Oil Markets

In the week St Petersburg played host to the International Air Transport Association Fuel Forum, S&P Global Platts editors David Elward and Caroline Knight reflect on an expanding Russian aviation footprint, the outlook for the global airline sector and jet fuel prices, and industry efforts to...

In the inaugural episode of the S&P Global Platts OPEC Outlook podcast, Herman Wang, Platts OPEC correspondent, discusses what to watch for when the oil producer group's ministers meet on May 25 with their non-OPEC counterparts to review their production cut agreement. Ministers appear to be...

S&P Global Platts editors Joel Hanley and Jonty Rushforth discuss the key issues raised at the Platts Crude Oil Summit, from the supply/demand balance and OPEC's upcoming meeting, Asia's enigmatic demand growth, and the further evolution of crude benchmarks.We welcome any feedback or...

While the markets still try to digest the implications of the International Maritime Organisation's decision to move to a 0.5% sulfur cap for marine fuels from 2020, Platts oil products editors Joel Hanley, Ned Molloy and Eleni Pittalis discuss the visible signs of market change.We welcome any...

Iain Stevenson, managing editor for the S&P Global Platts EMEA light ends oil team, Ahila Karan and Fabian Weber, EMEA associate editors for the gasoil and gasoline markets, discuss clean product sulfur limit reductions in West Africa and the potential impact on European trade flows.We welcome...

Paula VanLaningham, managing editor for the S&P Global Platts EMEA crude oil team, Maude Desmarescaux and Marcel Goldenberg, EMEA editors for North Sea and the Urals and Mediterranean markets, discuss the growing influence of Asian buyers in the European crude markets.We welcome any feedback or...

Iran's crude oil production is close to pre-sanctions levels, according to the S&P Global Platts OPEC survey, but can the country push on further? Associate director Paul Hickin and senior editor Eklavya Gupte shed light on the diversification of Iranian crude export destinations, as it faces...

Saudi Aramco announced recently it would resume exports of refined products, including 1,000 ppm sulfur gasoil, to the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation. Platts editors David Elward, Francesco Di Salvo and George Shaw discuss how the initial commitments have been met, in part, by lower sulfur...

S&P Global Platts editors Joel Hanley, John Morley and Marcel Goldenberg discuss the "exploding" price difference between two important crudes in North Europe -- benchmark Forties and Russia's Urals.We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics. Contact us at [email protected].

S&P Global Platts editors Joel Hanley and Elza Turner discuss how Russian refinery upgrades and a rise in export duty have led to a fall in exports for fuel oil. However, one product in particular is seeing a rise in exports.We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics. Contact us at...

Ahead of the African Refiners Association conference in Cape Town next week, Platts editors discuss Nigeria's efforts to finalize the country's second annual direct sale of crude oil and direct purchase of products program (DSDP) for 2017, and the region's continued drive to adopt...

Ahead of the Platts London Oil & Energy Forum on February 20, editors David Elward and Robert Beaman join Joel Hanley for a look at the big issues in the oil markets. With matters such as OPEC's output cut, West Africa's clampdown on sulfur, and the new US president, there is a lot...

Once a North African OPEC powerhouse for light, sweet crude oil, Libya is now riven by civil war and disrupted oil supply. The country is trying to pull itself back into contention as a supplier of crude into the Mediterranean and beyond. S&P Global Platts editors Joel Hanley and Gillian Carr...

S&P Global Platts editors Joel Hanley and Marcel Goldenberg talk about the strength in Russia's Urals crude oil. With record crude volumes coming out of Russia, will December's agreement with OPEC have a meaningful impact?We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics. Contact us at...

Platts editors Joel Hanley and Amandeep Dhir discuss the current strength in low sulfur fuel oil in the Mediterranean, and the prospects for a fuel that faces an uncertain future in light of environmental regulation.We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics. Contact us at...

Platts editors Joel Hanley and Virginie Malicier discuss the naphtha market's strong start to 2017. As the year unfolds, what has turned the market from bearish to bullish in the short term?We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics. Contact us at [email protected].

Mexico's higher gasoline prices for consumers are having a ripple effect through North American gasoline markets as the US exports more product to its neighbor. Josh Brown, editor for US gasoline markets, explains why Mexico's domestic production is hobbled despite growing demand and...

