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☆ U.S. funding bill blocks China from buying oil from Strategic Petroleum Reserve
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A measure in the U.S. funding legislation unveiled by congressional leaders on Sunday would block China from buying oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, or SPR. A measure in the U.S. funding legislation unveiled by congressional leaders on Sunday would block China from buying oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, or SPR. That year the SPR sold 1 million barrels to UNIPEC America, a Houston-based arm of China's Sinopec. In 2017, under former President Donald Trump, some SPR oil was sold to PetroChina International, a subsidiary of Chinese state oil company PetroChina Co Ltd . The SPR currently holds more than 360 million barrels of oil but is close to 40-year lows due to the sales in 2022.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump Organizations: Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Congress, Democrat, PetroChina, PetroChina Co Locations: U.S, China, Ukraine, America, Houston

☆ 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

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

☆ Asia refiners expect Saudi Arabia to cut August crude prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Saudi Arabia in June unexpectedly raised prices for July-loading cargoes, eating into Asian refiners' margins. Profits at a typical Singapore refinery processing Dubai crude fell to an average of $3.44 a barrel in June, from $4.78 a barrel last month. Saudi crude prices typically closely track changes in benchmark Dubai monthly price spreads, but the two have disconnected in recent months. Saudi crude OSPs are usually released around the fifth of each month, and set the trend for Iranian, Kuwaiti and Iraqi prices, affecting about 9 million bpd of crude bound for Asia. Below are expected Saudi prices for August 2023 (in $/bbl against the Oman/Dubai average):Reporting by Muyu Xu; Editing by Florence Tan and Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Unipec, Muyu Xu, Florence Tan, Jamie Freed Organizations: Saudi Aramco, Dubai, Global, Kuwaiti, bbl, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Saudi Arabia, OPEC, Saudi, Dubai, Oman, Singapore, PetroChina, Asia

An example is the trade in physical cargoes from the Middle East where Unipec, the trading arm of top Chinese refiner Sinopec, has been selling heavily this month. There are several reasons for this, including the output cuts implemented by OPEC+, which effect more Middle East grades than Brent and related light crudes. Asia is expected to import 29.12 million bpd in June, a third consecutive monthly gain and up from 26.47 million bpd in May, according to Refinitiv. China's imports are estimated at 12.5 million bpd, up slightly from May's 12.16 million, while India is forecast to receive 5.24 million bpd, up from 4.74 million bpd in May. Asia's imports from the United States are expected to reach a record high of 2.58 million bpd in June, up from 1.66 million bpd the prior month.

Persons: Unipec, refiners, BRENT, Brent, Stephen Coates Organizations: Unipec, Refinitiv Oil Research, Saudi Aramco, OPEC, Saudi, Aramco, refiners, Brent, . West Texas, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, Oman, Dubai, Middle East, Africa, Americas, Asia, Saudi, Brent, China, India, United States, Europe, North America

☆ Bangladesh struggles to pay for fuel imports as dollar crisis worsens -letters
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Ruma Paul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

DHAKA, May 22 (Reuters) - Bangladesh is struggling to pay for imported fuel because of a dollar shortage, letters reviewed by Reuters show, with the state petroleum company owing more than $300 million as it faces an "alarming decrease in fuel reserves". Heavily reliant on energy imports, Bangladesh is grappling with power cuts resulting from a fuel shortage that have badly hurt its exports-oriented garments industry. BPC imports 500,000 tonnes of refined oil and 100,000 tonnes of crude oil every month. The April letter said several fuel suppliers had either sent fewer cargoes than scheduled or threatened to halt supplies. Others in South Asia, such as Sri Lanka and Pakistan, have also sought or received IMF funds this year.

