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A general view of a crude oil importing port in Qingdao, Shandong province, November 9, 2008. Many of the newer, complex refineries in Asia prefer medium sour crude as it offers a higher yield of middle distillates such as diesel and jet fuel. ALTERED FLOWSThe higher prices for medium crude grades is impacting the ways in which crude is flowing around the world. China's imports from Brazil are expected to reach 29.07 million barrels in September, which would be the highest in three years, according to Kpler. While Saudi Arabia may have been successful in boosting oil prices, it is also disrupting the markets and altering physical crude flows.

Persons: Brent, China doesn't, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: United Arab Emirates, Moscow, Kpler, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Qingdao, Shandong province, LAUNCESTON, Australia, Asia, Saudi Arabia, OPEC, Russia, East, Kuwait, Brent, Dubai, Ukraine, India, Iraq, China, Iran, Islamic Republic, United States, Brazil

While domestic travel has rebounded, thereby lifting demand for gasoline and jet fuel, there are other factors at work driving China's crude imports. The question then becomes why did crude imports drop in July even though refinery processing rates remained robust? This means that China's crude imports in September may be robust, but arrivals from October onwards would have been bought at higher prices. The strength in coal imports is being driven by factors largely unrelated to the state of the economy. With crude oil, coal and iron ore all having dynamics separate to the overall state of China's economy, the commodity that appears most correlated with the outlook is copper.

Persons: Aly, Refiners, refiners, Brent, China's, Russia's, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Administration of Customs, Imports, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Zhuhai, China, Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, COVID, Saudi Arabia, OPEC, Russia, Ukraine, Beijing

A vessel carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from Russia's Yamal LNG project, is seen at Rudong LNG Terminal in Nantong, Jiangsu province, China July 18, 2018. The key word Simonelli used is "destination," as it implies that LNG and natural gas are in the energy mix for a long time to come. The second bet is that the LNG industry will be able to convince government policymakers, companies and consumers that their fuel is better than the dirtier alternative of coal-fired generation. Overall, the industry is probably correct that energy demand, especially in Asia, is going to rise strongly in coming decades. But the LNG industry will also need to have policy settings just right and deploy technologies at a scale not yet seen to remain in the energy mix in a net-zero world.

Persons: Stringer, Lorenzo Simonelli, Baker Hughes, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, LNG, CCS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Nantong, Jiangsu province, China, Rights SINGAPORE, Singapore, Asia, Gastech, Vietnam, India

SINGAPORE, Sept 5 (Reuters) - The dominating theme in crude oil markets is that there are too many competing narratives and driving factors to allow for anything approaching a clear view of the path ahead. So, what are the main issues clouding the crude oil market, both for the short and longer terms? - What will happen to Chinese oil demand? - Even if a soft landing can be achieved, interest rates may stay elevated for an extended period, which eventually flows through into crude trading. - How does the change in the main global price benchmark of Brent affect trading?

Persons: Brent, APPEC, Jamie Freed Organizations: P, Insights, Brent, Midland, Reuters, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Asia, Singapore, OPEC, United States, Brazil, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, Rotterdam, China, UKRAINE, Ukraine

Reuters GraphicsCOAL, CRUDESimilar to iron ore, China's imports of seaborne coal are also expected to be robust in August, with Refinitiv estimating arrivals of 31.2 million tons, while Kpler expects 34.3 million. Coal imports have been strong since March as the country turned to thermal generation to make up for weaker-than-usual hydropower. Whether China maintains strength in crude imports will largely depend on whether its refiners continue to export large volumes of diesel and gasoline. The rally in crude prices since June should start to show up in China's crude imports from September onwards, given the lag between when cargoes are arranged and delivered. Overall, it appears that factors other than the strength of China's economy are behind the still solid imports of iron ore, coal and crude oil.

