts senior editors Joel Hanley and Paula VanLaningham assess whether this could be a new trend, as well as discussing new assessments for US crude into Europe, and a possible quality premium...

Maintenance on secondary cracking units at the Jamnagar and Yanbu refineries is having a conflicting impact on European gasoline and Vacuum Gasoil markets. Supply of gasoline out of the units has been dented, meaning Northwest Europe is being tapped to fill the void, while demand for European VGO...

A recent spate of shipping engine failures has been traced back to a problematic cargo of bunker fuel in Houston earlier in the year. S&P Global Platts reporters Emma Kettley and Jack Jordan discuss with Joel Hanley the difficulties of policing fuel oil specifications and whether a global...

Tonnage, debt, price and credit could be explosive issues for the shipping and bunker industry going into 2020. The fallout from the International Maritime Organization's tighter fuel regulations will mean higher fuel costs and/or difficulties purchasing expensive scrubbers. S&P Global Platts...

Among shipowners looking at how to cope with tighter marine fuels sulfur limits in 2020, the use of scrubbers to clean their emissions on board has been seen as a niche solution for the past few years. But that may be starting to change – rumours abound that the technology may be finding new...

How will Asia's top buyers react to the re-imposition of US sanctions on Iran?In this podcast, S&P Global Platts editors Mriganka Jaipuriyar, Philip Vahn, and Oceana Zhou examine why China is likely to benefit the most out of the US' move, as South Korea and Japan cut back on their imports and...

S&P Global Platts light ends reporter Philip Reeder tells Joel Hanley why prices for versatile feedstock naphtha have remained strong while other refined oil products have not sustained the pace.We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics. Contact us at [email protected].

S&P Global Platts editors Gillian Carr and Joel Hanley discuss how differentials for Kazakhstan's CPC Blend crude oil have plummeted on heightened output and weak demand. But with production only set to increase, is there any hope for a price recovery in the short term?We welcome any feedback...

Bunker demand data for 2017 over the past month has shown Fujairah slipped behind Rotterdam in total sales last year, while both remain long behind the world leader, Singapore. Editorial director for EMEA oil Joel Hanley is joined by editorial lead for bunker news Jack Jordan for a discussion on...

After attending the African Refiners Association meeting in Cape Town, March 12-14, S&P Global Platts reporters Ahila Karan and Eklavya Gupte share their thoughts with Joel Hanley on the continent's prospects in oil refining and investment.Related contentVideo: What is the state of play for...

With Russian crude oil values in Europe slumping to multi-year lows, S&P Global Platts editors John Morley and Maude Desmarescaux discuss with Joel Hanley why sour crude has fallen out of favor and the possible knock-on effect on the North Sea Dated Brent benchmark.We welcome any feedback or...

S&P Global Platts oil news team discusses the oil and gas industry's search to redefine itself amid weak prices, rising US shale output, and growing environmental challenges.We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics. Contact us at [email protected].

S&P Global Platts European jet fuel editors Christopher Ewen and Caroline Knight discuss with Joel Hanley the strength in the European jet fuel market. Strong Asian winter demand, twinned with refinery maintenance, has seen cargoes stay in the region rather than head to Europe as usual.We...

S&P Global Platts crude oil editors Paula Vanlaningham and Maude Desmarescaux discuss the consequences of the December Forties Pipeline System outage on January arbitrage flows of North Sea crude to Asia. How did the market respond to this unprecedented turn of events, and what should we expect...

Saudi Arabia, with its anti-corruption purge, has been much in the headlines lately, as has kingdom's state-owned oil company, Saudi Aramco, with much speculation over its long-mooted public listing.Discussions are underway as to how best to proceed with the IPO, which the kingdom hopes will fund a...

David Elward, S&P Global Platts associate editorial director, EMEA clean refined products, and Christopher Ewen, associate editor, EMEA middle distillates, discuss the recent counter-seasonal spike in jet fuel barge prices. What caused rising jet fuel prices outside of the traditional peak...

Joel Hanley, S&P Global Platts senior director EMEA oil, and Iain Stevenson, managing editor EMEA light ends, discuss this summer's firm propane fundamentals during a time when prices would traditionally drop. Is the alternative steam cracker feedstock about to face an unconventional winter...