Oil Markets

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...

Hurricane Harvey affected the US oil industry from the wellhead to refinery outputs, and the sector is still showing signs of slowness after the storm pummeled the US Gulf Coast. Senior oil editors Ashok Dutta, Janet McGurty and Starr Spencer recap how Harvey brought down crude oil and natural gas...

Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan raised regional tensions this week with its non-binding referendum for independence. The result, a resounding yes, was a foregone conclusion but the poll has rankled some of Kurdistan's key allies and neighbors.S&P Global Platts senior writer Robert Perkins,...

At recent shipping industry events in London, compliance with the IMO's upcoming 0.5% sulfur cap on marine fuels was a hot topic among industry representatives. S&P Global Platts editors Ned Molloy, Tom Washington and Jack Jordan discuss a recent case of non-compliance in Denmark, as well as...

As the US recovers from a devastating series of hurricanes, S&P Global Platts editors Caroline Knight and Daron Jones discuss with Joel Hanley the storms' impact on the jet fuel markets both there and in Europe.We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics. Contact us at...

S&P Global Platts editors David Elward, Virginie Malicier, George Shaw and Marcel Goldenberg discuss the impact of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma on Europe's refined product and crude oil markets. Gasoline exports from Europe to the US have increased, diesel flows from the US Gulf Coast to...

S&P Global Platts editors Joel Hanley and John Morley discuss the changing competition affecting North Sea crude oil, as the Brent/WTI and Brent/Dubai spreads blow out to fresh levels. Can US grades compete for European refinery share, and what of the European oil slated to go to Asia?We...

Following the July 29-31 fire and subsequent leak at Shell's Pernis refinery in the Netherlands –- the largest in Europe and a key petrochemicals hub –- S&P Global Platts editors discuss the impact of this major incident on the region's oil and petchems markets; and assess how...

S&P Global Platts refined products editors David Elward, Katherine Dunn and James Colquhoun discuss how after prolonged weakness the Northwest European naphtha complex has strengthened on stronger demand from petrochemical end users and for gasoline blending, in part switching away from rising...

S&P Global Platts crude oil editors Paula VanLaningham and Marcel Goldenberg discuss the recent uptick in differentials for the Mediterranean's light, sweet Saharan and CPC Blend and why that has not carried over into more distillate-rich Azeri Light.RELATED CONTENTSpecial report: Western...

After the latest meeting of the IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee in London on July 3-7, S&P Global Platts editors Ned Molloy and Jack Jordan discuss what happened at the meeting and whether any clarity has emerged on how the 0.5% sulfur cap on marine fuels will be implemented in...

S&P Global Platts oil editors Paula VanLaningham and John Morley discuss the changes in North Sea crude arbitrage to Asia, with a particular focus on the role China is likely to play as trading rolls into the third quarter.RELATED CONTENTS&P Global Platts trade flow software cFlowPrice...

Saudi Arabia's King Salman has appointed his son Mohammed bin Salman as his successor, giving the young prince a free hand to carry out his ambitious economic reforms.S&P Global Platts editors Adal Mirza and Tamsin Carlisle discuss what the announcement means for the kingdom's National...

S&P Global Platts oil editors Joel Hanley, George Shaw and Chris Ewen discuss the narrowing spread between gasoline and diesel in Europe, highlighting the trends having an effect on this well-watched relationship.We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics. Contact us at...

Joel Hanley speaks with fellow S&P Global Platts editors Amandeep Dhir, Eleni Pittalis and Elza Turner about the impact that OPEC/non-OPEC crude cuts are having on fuel oil margins.Related podcast: Sweet/sour crude spread in focus as Urals prices over CPC BlendWe welcome any feedback or...

S&P Global Platts editors Marcel Goldenberg and Ahila Karan discuss with Joel Hanley how the now-extended OPEC/non-OPEC oil output cuts are impacting gasoil and crude markets in the Mediterranean, where light, sweet crude is now at a discount to higher-sulfur oil.Related video: Despite...