Effective January 3, 2017, the Platts US Gulf Coast fuel oil assessment has been updated to reflect residual fuel oil intended for end-use by the bunker sector to meet maritime fuel demand. Patrick Burns, Americas fuel oil editor, talks with Matt Cook, associate editorial director for Americas...

The IMO's decision in late October to go ahead with a 0.50% global sulfur cap in 2020 is the defining topic shaping the outlook for marine fuels. In this week's podcast Martin Tallett, president, Ensys Energy, and David St-Amand, president, Navigistics Consulting, talk to Ned Molloy,...

S&P Global Platts editors David Elward and Ahila Karan discuss the nascent flows of Iranian gasoil into the Amsterdam- Rotterdam-Antwerp refining hub, where desulfurization opportunities have attracted the first shipments after a 10-year hiatus.Read more on this story -- Analysis: Iran emerges...

Russia is playing a key role in the agreement between OPEC and non-OPEC countries to remove up to 1.8 million b/d of crude oil from the market to accelerate rebalancing.With the first visible results of the efforts likely to be seen in February or so, Nadia Rodova, managing editor at S&P Global...

Platts editors Joel Hanley and Robert Beaman discuss the possibility of new grades of crude oil joining Brent, Forties, Oseberg and Ekofisk in the vital Dated Brent benchmark. Is Norway's Troll the strongest candidate?Related videoWatch managing editor Paula Vanlaningham and price group...

Platts editors Joel Hanley and Elza Turner discuss the launch of the Urals crude oil futures contract on the St.Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange. Will international players help the contract provide a benchmark for Russian oil?We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics. Contact...

The arrest of Russian Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev, accused of receiving a $2 million bribe for supporting Rosneft's acquisition of a 50% stake in Bashneft earlier this year, came as a shock to the market. The corruption scandal, involving a key player in the privatization process, raised a...

In early October Saudi Aramco stopped its open credit line to Egypt's EGPC halting the supply of refined products, according to traders. What led to this decision, and how does this fit into the political context in the Middle East? Ned Molloy, managing editor European fuel oil, George Shaw, editor...

There are no longer doubts about the technical feasibility of scrubbers, but the low oil price environment has made the financial case for investing in scrubbers less obvious. However with the upcoming IMO decision later in October in London, on whether to implement a global sulfur cap of 0.50% on...

This year Russian refinery upgrades have well and truly kicked in, after some delays, leading to a significant fall in fuel oil exports to Europe, and a shift towards higher-sulfur Vacuum Gasoil. S&P Global Platts' Ned Molloy, managing editor of fuel oil, interviews Jelena Grigorjeva,...

Sweeping changes to marine fuel regulation are affecting cruise liners more than most segments of the global shipping industry. Ned Molloy, managing editor, fuel oil at S&P Global Platts, speaks to Bud Darr, senior vice president of technical and regulatory affairs at Cruise Lines International...

Russia's privatization story has taken more twists and turns. The authorities have delayed the privatization of the country's fastest growing oil producer Bashneft, Lukoil has got cold feet over the potential purchase and Rosneft's interest has been muddied by the fact that it too is state owned....

Following numerous Russia-Asia economic events this spring, S&P Global Platts managing editor for oil news in Moscow Nadia Rodova and her Moscow-based colleague Nastassia Astrasheuskaya assess the prospects of oil and gas cooperation with investors from several Asian countries, with CNPC's...

As the European Union is to debate the extension of oil sanctions on Russia in June, Platts managing editor for oil news in Moscow Nadia Rodova and her Moscow-based colleague Rosemary Griffin discuss the impact of the sanctions on the country's oil sector and the implications for the future for...

Joel Hanley, editorial director for EMEA oil, talks with two Platts experts on Russia, Elza Turner and Nadia Rodova, about the changing profile of Russian refineries and exports, as lower crude oil prices, tax reforms, refinery upgrades and financing difficulties create a mixed outlook.We welcome...

Wildfires are still raging across northern Alberta, and the oil industry is grappling with shut-ins, forces majeures and price effects rippling through markets. Allen Reed, associate editor of Canadian crude oil, talks with Luciano Battistini, managing editor of crude oil, about the status of oil...

