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Crude oil storage tanks are seen from above at the Cushing oil hub, appearing to run out of space to contain a historic supply glut that has hammered prices, in Cushing, Oklahoma, March 24, 2016. In the previous three weeks, they rose more than 10% on concerns about tight supply. Higher interest rates increase borrowing costs, which could slow economic growth and reduce oil demand. Meanwhile, markets worried about Russia's temporary ban on exports of gasoline and diesel to most countries would tighten supplies. Russian wholesale gasoline prices were down nearly 10% and diesel down 7.5% on Friday on the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Brent, Dennis Kissler, Russia's Transneft, Arathy Somasekhar, Nicole Jao, Robert Harvey, Yuka Obayashi, Emily Chow, Jan Harvey, Jason Neely, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, . West Texas, BOK Financial, . Federal, RBC, St . Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange, IIR Energy, Thomson Locations: Cushing , Oklahoma, HOUSTON, U.S, Primorsk, Novorossiysk, St, Houston, New York, Tokyo, Singapore

☆ Oil prices rise as Russia fuel export ban stokes supply concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Robert Harvey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Nick Oxford//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Friday as renewed global supply concerns from Russia's fuel export ban counteracted demand fears driven by macroeconomic headwinds and high interest rates. Both benchmarks were relatively flat on the week, having gained more than 10% in the previous three weeks amid concerns about tight global supply. Russian wholesale gasoline prices were down nearly 10% and diesel down 7.5% on Friday on the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange. But macroeconomic headwinds continue to weigh on oil demand sentiment. "It is signals on the demand side that are mainly likely to affect oil prices in the short term," Commerzbank analysts said in a note.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Brent, WTI, Transneft, Robert Harvey, Yuka Obayashi, Emily Chow, Jan Harvey, Jason Neely Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, West Texas, RBC, St . Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange, U.S . Federal Reserve, IIR Energy, Thomson Locations: Cushing , Oklahoma, Primorsk, Novorossiysk, Russia, St, Tokyo, Singapore

REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Federal Reserve interest rate decision due at 1800 GMTNEW YORK, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Oil prices eased on Wednesday ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate decision, with investors uncertain when rates will peak and how that will affect energy demand. WTI crude futures for November , which will soon be the U.S. front-month, was up about 18 cents to $90.30. Investors were awaiting the Fed's interest rate decision at 2:00 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT) to assess the outlook for economic growth and fuel demand. The Fed is widely expected to keep interest rates steady, but the focus will be on its projected policy path. Interest rate hikes to tame inflation can slow economic growth and reduce oil demand.

Persons: Pedro Nunes, Brent, WTI, Edward Moya, refiners, Goldman Sachs, Robert Harvey, Yuka Obayashi, Emily Chow, Nicole Jao, Kim Coghill, Jason Neely, Louise Heavens, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, U.S . Energy Information Administration, . West Texas, U.S . Energy, Administration, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: Lisbon, Portugal, U.S . Federal, U.S, WTI, ., Japan, London, Tokyo, Singapore, New York

☆ Oil falls ahead of Fed rate decision
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Robert Harvey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Federal Reserve interest rate decision due at 1800 GMTLONDON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Wednesday ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate decision, with investors uncertain when peak rates will be hit and how much of an impact it will have on energy demand. Investors are awaiting the Fed's interest rate decision at 1800 GMT on Wednesday to assess the outlook for economic growth and fuel demand. The Fed is widely expected to keep interest rates on hold, but the focus will be on its projected policy path, which is unclear. Prices fell despite U.S. crude oil stockpiles falling last week by about 5.25 million barrels, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday. Goldman Sachs said it expects the Bank of England to keep interest rates unchanged on Thursday as a result of the fall.

