US Sanctions on Iranian Oil Target Sinopec
The latest U.S. sanctions on Iranian petroleum exports deal a blow to Chinese refining giant Sinopec by targeting a terminal through which the state major handles one-fifth of its crude oil imports, industry executives and analysts said.The sanctions announced on Thursday further complicate U.S.-China relations, coming ahead of planned talks between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping later this month.The move follows China's decision to tighten controls on…
Sources say that OPEC+ is planning to increase oil production in November.
Three sources familiar with the discussions said that OPEC+ is likely to approve another increase in oil production of at least 137,000 bbls per day during its meeting on Sunday. The group's desire to gain market share has been boosted by the rising price of oil, they added. OPEC+ reversed its April strategy of production cuts and has already increased quotas to more than 2,500,000 barrels per day. This represents about 2.4% world demand. The goal is to increase market share, and to do so, they have been under pressure by U.S.
Ukraine Strikes Two Russian Oil Distribution Facilities
Ukraine's military struck two Russian oil distribution facilities in the Bryansk and Samara regions overnight, Kyiv's general staff said on Tuesday.In Samara, the military hit a line production station that mixes Russian oil for its flagship Urals oil grade for export, the general staff said on Telegram.The pumping station, used for Russia's oil pipeline network system in the Samara region, supplies the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk and also accepts Kazakhstan's transit oil shipments to Russian ports and the Druzhba pipeline to Germany.In Bryansk…
Chevron, Valero Working to Resume Supplies of Venezuelan Oil to US
Chevron and Valero Energy are working to resume supplies of Venezuelan crude to Valero's U.S. refineries under an agreement that was on pause, three sources close to the preparations said on Tuesday, following a new license granted to the U.S. oil major.Washington in late July issued a new restricted authorization for Chevron to operate, swap oil and export crude from sanctioned Venezuela in a policy shift following a prisoner swap. The U.S.
Venezuelan Oil Exports Declined in July as Partners Awaited US Authorizations
Venezuela's oil exports declined about 10% in July from the previous month as key partners of state company PDVSA awaited U.S. authorizations to expand operations in the country, according to vessel tracking data and company documents.Washington in late July green lit producer Chevron to operate in the sanctioned country and export its crude to the U.S. under a restricted license that does not allow any payment to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's administration.Other…
Enbridge Sees Demand for More Pipeline Capacity from Canada to US Gulf
Canadian pipeline operator Enbridge said on Friday its recent commercial process to gauge oil shippers' interest in an expansion of its Flanagan South pipeline was oversubscribed, indicating strong demand for additional oil transport capacity from Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast.The success of the Flanagan South open season — an industry term for the binding process pipeline companies use to notify shippers of available capacity and solicit bids — brings Enbridge closer to formally sanctioning its proposed expansion of its Mainline network…
Russian Oil Freight Rates to India Ease Further With Increased Tanker Availability
IFreight rates for Russian oil shipments from the Baltic ports to India eased further in the period from late May to early June, thanks to high tanker availability, but the trend may reverse if Europe's proposed lower price cap comes to fruition.The European Union has put forward a new sanction package against Russia over Ukraine and proposed to lower the Group of Seven nations' price cap on Russian crude oil to $45 a barrel from $60 a barrel.The G7 countries and the EU…
Officials in Malaysia have announced that they will take action against fraud in the export of used cooking oil.
Malaysia's deputy commodities minister said that it would crack down on fraud within the used cooking oil sector, while western governments investigated whether the shipments of biofuels from Asia contained virgin oil. According to Deputy Plantation and Commodities Ministry Chan Foong Hin, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board is revising its policies and standards governing palm industry waste (SPO), also known as used cooking oil. This will help to distinguish between them and prevent discrepancies when exporting.
VLCC Rates Spike as US Sanctions Bite
Supertanker freight rates jumped after the U.S. expanded sanctions on Russia's oil industry, sending traders rushing to book vessels to ship supply from other countries to China and India, shipbrokers and traders said.Chinese and Indian refiners are seeking alternative fuel supplies as they adapt to severe new U.S. sanctions on Russian producers and tankers designed to curb the world No. 2 oil exporter's revenue due to its war in Ukraine.Many of the newly-targeted vessels…
US Storm, Weaker Dollar Push Oil to 12-week High
Oil prices edged up to a 12-week high on Monday as a winter storm boosted demand for energy to heat U.S. homes and businesses, and on support from a weaker U.S. dollar and expectations of tighter sanctions on Iranian and Russian oil exports.Brent futures rose 27 cents, or 0.4%, to $76.78 a barrel by 11:33 a.m. EST (1633 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 27 cents, or 0.4%, to $74.23.Both crude benchmarks gained for a sixth-straight day with Brent on track for its highest close since Oct. 14 and WTI on track for its highest close since Oct.