The US jet fuel industry is facing more problems with off-spec product, leading to lots of discussion around how jet fuel is stored, mixed, shipped on pipelines and tested. Kent Carlson, US jet fuel reporter, talks with Amanda Rayborn, managing editor for middle distillates, about some theories...

The premium of Mediterranean low sulfur fuel oil prices over Northwest Europe tumbled to its narrowest level in 20-months on the back of plummeting freight rates between the two regions.Platts oil and shipping editors, Beatrice Bedeschi and John Morley discuss the reasons behind the bearish...

Following a fourth-quarter earnings season in which oil companies took another severe hit from low oil and gas prices, Platts senior writer for EMEA oil news Robert Perkins and senior editor for EMEA oil news Nick Coleman discuss how the industry is adapting, some of the more surprising outcomes of...

The recent change in gasoil flows from Russia is the main driver of the shortage which has pushed Northwest European gasoil physical premiums to their highest in over three years. Platts oil products editors Olivier Lejeune, Elza Turner and George Shaw discuss recent market dynamics.We welcome any...

With a tumultuous year for oil prices now in the rear-view mirror, Platts middle distillates team leader Olivier Lejeune sits down with Phil Casey to discuss the structural shift observed on the European jet market in 2015 and the outlook for 2016. Despite robust demand, the region struggled to...

Memorial Day weekend in the US is expected to have the highest travel volume for the holiday in 10 years, according to AAA Travel, right at a time when refiners are cranking up capacity to churn out more gasoline. Jeff Bair, light ends team leader in the Americas, talks with Amanda Rayborn, who...

Is it the end of an era in Saudi Arabia? Platts associate editorial director for oil news Mriganka Jaipuriyar and senior editor Tamsin Carlisle look at how recent political developments in Saudi and the separation of Saudi Aramco from the Ministry of Petroleum could affect international oil...

Platts Robert Beaman, managing editor for EMEA crude oil, analyzes recent trends in Brent crude oil prices with North Sea crude editor Ned Molloy and futures specialist George Shaw. The team discusses a perceived disconnect between the rally in futures and the weak physical crude market, as...

Platts Olivier Lejeune, managing editor for European and African middle distillates, and Philippe Casey, European jet fuel editor, discuss the recent change in the European jet fuel specification and the serious implications for oil traders and pipeline operators across the continent. We welcome...

Platts Olivier Lejeune, managing editor, Europe and Africa middle distillates and Eline Potie, Europe and Africa gasoil editor, discuss the changing face of the European gasoil market after Russian refinery upgrade projects led to lower sulfur gasoil exports. We welcome any feedback or suggestions...

In this podcast, Vandana Hari, Platts editorial director in Asia, and Pradeep Rajan, Platts senior managing editor for freight markets, assess the oil volumes stockpiled by Iran and how much of it could flood the global market, as well as how the insurance landscape could evolve once oil sanctions...

Platts Benno Spencer, senior managing editor, Europe and Africa Oil and Erduan Reid, Europe and Africa fuel oil editor, discuss the surprising resurgence in Northwest European low sulfur fuel oil barge demand seen in the first half of April. The discussion focuses on Vitol's recent buying spree in...

China recently released criteria for refiners that do not have crude import quotas or licenses to start applying for new import quotas. Platts senior oil news writer Song Yen Ling explains this policy change, the current status of application for rights to import crude, and how it may affect the...

On March 28-29, Nigeria elected Muhammadu Buhari as the country's new president, defeating incumbent Goodluck Jonathan. Robert Beaman, Managing Editor for European and African crude oil, discusses the impact of the election on the oil industry and on the physical oil markets with editors Eklavya...

Gasoline accounts for roughly 30% of Japan's domestic oil demand. Platts Asian oil news associate director Mriganka Jaipuriyar and senior editor Takeo Kumagai analyze Japan's improved refining margins, the changes that helped refiners in the fiscal year 2014-2015, and the industry's outlook for...

Sophie Byron, managing editor of Europe and Africa light ends, and Iain Stevenson, associate editor for LPG, analyze what is causing the tightness in propane supply in Europe, its impact on prices, and the steps being taken by the region's producers to meet their propane requirements. We welcome...

Sophie Byron, managing editor for European and African light ends, discusses with editor Virginie Malicier, the gasoline seasonality switch from winter to summer specification and blending demand; and analyze Where US gasoline strength after strike action, refinery issues and maintenance has...