Persons: Pedro Nunes, Edward Moya, Tamas Varga, Brent, Goldman Sachs, Robert Harvey, Yuka Obayashi, Emily Chow, Kim Coghill, Jason Neely, Louise Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Brent, . U.S . West Texas, American Petroleum Institute, bbl, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: Lisbon, Portugal, U.S . Federal, U.S, ., London, Tokyo, Singapore

☆ Oil falls $1 ahead of Fed rate decision
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Emily Chow | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Prices fell despite a bigger-than-expected draw in U.S. oil stockpiles and weak U.S. shale output that indicated tight crude supply for the rest of 2023. Global benchmark Brent crude futures were last down 88 cents, or 0.9%, at $93.46 a barrel by 0650 GMT. Moya added that the oil market is still "very tight" and will remain so over the short-term. "Unless Wall Street grows nervous that the Fed will kill the economy, the crude demand outlook should (only) gradually soften, but the oil market will easily have a supply deficit throughout winter." U.S. crude oil stockpiles fell last week by about 5.25 million barrels, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday.

Persons: Pedro Nunes, Brent, Edward Moya, Moya, Goldman Sachs, Yuka Obayashi, Emily Chow, Sonali Paul, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Kim Coghill Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Brent, . West Texas, American Petroleum Institute, Reuters, Exxon Mobil Corp, Thomson Locations: Lisbon, Portugal, Rights SINGAPORE, U.S . Federal, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Nigeria, Tokyo, Singapore

Prices fell despite a bigger-than-expected draw in U.S. oil stockpiles and weak U.S. shale output that indicated tight crude supply for the rest of 2023. Moya added that the oil market is still "very tight" and will remain so over the short-term. "Unless Wall Street grows nervous the Fed will kill the economy, the crude demand outlook should (only) gradually soften, but the oil market will easily have a supply deficit throughout winter." The Fed is widely expected to keep interest rates on hold, but the focus will be on its policy path, which is unclear. U.S. crude oil stockpiles fell last week by about 5.25 million barrels, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday.

Persons: Pedro Nunes, Brent, Edward Moya, Moya, Hiroyuki Kikukawa, WTI, Yuka Obayashi, Emily Chow, Sonali Paul, Muralikumar Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Brent, . West Texas, U.S . Federal Reserve, American Petroleum Institute, NS, Nissan Securities, Reuters, Exxon Mobil Corp, Thomson Locations: Lisbon, Portugal, U.S . Federal, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Nigeria, Tokyo, Singapore

A person uses a petrol pump, as the price of petrol rises, in Lisbon, Portugal, March 7, 2022. The October WTI contract expires on Wednesday and the more active November contract was up 9 cents, or 0.1%, at $90.57 a barrel. Industry data on Tuesday showed U.S. crude oil stockpiles fell last week by about 5.25 million barrels, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures. "A large drop in U.S. oil inventories and slow U.S. shale output have added to supply concerns coming from extended production curbs by Saudi Arabia and Russia," said Hiroyuki Kikukawa, president of NS Trading, a unit of Nissan Securities. "There will be some short-term adjustments in oil prices because of the recent spike, but expectations of reaching $100 a barrel on both Brent and WTI later this year will remain unchanged," he said.

Persons: Pedro Nunes, Hiroyuki Kikukawa, Brent, WTI, Yuka Obayashi, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Companies Exxon Mobil Corp Follow, Brent, . West Texas, American Petroleum Institute, NS, Nissan Securities, Reuters, Exxon Mobil Corp, Investors, U.S . Federal Reserve, Thomson Locations: Lisbon, Portugal, ., Saudi Arabia, Russia, Nigeria, Europe, Asia

"We've certainly seen Australia's reputation being affected as some existing buyers expressed interest in diversifying their suppliers for long-term supply," said Ryhana Rasidi, LNG analyst at analytics firm Kpler. "Australia is the closest gas supplier we can get. By far, Australia, U.S. and Qatar are the three pillars in LNG supply chain. As well as its political stability, its proximity to Asia might be Australia's saving grace, industry analysts say. "Ties are very strong between North Asia and Australia as a legacy supplier, so many participants are keen to continue the relationship," said Kaushal Ramesh, LNG analyst at Rystad Energy.