☆ Oil falls on fuel demand woes ahead of U.S. Fed comments
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Rowena Edwards | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Higher interest rates tend to lift the dollar, making dollar-denominated oil more expensive for holders of other currencies and reducing demand. Other economic reports from the United States, the world's biggest oil consumer, showed some troubling signs however. A preliminary Reuters analyst poll on Tuesday also showed a rise in U.S. crude inventories, exacerbating the demand worries. Analysts expect China's oil imports to hit a record high in 2023 to meet increased demand for transportation fuel and as new refineries come on stream. Morgan Stanley has raised its global oil demand growth estimate for this year by about 36%, citing growing momentum in China's reopening and a recovery in aviation, but flagged higher supply from Russia as an offseting factor.

☆ Oil steadies as investors await U.S. Fed Reserve comments
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Shariq Khan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Brent crude futures for April delivery were up 2 cents to $83.07 a barrel by 0242 GMT after falling 1.2% on Tuesday. read moreOther economic reports from the U.S., the world's biggest oil consumer, showed some troubling signs however. "Further rate hikes could dampen oil demand." Higher interest rates tend to lift dollar prices, making dollar-denominated oil more expensive for holders of other currencies. Expectations of tighter global supplies and rising demand from China have recently lent support to oil prices.

☆ Saudi Arabia may lower crude prices to Asia for 4th straight month
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Muyu Xu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The European Union is set to ban Russian oil products imports from Feb. 5, which is expected to curb Russia's oil processing and lead to more crude oil exports. Saudi crude OSPs set the trend for Iranian, Kuwaiti and Iraqi prices, affecting about 9 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude bound for Asia. Saudi Aramco sets its crude prices based on recommendations from customers and after calculating the change in the value of its oil over the past month, based on yields and product prices. Saudi Aramco officials as a matter of policy do not comment on the kingdom's monthly OSPs. Below are expected Saudi prices for March (in $/bbl against the Oman/Dubai average):Reporting by Muyu Xu; editing by Uttaresh.VOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

NEW YORK, Nov 28 (Reuters) - The global oil market is signaling a potential shift, as traders and analysts worry about reduced crude demand and an oversupplied market in the coming months. On Dec. 5, a European Union ban on Russian crude imports is set to start, along with a plan by the G7 nations to force shippers to comply with a price cap on Russian oil sales. In the last week, crude futures contracts have flipped in and out of contango, where the prompt price of a commodity is lower than the future price, which suggests short-term weakness. Offers of Angolan and other West African crude oil to China, a main customer, are a barometer of physical crude demand from the country. In addition, European refiners have found themselves oversupplied with crude as an expected shortage owing to the looming EU ban on Russian oil has yet to materialise.

SINGAPORE, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Chinese refiners are slowing down Russian crude purchases in December and paying lower premiums in the face of imminent European Union sanctions and uncertainty surrounding the G7's plan to cap Russian oil prices, trading sources said. The European Union will ban Russian crude and oil products imports on Dec. 5 and Feb. 5, respectively. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the Russian oil price cap will benefit China and India. URALSMeanwhile, state refiners are winding down Russian Urals crude purchases for December arrival to eschew sanction risks after stockpiling the oil in previous two months, traders said. Spot discounts for these cargoes "need to be deep enough to warrant any meaningful risk taking", said the state oil trading manager.

☆ Valero, Marathon top beneficiaries of U.S. emergency oil releases
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Arathy Somasekhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Loren Elliott/File PhotoHOUSTON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Oil refiners Valero Energy Corp (VLO.N) and Marathon Petroleum Corp (MPC.N) are the biggest beneficiaries of the U.S. government's oil reserve releases, taking nearly half the crude offered, a Reuters analysis of Department of Energy data showed on Wednesday. The Biden administration has opened spigots at the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to lower fuel prices and ease a supply crunch from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Awards of about 218 million barrels for the 12 months endedSept. Valero, the second largest U.S. refiner by capacity, secured 52.7 million, while top oil processor Marathon Petroleum snapped up 45.2 million barrels. About 24.42 million barrels were released by exchange, with the largest amounts taken by Exxon and Shell.

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