Iranian Oil Prices to China Spike as Shipping Sanctions Bite
The price of Iranian crude oil sold to China has risen to the highest in years as fresh U.S. sanctions have tightened shipping capacity and driven up logistics costs, trade sources and analysts said.Rising prices for Iranian oil as well as Russian crude are raising costs for independent Chinese refiners that account for about a fifth of demand at the world's top crude importer, underscoring challenges ahead as the Trump administration is expected to ramp up pressure on Iran.Some of the refiners are switching to supplies not under sanction restrictions…
Treasury: US sanctions against North Korea and Russia include new sanctions
New sanctions imposed by the United States on Monday targeted Pyongyang’s financial activities as well as its military support for Moscow, according to the Treasury Department. The sanctions list North Korean generals, banks and officials, as well as Russian oil companies. They are the latest U.S. measures aimed at disrupting North Korea’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Treasury Department released a statement naming Golden Triangle Bank and Korea Mandal Credit Bank as the North Korean banks that were targeted.
President says US is considering sanctions against a Serbian oil company majority owned by Russians
Aleksandar Vucic, president of Serbia, said that the United States would introduce financial sanctions in the next few days against Serbia's NIS oil company, which is owned in majority by Russia's Gazprom and Gazprom. Vucic, a reporter for Informer TV, said: "We received confirmation that the U.S. He said that the UK and European Union will likely follow the U.S. by introducing sanctions. This means that oil shipments via a pipeline coming from Croatia will be halted. Vucic stated that they are still awaiting an official document with all the details. The U.S.
Oil rises by 1% in a 3-week period as sanctions on Russia and Iran increase
The price of oil rose by about 1% on Friday to a record high for three weeks, as a result of expectations that additional sanctions against Russia and Iran would tighten up supplies. Lower interest rates in Europe or the U.S. may also boost the demand for fuel. . U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI), which is a blend of oil from Texas and Louisiana, rose by 79 cents or 1.1% at $70.81. Both crudes were heading for their highest closings since November 22. Brent was on track for a gain of 4% and WTI, a gain of 5%.
US lawmakers question the SLB of oil service companies' exemption from Russian sanctions
Dozens U.S. Both political parties sent representatives to urge the Biden administration on strengthening sanctions against Russian oil shipments. They also questioned the exception granted to SLB, the largest oilfield service company in the world to operate within the country. The U.S., Europe and other countries have been trying to reduce Moscow's revenue from energy for the fight against the war since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. This led several oilfield services companies to leave Russia, but SLB remained in the country and helped keep Russian oil flowing.
Indonesian palm oil stocks in July at a 5-year low amid increased biodiesel production and higher demand
Data from a leading industry group showed that Indonesian palm oil inventories fell 10.82% from the previous month to a 5-year low of 2,51 million metric tons as demand for biodiesel grew and production decreased, according to data released on Wednesday. The benchmark Malaysian futures could be supported by falling stocks in Indonesia. Indonesia is the world's largest producer and consumer. Food sector consumption was 5.76 million tonnes, which is 5.18% less than last year. Biodiesel consumption was 6.44 million tonnes, which is 10.84% more than the previous year.
Russian insurance boosts oil exports to India's top buyer
Data from sources in the shipping and trade industries shows that Russian insurers play a greater role in facilitating oil shipments by Russia to India, which is its largest buyer. This helps to protect Moscow's revenue through exports despite Western sanctions. According to calculations based upon the documents of the vessels, Russian firms insured 60% of Moscow’s oil cargoes bound for India in July. This is up from 40% last December. By using Russian insurance companies…
Russian insurance boosts oil exports to India's top buyer
Data from sources in the shipping and trade industries shows that Russian insurers play a greater role in facilitating oil shipments by Russia to India, which is its largest buyer. This helps to protect Moscow's revenue from exports despite Western sanctions. According to calculations based upon the documents of the vessels, Russian firms insured 60% of Moscow’s oil cargoes bound for India in July. This is up from 40% last December. Moscow can use Russian insurers to sell oil above the $60-per-barrel price cap imposed by the Group of Seven…
Russian Oil Revenues Falling Because of Price Cap -US Official
Russian oil revenues are falling due to the price cap that Western countries imposed on its crude oil shipments and, ahead of further caps on Russia's oil products, Europe is well positioned to manage any price pressures, a U.S. Treasury official said on Wednesday.The Group of Seven countries, Australia and the European Union will extend sanctions on Russia for its war in Ukraine by putting a price cap on its oil products, such as gasoline and diesel, on Feb. 5.…
China Ramps up US Oil Purchases Ahead of Trade Deal Review
U.S. crude oil shipments to China will rise sharply in coming weeks, U.S. traders and shipbrokers and Chinese importers said, as the world’s top economies gear up to review a January deal after a prolonged trade war.Chinese state-owned oil firms have tentatively booked tankers to carry at least 20 million barrels of U.S. crude for August and September, the people said, moves that may ease U.S. concerns that China’s purchases are trending well short of purchase commitments under the Phase 1 of the trade deal.China had emerged as a top U.S.