Persons: China's, Kim Coghill Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Rights, National Bureau of Statistics, Iron, Reuters Graphics, Kpler, Refinitiv Oil, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Qingdao, Shandong province, China, Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, Indonesia, OPEC, Saudi Arabia

Since March, seaborne imports of thermal coal have exceeded 28 million metric tons every month, except for the 27.63 million from June, according to Kpler. In 2022, seaborne imports of thermal coal only once breached the 24 million metric tons level, in November, and were below 20 million for eight of the 12 months. China's July coal production was 377.54 million metric tons, which was down 6.3% from June, with the lower output coming as China increases mine safety inspections. China thermal coal imports from Australia, Indonesia and RussiaAUSTRALIAN IMPORTSChina has returned to buying Australian thermal coal after Beijing ended its unofficial ban on such imports, imposed in mid-2020 amid a political dispute with Canberra. China's imports of Australian thermal coal are estimated at 4.89 million metric tons in August, down from a three-year high of 5.41 million.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Stephen Coates Organizations: Huawei, REUTERS, Rights, Newcastle Port, Argus, Indonesia, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Shenmu, Yulin city, Shaanxi, China, Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, Qinhuangdao, India, Indonesia, Russia AUSTRALIAN, Beijing, Canberra, Newcastle, Kpler

The improvement has largely been driven by stronger demand for refined fuels across Asia as economies open up from the COVID-19 pandemic, with China's domestic demand leading the charge. Margins have also been helped by the ability of refiners to pass on higher prices for refined fuels quickly, while still processing crude bought months in advance at lower prices. It's also likely that the strong refining margins in Asia will attract refiners in China and India to maximise exports of fuels such as gasoline and diesel. The profit margins for refined fuels have risen in recent sessions largely because the price of crude oil has dropped more than the prices for refined fuels. Crude prices rallied from July onwards as OPEC+ tightened supply, especially with the producer group's leading exporter Saudi Arabia announcing an additional 1 million barrel per day cut to its production.

Persons: Caroline Chia, It's, Brent, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Brent, Saudi, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Tuas, Singapore, Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, Asia, Dubai, South Korea, Vietnam, China, India, Refinitiv, Saudi Arabia, OPEC

"In the near term, while the outlook for the developed world is uncertain, we expect China and India to remain relative sources of stability for commodity demand," BHP said. "We anticipate that these competing forces may have a variable impact on commodity prices in the period." But perhaps more concerning is that China and India, the two major sources of commodity demand in Asia, are at best stable in their demand outlooks, and even then BHP qualified this with the word "relative." When it comes to China, BHP acknowledged the current struggles Beijing is having in re-igniting growth in the world's second-biggest economy and top commodity importer. BHP is more confident about India, stating that an investment upswing is happening in the world's most populated country, and commodity demand has been "robust."

Persons: BHP, Clyde Russell, Stephen Coates Organizations: BHP Group, BHP, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, India, Asia, Beijing, CHINA

It's likely that workers at the Chevron (CVX.N) plants will join their Woodside colleagues in authorising industrial action, which could then be launched with a seven-day notice period. The worst-case scenario is that industrial action is prolonged and forces a total shutdown of the three plants. The most likely outcome for the time being remains limited industrial action, ongoing negotiations and an eventual settlement that sees the unions get some of what they want, most likely in exchange for some longer-term guarantees. LNG imports by Asia, Europe vs spot Asia priceASIA IMPORTS RISINGAsia's imports for August are expected to lift to 22.86 million metric tons, according to data compiled by commodity analysts Kpler. This would be up from 21.61 million metric tons in July and would be the strongest month since January's 23.37 million.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, It's, Europe's, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Woodside Energy, West, Offshore Alliance, Chevron, Woodside, Kpler, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, Woodside, Western Australia, Asia, Europe, North Asia, ASIA, Japan, South Korea, South, Russia, Ukraine

LAUNCESTON, Australia, Aug 17 (Reuters) - China made a rare draw on crude oil inventories in July as imports softened and refinery processing remained elevated to meet rising domestic demand and a surge in refined fuel exports. China doesn't disclose the volumes of crude flowing into or out of strategic and commercial stockpiles, but an estimate can be made by deducting the amount of crude processed from the total of crude available from imports and domestic output. The volume of crude available to refiners was 14.36 million bpd, consisting of imports of 10.29 million bpd and domestic output of 4.07 million bpd. Subtracting the refinery throughput from the total crude available leaves a deficit of 510,000 bpd. Imports dropped 2.38 million bpd in July from June's 12.67 million bpd, and were the lowest monthly total since January.