Persons: Inpex, Resources Madeleine King, We've, Ryhana, Jane Liao, Kaushal Ramesh, Emily Chow, Yuka Obayashi, Muyu Xu, Andrew Hayley, Joyce Lee, Lewis Jackson, Florence Tan Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS, Rights, Workers, Japan's Kyushu Electric Power, Chevron's, Woodside Energy, West Shelf, South, Resources, Taiwan, Tohoku Electric Power, Kyushu Electric Power, Osaka Gas, Rystad Energy, Thomson Locations: Chevron, Barrow Island, Australia, Rights SINGAPORE, TOKYO, Qatar, United States, Western Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine, Oman, U.S, Asia, Singapore, Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, Sydney

Oil rigs are seen at Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas drilling, in the Patagonian province of Neuquen, Argentina January 21, 2019. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 13 (Reuters) - Oil rose on Wednesday, firming its ground near a 10-month peak reached during trading a day earlier, as the market balanced supply concerns over Libya output and OPEC+ cuts with global macroeconomic headwinds. But U.S. crude oil, distillate and gasoline stockpiles rose last week, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute (API) figures on Wednesday. Crude stocks rose by about 1.2 million barrels in the week ended Sept. 8, against analysts estimate of a draw of about 1.9 million barrels. Gasoline inventories rose by about 4.2 million barrels, while distillate inventories rose by about 2.6 million barrels.

Persons: Agustin Marcarian, Satoru Yoshida, Yoshida, Izvestia, Nikolai Shulginov, Brent, Yuka Obayashi, Muyu Xu, Stephen Coates, Jamie Freed, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Brent, U.S, West Texas, OPEC, U.S . Energy, Rakuten Securities, Libya, of, Petroleum, Energy, American Petroleum Institute, Federal Reserves, Thomson Locations: Vaca, Patagonian, Neuquen, Argentina, Libya, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, OPEC

REUTERS/Nick Oxford/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Oil prices gained almost 1% to a nine-month high on Friday on rising U.S. diesel futures and worries about tight oil supplies after Saudi Arabia and Russia extended supply cuts this week. "Crude prices continue to trade on supply-side drivers. This week, OPEC member Saudi Arabia and Russia extended their voluntary supply cuts of a combined 1.3 million barrels per day to the end of the year. Rising U.S. diesel prices also supported crude prices with heating oil futures up about 3%. Interest rate hikes can slow economic growth and reduce oil demand.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Brent, Edward Moya, Baker Hughes, Nicolas Maduro, John Evans, Natalie Grover, Robert Harvey, Yuka Obayashi, Xu, Ros Russell, Jason Neely, Susan Fenton, David Gregorio, Leslie Adler Organizations: Midland , Texas U.S, REUTERS, U.S, West Texas, of, Petroleum, Energy, Thomson Locations: Midland , Texas, Saudi Arabia, Russia, OPEC, U.S, China, Venezuela, CHINA, Hong Kong, Germany, Europe, Riyadh, London, Tokyo, Singapore

Brent futures rose 76 cents, or 0.9%, to $90.68 a barrel by 12:08 p.m. EDT (1608 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 67 cents, or 0.8%, to $87.54. Rising U.S. diesel also lent support to crude futures with heating oil prices up about 3% and on track for their highest close since January. Separately, the U.S. confirmed that it disrupted in April a multimillion-dollar shipment of crude oil by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, seizing more than 980,000 barrels of contraband crude oil that violated U.S. sanctions. Rate hikes can slow economic growth and reduce oil demand.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Brent, WTI, John Evans, Natalie Grover, Robert Harvey, Yuka Obayashi, Xu, Ros Russell, Jason Neely, Susan Fenton, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Midland , Texas U.S, REUTERS, U.S, . West Texas, U.S ., Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Thomson Locations: Midland , Texas, Saudi Arabia, Russia, CHINA, China, Hong Kong, Chevron's, Australia, Germany, U.S, Europe, Riyadh, London, Tokyo, Singapore

