Oil Markets

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...

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...