Persons: China doesn't, refiners, Brent, Robert Birsel Organizations: National Bureau of Statistics, Brent, Refinitiv Oil Research, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, storages, June's, East, Saudi Arabia, Brent, Singapore

It's likely that the lower spot prices for iron ore in recent weeks are encouraging traders and steel mills to boost imports. The problems at Country Garden are stoking fears of contagion in China's property sector, which is facing a cash crunch. China iron ore imports vs priceLOANS TUMBLEAdding to the property woes was data released on Tuesday showing China's industrial output and retail sales slowed and undershot forecasts. Another potential factor supporting iron ore imports is the low state of port inventories, which last week dropped to the lowest in just over three years. They are also below the 138.6 million metric tons in the same week in 2022 and the 127.2 million in 2021.

Persons: Fortescue, David Gray, Refinitiv, It's, SteelHome, Robert Birsel Organizations: Port Hedland, REUTERS, HK, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Port, Pilbara, Western Australia, LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, Beijing, Singapore, China's

A general view shows a special ship, "Neptune", the floating liquefied natural gas terminal, during the inauguration of the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal 'Deutsche Ostsee' in the port of Lubmin, Germany January 14, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File PhotoLAUNCESTON, Australia, Aug 14 (Reuters) - The comfort that had characterised natural gas markets in Asia and Europe in recent months was shown to be a mere illusion by the threat of strike action at three major Australian liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants. Benchmark Dutch natural gas prices jumped 28.3% from the close on Aug. 8 to the finish on Aug. 10 as reports of the looming strike action spooked the market. Woodside and Chevron are engaging in talks with labour unions at the LNG facilities, and it's not yet clear what form any strike action would take, assuming no agreement can be reached. Europe's LNG imports in contrast have been trending lower as the continent's natural gas storages remained elevated and demand shifts structurally lower as countries move to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Persons: Annegret, Tom Hogue Organizations: REUTERS, Woodside Energy, Chevron, West Shelf, Benchmark, South Korea, China, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Lubmin, Germany, LAUNCESTON, Australia, Asia, Europe, Western Australia, North Asia, Woodside, Chevron, Ukraine, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, United States

China's increased appetite for thermal coal from Australia and Russia has led to a shift in imports by India, the world's second biggest coal buyer. From December to February India's imports of Australian thermal coal had been above 1 million metric tons per month, peaking in January at 1.79 million. In contrast India is turning back to thermal coal from Indonesia, with July arrivals of 6.87 million metric tons, up from 6.04 million in June. For July, Indonesia's share of India's thermal coal imports was 63%, which was the highest since the 65% in April. China and India both generally import Australian thermal coal of a lower energy value than the traditional buyers of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

Persons: David Gray, it's, Indonesia's, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Labor Party, Liberal, National, China, Argus, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ulan, New South Wales, Mudgee, Australia, LAUNCESTON, Beijing, Asia, China, Mongolia, Indonesia, Russia, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia's Newcastle, Ukraine

LAUNCESTON, Australia, Aug 8 (Reuters) - China's imports of major commodities lost momentum in July in a further sign that the world's second-biggest economy is struggling to boost flagging growth. While June's imports were the second-highest on record, the July outcome was the weakest since October last year on a barrels per day basis. In the first seven months of 2023, China's copper imports slid 10.7% to 3.04 million metric tons. Iron ore imports dropped to 93.48 million metric tons in July, down 2.1% from June's 95.52 million. For the first seven months of the year China's coal imports came in at 261 million metric tons, some 86% above the same period in 2022.

Persons: It's, Brent, China's, Lincoln Organizations: Administration of Customs, Brent, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, China

A truck carrying iron ore moves along a road at the Fortescue Metals Christmas Creek iron ore mine located south of Port Hedland in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, November 17, 2015. But it's worth noting that China's two main imports from Australia, iron ore and liquefied natural gas (LNG), were left untouched throughout the dispute. China gets about 70% of its iron ore from Australia and about one-third of its LNG, some of it under a low, fixed-price contract signed two decades ago. But overall it would seem that the ending of Beijing's trade actions against Australia will be net positive for both countries. This suggests Beijing didn't learn the lessons from the trade tariffs imposed on it by the U.S. administration of former president Donald Trump.