REUTERS/Nick Oxford/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Oil prices hovered above $90 a barrel on Friday, on track to end the week higher as investors chose to focus on tighter supply, despite broader macroeconomic uncertainty. Both oil benchmarks hit 10-month highs this week after Riyadh and Moscow extended their voluntary supply cuts of a combined 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd) to the end of the year. Brent crude futures were up 57 cents to $90.49 a barrel by 1112 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) futures were up 47 cents to $87.34 a barrel. On the demand side, a key concern is China, the world's largest oil importer. Demand for crude could also benefit from workers going on strike at projects in Australia which produce about 5% of the world's supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Persons: Nick Oxford, Naeem Aslam, Brent, John Evans, Natalie Grover, Robert Harvey, Yuka Obayashi, Muyu Xu, Ros Russell, Jason Neely Organizations: Midland , Texas U.S, REUTERS, Traders, Zaye, Markets, Brent, West Texas, PVM, Thomson Locations: Midland , Texas, Riyadh, Moscow, Saudi Arabia, China, Australia, United States, Europe

Pump jacks operate at sunset in an oil field in Midland, Texas U.S. August 22, 2018. A bigger-than-expected draw in U.S. crude oil inventories lent muted support to oil prices. Crude inventories fell by 6.3 million barrels, triple the 2.1 million-barrel drop that analysts expected. Despite its pledge to maintain supply cuts, Russia is expected to boost its oil exports in September as Russian refineries start seasonal maintenance, Reuters calculations based on sources' data show, which is also curbing price gains. Reporting by Yuka Obayashi and Muyu Xu; Editing by Jamie Freed and Miral FahmyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Brent, Priyanka Sachdeva, Phillip Nova, Tatsufumi Okoshi, WTI, Yuka Obayashi, Muyu Xu, Jamie Freed, Miral Organizations: Midland , Texas U.S, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, West Texas, Investors, Nomura Securities, Energy, Thomson Locations: Midland , Texas, Rights TOKYO, SINGAPORE, Saudi Arabia, Russia, China

Analysts polled by Reuters prior to the data had estimated on average a draw of 3.3 million barrels. The offshore Gulf of Mexico accounts for about 15% of U.S. oil output and about 5% of natural gas production, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Oil major Chevron Corp CVX.N evacuated some staff from the region, but production was continuing at the sites its operates in the Gulf of Mexico. Oil supply is expected to remain tight as analysts expect Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, will extend its voluntary output cut into October. However, worries about fuel demand and the mixed economic situation in China, the world's biggest oil importer, kept a lid on prices.

Persons: Lucy Nicholson, Toshitaka Tazawa, Yuka Obayashi, Trixie Yap, Christian Schmollinger, Kim Coghill Organizations: REUTERS, Brent, . West Texas, U.S, American Petroleum Institute, Reuters, Fujitomi Securities Co, Hurricane, Energy Information Administration, . Oil, Chevron Corp CVX.N, Capital, Thomson Locations: Bakersfield , California, SINGAPORE, U.S, Gulf, Mexico, Gulf of Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Asia, Gabon, China, Tokyo, Singapore

Markets await hints on the outlook for interest rates when Federal Reserve officials and policy makers from the European Central Bank, the Bank of England and the Bank of Japan head to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for an annual meeting later this week. Earlier on Wednesday, Japan posted shrinking factory activity for a third straight month in August, and the euro zone, France, Germany, Britain and the United States are set to release their own purchasing managers' index (PMI) data later in the day. Crucial to shoring up oil demand over the rest of the year is China, the world's second-largest economy. Crude stocks in the United States continued to fall, dropping by about 2.4 million barrels in the week ended Aug. 18, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday. That was a slightly smaller draw than a drop of 2.9 million barrels analysts expected in a Reuters poll.

