News
January 25, 2021
The cat-and-mouse games that avoid detection and sanctions include ship-to-ship transfers, shell companies and silenced satellite signals. But there’s another aspect to the dodge. It involves “doping” the oil with chemical additives and changing its name in the paperwork so it can be sold as a wholly different crude without a trace of its Venezuelan roots.
News
January 25, 2021
With the U.S. campaign of “maximum pressure” now over, Iran’s oil customers may be growing a little bolder.
News
January 25, 2021
Iraq pledged to cut output in January and February after pumping more than its OPEC+ quota last year, and Libyan guards halted some crude exports after a pay dispute. Crude was also buoyed by a renewed climb in global equity markets as investors focused on the prospect of additional stimulus.
News
January 20, 2021
Traders have piled into oil this year, with output cuts from Saudi Arabia helping drive prices to the highest since February.
News
January 15, 2021
China National Offshore Oil Corp. has for years drilled in waters far from its borders, and within 200 miles of countries including Vietnam and the Philippines. The activity amounts to the oil giant acting like a “bully” for China’s military to intimidate its neighbors, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement announcing the move, which restricts access to U.S. technologies without specific permission.
News
January 13, 2021
Saudi Aramco will supply less crude as part of long-term contracts next month, giving some Asian processors 20%-30% less than they had sought, according to company officials who received the notices but asked not to be identified as the information is private.
News
January 13, 2021
Global oil use dropped by 9 million barrels a day last year but should recoup more than 6 million in 2021, said Mike Muller, head of trader Vitol SA’s operations in Asia.
News
January 11, 2021
There have been signs across the oil market of traders expecting tighter supplies following the Saudi cuts. The shape of the Brent futures curve returned to backwardation earlier this week, meaning more immediate prices are trading at premiums.
News
January 11, 2021
Bullish factors have struck the LNG shipping market: robust Asian spot gas demand in a cold winter, record-high exports from U.S. projects and -- perhaps most importantly -- delays to traverse the Panama Canal.
News
January 11, 2021
“The market has now reached a price level that potentially doesn’t reflect current fundamentals,” said Ole Hansen, head of commodities strategy at Saxo Bank A/S. “Oil could be next in line” to suffer from a stronger dollar after other commodity prices came under pressure.
News
January 08, 2021
The second-largest OPEC member, Iraq increased Basrah Light crude to buyers in Asia by 70 cents a barrel, to a $1.10 premium over the regional benchmark, according to a price list from the state oil marketer.
News
January 08, 2021
Democratic wins in elections in Georgia mean the party is poised to take control of the Senate, House and presidency, spurring a broad move higher in financial markets. That came after Saudi Arabia pledged earlier in the week to cut production by 1 million barrels a day in February and March.
News
January 08, 2021
“Opening the shale revolution to the world through the export ban lifting helped shift the global oil market psychology from supply scarcity to abundance,” said Karim Fawaz, director of research and analysis for energy at IHS Markit. “It unshackled the U.S. industry to keep growing past its domestic refining limitations.”
News
January 07, 2021
State producer Saudi Aramco on Wednesday raised its flagship Arab Light oil to Asia, its biggest market, to $1 above the benchmark used by the company.
News
January 06, 2021
Temperatures across much of Europe and Asia are well below normal and forecasters expect them to stay there for most of January. The chill is supporting oil prices, which are holding above $50 a barrel, while the profit from turning crude into diesel climbed in Europe to the most since August in recent weeks as consumers -- many stuck working from home because of a resurgent virus -- burn more heating fuel.
News
January 06, 2021
Even after Covid-19 has wreaked havoc on almost everything else, the new year begins with surging growth for renewable energy.
News
January 05, 2021
Futures in New York gained toward $48 a barrel after dropping the most in 2 weeks on Monday. Discussions will restart on Tuesday after a majority of members, including Saudi Arabia, opposed Russia’s proposal for another supply hike.
News
January 04, 2021
Talks between OPEC and its allies will continue for a second day after most members, including Saudi Arabia, opposed Russia’s proposal for another output increase in February, following the 500,000 barrels a day being added this month.
News
January 04, 2021
A decline in the dollar is boosting the appeal of commodities that are priced in the currency, while as investors return to their desks at the start of the year, crude has emerged as a favored trade to hedge against a rise in inflation.
News
January 01, 2021
China’s Ministry of Commerce said the country would take necessary action to protect the rights of Chinese companies, and that it hoped the two countries could work together to create a fair and predictable environment for businesses and investors.
News
January 01, 2021
It’s the first time Baghdad has sought a prepayment deal, in which oil is effectively used as security for a loan. It’s also the latest example of China lending to struggling oil producers via state-controlled trading companies and banks.