Persons: Jim Regan, hadn't, Beijing didn't, Donald Trump, Trump, Sonali Paul Organizations: Fortescue, REUTERS, China's Ministry of Commerce, Australia, Labor Party, Liberal, National, Labor, Canberra, Beijing, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Port Hedland, Pilbara, Western Australia, LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, China's, Beijing, Canberra, Indonesia, Russia, United States, India, Vietnam, U.S, Ukraine

Russia remained the top supplier to China, with pipeline and seaborne arrivals of 2.04 million bpd in July, which was down from June's 2.56 million bpd. However, it was still enough to exceed imports from Saudi Arabia, which Refinitiv estimated at 1.82 million bpd in July, down from 1.94 million bpd in June. It's also worth noting that much of the strength in China's crude imports is because of massive inflows into commercial or strategic storages. India's refiners continue to gorge on discounted Russian crude, with arrivals in July estimated at an all-time high of 2.08 million bpd. Japan's July oil imports are estimated at 2.49 million bpd, up from June's 2.11 million bpd, while South Korea's are put at 2.76 million bpd, up from 2.53 million bpd in June.

Persons: Amit Dave LAUNCESTON, It's, China doesn't, India's refiners, Brent, Clyde Russell, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Refinitiv Oil Research, Brent, OPEC, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Vadinar, Gujarat, India, Australia, China, Asia, Russia, June's, Saudi Arabia, OPEC, Angola, Oman, East, Iraq, Moscow, South, North Asia

LAUNCESTON, Australia, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Bad news for China's economy appears to spell good news for commodities, with prices of copper and iron ore gaining on hopes for new stimulus measures after yet another weak indicator. Dalian Commodity Exchange contracts ended daytime trade 0.5% higher at 841.5 yuan per metric ton, snapping two sessions of declines. Imports are estimated at 101.39 million metric tons by commodity analysts Kpler and at 100.96 million by Refinitiv. If the official figure is in line with these estimates, it would be the strongest month for iron ore imports since January's 103.6 million metric tons. Inventories have dropped for five straight weeks and are now 10% below the 13.5 million metric tons for the same week in 2022.

Persons: Beijing's, Miral Organizations: PMI, London, Reuters Graphics, Singapore, Dalian, Exchange, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, Beijing, Shanghai

Asia's imports of the super-chilled fuel were estimated at 21.85 million metric tons in July by commodity analysts Kpler, up from June's 21.28 million and the most since January. Europe's imports were estimated at 8.72 million metric tons in July, down from June's 9.06 million and lowest monthly total since August last year. The Kpler data point to an increase of just 570,000 metric tons in Asia's imports in July, while Europe saw a drop of 340,000. Among Asia's major importers, China's demand remains muted with Kpler estimating July arrivals at 5.88 million metric tons, down from 6.20 million in June. South Korea, the world's third-biggest LNG buyer, saw July imports of 2.81 million metric tons, a small decline from June's 2.92 million.

Persons: Robert Birsel Organizations: LNG, Europe's, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, Europe, June's, Asia, Ukraine, Japan, China, South Korea, India, U.S, United States, Europe's U.S

LAUNCESTON, Australia, July 26 (Reuters) - China boosted its stockpiling of crude oil to the highest level in three years in June, taking advantage of cheap Russian crude to bolster inventories and add flexibility to future import requirements. The volume of crude available to refiners was 16.93 million bpd, consisting of imports of 12.67 million bpd and domestic output of 4.26 million bpd. This would have the impact of lowering their import bills, but also of cutting global oil demand and putting some downward pressure on oil prices. What is becoming clearer is that the amount of heavily discounted crude China can buy is reaching a maximum. In addition to discounted Russian oil, China also buys crude from Iran, although this is largely disguised as imports from other nations in official data.