Persons: Jackson, Brent, Hiroyuki Kikukawa, John Evans, Paul Carsten, Yuka Obayashi, Andrew Hayley, Clarence Fernandez, Mark Potter Organizations: Danang Petroleum Machinery Technology JSC, U.S, West Texas, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of England, Bank of Japan, U.S . Federal, NS, Nissan Securities, PVM, Organization of, Petroleum, American Petroleum Institute, Energy Information Administration, Thomson Locations: Danang, United States, Jackson Hole , Wyoming, Japan, France, Germany, Britain, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, U.S, London, Tokyo, Beijing

REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Oil prices ticked up in Asian trade on Wednesday, as markets weighed weak demand indicators from top importer China and the prospect of further U.S. rate hikes against potential supply tightness. "Concerns over higher interest rates and sluggish demand in China are expected to outweigh tightening supply from OPEC+ in the short term." China, the world's second-largest economy, is considered crucial to shoring up oil demand over the rest of the year. That was a slightly smaller draw than a drop of 2.9 million barrels analysts expected in a Reuters poll. "Following the massive draw of 6.2 million barrels a week earlier, overall supplies conditions still lean on the tighter end," said Jun Rong Yeap, a market strategist at IG in Singapore.

Persons: Lucy Nicholson, Brent, Jackson, Hiroyuki Kikukawa, Rong Yeap, Yuka Obayashi, Andrew Hayley, Sonali Paul, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, China, West Texas, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of England, Bank of Japan, U.S . Federal, NS, Nissan Securities, Organization of, Petroleum, American Petroleum Institute, IG, Energy Information Administration, Thomson Locations: Bakersfield , California, Rights BEIJING, Jackson Hole , Wyoming, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, OPEC, United States, Singapore, U.S, Tokyo, Beijing

Zhang Yaoyu, PCI's global head of LNG trading, declined to comment on the company's traded volume, but said trading was part of the company's overall strategy. By 2026, Chinese companies are expected to have contracted LNG supplies of more than 100 million tons a year. That could mean a surplus of up to 8 million tons that year, according to consultancy Poten & Partners, or a deficit of 5 million to 6 million tons based on estimates from pricing agency ICIS. Qatar, which will be China's largest supplier for 2026, however, offers traditional LNG contracts that are restricted to a single destination or country. These openings in the market and a more liberalised domestic gas market have also prompted smaller Chinese gas distributors and importers to expand into the trading space.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Toby Copson, Copson, it's, Zhang Yaoyu, Zhang, Jason Feer, Feer, Chen Aizhu, Emily Chow, Marwa Rashad, Yuka Obayashi, Tom Hogue Organizations: REUTERS, 2026 Companies, Shell, BP, International Energy Agency, Offshore Oil Corp, China Gas Holdings, HK, Qatar, Trident LNG, Sinochem, PetroChina International, Poten, Partners, Rystad Energy, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters, PCI, U.S, Beijing Gas, Zhejiang Energy, JOVO Energy, Thomson Locations: Qatar, US, Europe, Asia SINGAPORE, London, Singapore, U.S, Oman, Canada, Mozambique, Shanghai, China, Japan, Beijing, Central Asia, Russia, Southeast Asia, South Korea, Ukraine, ENN, Tokyo

☆ Factbox: China's incumbent and upcoming LNG traders
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Chen Aizhu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker is tugged towards a thermal power station in Futtsu, east of Tokyo, Japan November 13, 2017. Below is a list of China's main gas traders and their operations globally, according to information from company sources and traders. In May, PCI became the first Chinese firm to gain long-term access to gas storage at a European gas terminal. CNOOC also plans to create a London desk in the coming year or two, following PCI and Unipec. Sumitomo Corp (8053.T), which has a desk to trade piped gas in London is considering expanding into LNG trading, said a company spokesperson.

Persons: Issei Kato, Keith Martin, Wang Bingsi, CNOOC, Norinco, ENN, Chen Aizhu, Yuka Obayashi, Florence Tan, Tom Hogue Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, PetroChina International, PCI, London, Gazprom, China National Offshore Oil Company, Gas Co, ENN, LNG, Beijing Gas, Zhejiang Energy, Zhejiang Energy Zhejiang Energy, Exxon Mobil, Mexico, China Gas Holding, China Gas, JOVO Energy, Privately, SOUTH, Mitsubishi Corp, Marubeni Corp, Tokyo Gas, Korea's SK E, Sumitomo Corp, Thomson Locations: Futtsu, Tokyo, Japan, London, Singapore, Beijing, Dubai, Houston, Sinopec, China, Jiangsu province, ENN, U.S, Hebei, Shenzhen, CNOOC, Zhejiang Energy Zhejiang, Zhejiang, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, HK, Guangxi province, Yantai, Shandong province, Guangdong, Guangzhou, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, Asia

☆ Japan's Kishida to meet fishermen on Fukushima water release plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visits the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma town, Fukushima prefecture, Japan August 20, 2023, in this photo released by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he will meet fishermen as soon as Monday to seek their understanding of the government's plan to release radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific. He said his government would make every effort to ensure the safety of the water release and counter reputational damage. Releasing the water is a key step in decommissioning the Fukushima Daiichi plant and revitalising Fukushima, he added. The prime minister declined to say when it would begin.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Tom Bateman, Yuka Obayashi, William Mallard Organizations: Japan's, Kyodo, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Tokyo Electric Power, Tepco, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Thomson Locations: Okuma, Fukushima prefecture, Japan, South Korea, China

☆ Japan, Iran leaders to meet in Sept in New York - Kyodo
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will meet in New York in September to discuss Iran's nuclear programme among other issues, Kyodo news agency said on Sunday, quoting unnamed Iranian diplomatic sources. Iran aims to promote relations with Japan, traditionally a friendly nation, to avoid international isolation as Iran's talks with the United States and Europe over their nuclear deal have stalled, Kyodo said. Kishida and Raisi also met last September when they visited New York for the U.N. General Assembly. Raisi will ask Kishida to visit Iran and seek to unfreeze Iranian assets in Japan, estimated to be worth around $3 billion, that were frozen in line with U.S. sanctions, Kyodo said. The Japanese side is also expected to emphasise safety in the Strait of Hormuz, the main artery for crude oil transportation and the route for most of the crude oil coming to Japan, Kyodo said.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Ebrahim Raisi, Raisi, Antony Blinken, Kishida, Kyodo, Yuka Obayashi, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Kyodo, General Assembly, Reuters, U.S, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, New York, Iran, Japan, United States, Europe, Washington, Tehran, Russia, Ukraine, South Korea, Strait, Hormuz

Key hurdles for the two projects include the country's caps on domestic gas prices, limits on gas exports and the high costs for carbon capture and storage - required for new gas projects to help fight global warming. Last month, Shell (SHEL.L) said it would sell its holding in the Masela project to Indonesia's Pertamina and Malaysia's Petronas, while Chevron (CVX.N) agreed to sell its stake in the IDD project to Italy's Eni (ENI.MI). Reuters GraphicsNEW TERMS NEEDEDOnce one of the world's top five liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters, Indonesia's LNG exports have halved in the past decade, Kpler data showed. The country has not approved a major oil or gas project since 2016 - the expansion of BP's (BP.L) Tangguh LNG plant. The current formula for splitting revenue between the government and investors in gas projects sets the base rate at 48% for companies.