Persons: China doesn't, Jamie Freed Organizations: National Bureau of Statistics, International Energy Agency, Brent, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, OPEC, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, Ukraine

China, the world's second-biggest LNG buyer, is estimated to have imported 5.96 million metric tons of the super-chilled fuel in June, according to data compiled by Refinitiv. While Asia's overall LNG imports are showing a relatively steady picture, Europe's have been trending lower amid ample stockpiles of natural gas. Europe imported 9.50 million metric tons in June, the lowest monthly total since August and down from 12.11 million in May, according to Refinitiv. Asia's imports of U.S. LNG rose to 1.34 million metric tons in June, the most since February and up from 1.21 million in May. In contrast, Europe's imports of U.S. LNG dropped to 4.15 million metric tons in June, the least since September and down from 5.63 million tons in May.

Persons: Refinitiv, Brent, Robert Birsel Organizations: LNG, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, Asia, Ukraine, Europe, ASIA, EUROPE, Refinitiv, Japan, South Korea, India, United States, U.S

2 oil exporter, said shortly after the Saudi announcement that it would cut crude shipments by 500,000 bpd for August. Taken together, the Saudi and Russian moves mean that the total output cuts pledged by members of the OPEC+ producer group are 5.16 million bpd, or about 5% of daily global demand. The subtext to Saudi calls for stability and balance is that the kingdom wants to keep oil prices at a level it deems high enough. The allocation of additional crude import permits is a factor that could keep crude imports strong in the second half, but it's likely that much will depend on crude prices. This level of stockpile building gives China's refiners options should crude oil prices rise as OPEC+ cuts output.

Persons: refiners, Jamie Freed Organizations: Saudi, Brent, Organization of, Petroleum, International Energy Agency, Refinitiv Oil, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Saudi, OPEC, Russian, CHINA, Beijing, China

LAUNCESTON, Australia, July 3 (Reuters) - Australia's exports of new energy metals are expected to rise in value above those of thermal coal, the polluting fuel that has been the mainstay of electricity generation across much of Asia. In contrast, exports of thermal coal are expected to slide to A$38 billion in 2023-24 fiscal year, down from A$64 billion in the prior year, according to the report, released on Monday. Australia is the world's second-biggest exporter of thermal coal behind Indonesia, and is the top exporter of coking coal, which is mainly used to make steel. While exports of battery metals are expected to overtake those of thermal coal this fiscal year, the driver isn't increased volumes of shipments of the metals, or decreased export of coal. The government expects the volume of thermal coal exports to actually increase in 2023-24 to 201 million metric tons, up from 178 million in 2022-23.

Persons: Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Australian government's Department of Industry, Science, Resources, Newcastle, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, Asia, Indonesia, United States, Qatar, Ukraine

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

What BHP is touting is a process it calls credible and cost-effective, and it's these aims that are worth examining. BHP is the world's biggest miner of coking coal, used to make steel, and ranks third in iron ore, the main steel raw material. Diesel accounts for 76% of the emissions at the iron ore operations in Western Australia state, and 45% at the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance coking coal mines in the northeastern state of Queensland. BHP plans to switch its diesel trucks to battery-powered vehicles, but this will take some time and also involves more than just buying new equipment. The overall message from BHP is that it is advancing plans to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions.

Persons: Clarence Fernandez Organizations: BHP Group, BHP, BHP Mitsubishi, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, Western Australia, Queensland

LAUNCESTON, Australia, June 26 (Reuters) - The extraordinary events in Russia this weekend made for dramatic headlines and the ramifications are likely far from over, but the immediate impact on global crude oil markets is likely to be limited. What is somewhat more certain is that there is no direct threat to Russia's crude oil industry and no reason to believe that shipments from the world's second-largest exporter of the fuel are in any danger. While there appears little imminent threat to Russia's exports of crude oil and refined products, the weekend unrest does raise concerns over the medium and longer terms. Russia's crude oil exports are expected to dip in June, but this is largely the impact of Moscow's earlier announcement of a voluntary 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) additional cut to output. But a wounded and weakened Putin is one more thing the global oil market now has to worry about.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Wagner, Alexander Lukashenko, Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, midmorning, Sonali Paul Organizations: Brent, Refinitiv Oil Research, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, Russia, Belarus, midmorning Sydney, OPEC, Moscow, Saudi Arabia

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