Persons: magnifier, Dado Ruvic, Benny Lubiantara, Andrew Harwood, Wood Mackenzie, SKK Migas, Benny, Prateek Pandey, Takayuki Ueda, Naing, Inpex's Ueda, Fransiska Nangoy, Bernadette Christina Munthe, Emily Chow, Yuka Obayashi, Florence Tan, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Indonesia, Shell, Chevron, Indonesia Deepwater Development, Petronas, Eni, Essential Services, Reuters, Indonesia Petroleum Association, Rystad Energy, BMI Research, Fitch Group, Tcf, Thomson Locations: Indonesia, JAKARTA, Jakarta, Chevron, Tokyo, Masela, Singapore

☆ Oil hits new highs as tighter supply offsets China demand concern
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Alex Lawler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An aerial view shows a crude oil tanker at an oil terminal off Waidiao island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China January 4, 2023. Brent crude was 54 cents, or 0.6%, higher at $86.71 by 1110 GMT having touched $87.09, the highest since April 13. Crude posted its sixth consecutive weekly gain last week helped by a reduction in OPEC+ supplies and hopes of stimulus boosting oil demand recovery in China. "There is no doubt that there is plenty of momentum here," said Naeem Aslam, chief investment officer at Avatrade. On Tuesday, oil also came under pressure from Chinese data showing crude oil imports in July fell 18.8% from the previous month to their lowest daily rate since January, although they were up 17% from a year earlier.

Persons: Brent, Charalampos Pissouros, Naeem Aslam, Yuka Obayashi, Andrew Hayley, Bernadette Baum, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Saudi, XM, . West Texas, Organization of, Petroleum, American Petroleum Institute, Official U.S . Energy, Thomson Locations: Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China, Saudi, Russian, Saudi Arabia, Russia, U.S, OPEC, Tokyo, Beijing

An aerial view shows a crude oil tanker at an oil terminal off Waidiao island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China January 4, 2023. China Daily via REUTERSBEIJING, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Oil prices eased in Asian morning trade on Wednesday as concerns over slow demand from top crude importer China grew after bearish trade and inflation data, outweighing fears over tighter supply arising from output cuts by Saudi Arabia and Russia. "Oil prices are struggling to further rise because of lingering concerns over a sluggish recovery in China's economy and fuel demand," said Chiyoki Chen, chief analyst at Sunward Trading. Both benchmarks notched their sixth consecutive weekly gains last week, the longest winning streak since December 2021 to January 2022, helped by a reduction in OPEC+ supplies and hopes of stimulus boosting an oil demand recovery in China. In another bearish sign, U.S. crude oil stocks rose by 4.1 million barrels last week, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday.

Persons: Brent, Chiyoki Chen, Yuka Obayashi, Andrew Hayley, Jamie Freed, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, . West Texas, Sunward, American Petroleum Institute, Reuters, U.S . Energy Information Administration, Saudi, Thomson Locations: Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China, REUTERS BEIJING, Saudi Arabia, Russia, United States, Europe, Saudi, Tokyo, Beijing

But the lure for OCI and others of making ammonia with a smaller carbon footprint is a business with potential beyond the farm. is the question, and I think it's a good question," OCI CEO Ahmed El-Hoshy told Reuters, when asked why his company is betting on producing so-called "blue ammonia." But even with U.S. support, blue ammonia economics hinge on further government incentives. If utility premiums don't emerge, OCI plans to use its Texas blue ammonia to make fertilizer in The Netherlands, where the company has under-utilized its plants due to high natural gas prices. OCI's Texas plant, to start production in 2025, will produce 1.1 million metric tons annually.

Persons: Ahmed El, Hoshy, Alexander Derricott, TD Cowen, JERA, Yara, Stephan Werner, Werner, Katrine Petersen, Petersen, Chris Bohn, Oystein Kalleklev, Harald Fotland, Fotland, Rod Nickel, Yuka Obayashi, Anna Driver Organizations: Reuters, OCI, REUTERS, Group, CF Industries, Gulf, CF, Yara, Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Nutrien, Investors, Germany's DWS, International Maritime Organization, Flex LNG, Avance, Victoria Klesty, Thomson Locations: Beaumont , Texas, U.S, Texas, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, United States, El, OCI's Texas, Gulf Coast, Winnipeg , Manitoba, Oslo, Tokyo, Bengaluru

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