Petróleo crudo
Argus aporta transparencia a los mercados de petróleo naturalmente complejo para permitir la eficiencia comercial
Descripción general
Los precios del petróleo crudo de Argus se han consolidado en los mercados mundiales desde 1979. Informamos sobre cada mercado de la manera en que opera, utilizando metodologías transparentes adecuadas al mercado. Nuestras evaluaciones del precio se han adoptado en una amplia gama de contratos comerciales, precios de venta oficiales, precios de transferencia interna, fórmulas fiscales y modelos económicos utilizados por los gobiernos y todos los aspectos de las industrias petroleras upstream, midstream y downstream.
Ahora que el crudo de EE. UU. tiene demanda a nivel mundial, la intersección entre los mercados de oleoductos y marítimos en la costa del Golfo de EE. UU. es fundamental para la fijación de precios del crudo global. Durante más de dos décadas, las evaluaciones de Argus WTI en Midland y Houston han sido los benchmark físicos estándar para el crudo estadounidense, así como los índices de liquidación para un mercado de derivados sólido.
Nuestra cobertura rica, profunda y de confiable de los mercados mundiales del petróleo crudo es inigualable. Para tomar decisiones empresariales informadas en los mercados actuales del petróleo, necesita Argus.
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Últimas noticias sobre el petróleo crudo
Explore las ultimas noticias del mercado sobre la industria global del petróleo crudo.
Saudi Aramco VLCC exits Gulf through Hormuz
Saudi Aramco VLCC exits Gulf through Hormuz
London, 19 August (Argus) — A very large crude carrier (VLCC) laden with Saudi state-controlled Aramco crude loaded at Mideast Gulf ports has passed through the strait of Hormuz and is destined for Sohar, Oman, according to ship tracking data. This is probably the first Aramco cargo to pass Hormuz in August. The Singapore Prosperity , owned by South Korea's Sinokor, loaded 301,000t of crude at the Saudi ports of Ras Tanura and Juaymah, Kpler data show. It broadcast an automatic identification system (AIS) signal on 17 August near Juaymah and then went 'dark' before reappearing today near Fujairah, UAE. The VLCC is now broadcasting Sohar as its destination, where the cargo could be transferred ship-to-ship (STS). Aramco recently offered prompt cargoes of Arab Medium and Arab Heavy crude grades to several Asian customers loading on an STS basis at Sohar. Three more Sinokor tankers loaded Aramco crude in August, according to Kpler data: Malaysia Prosperity , Algeria Prosperity , and Bulgaria Prosperity . Their locations are unclear, as none has sent an AIS signal in the past week. These loadings mark a rebound in Aramco's Mideast Gulf exports, which collapsed in mid-July after the expiry of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding. Exports are recovering as shipments from Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of Yanbu appear to be disrupted by the Yemen-based Houthi militant group. The Houthis have claimed attacks on eight Saudi-linked tankers around the Bab el-Mandeb strait at the Red Sea's southern entrance. Although Aramco chief executive Amin Nasser said this has not affected Aramco's export capacity , Kpler data show crude exports from Yanbu fell to about 15.8mn t in July, down by 6.6pc from 16.9mn t in June. Exports so far in August are around 3.8mn t, according to Kpler. Strait threat Singapore Prosperity passed through Hormuz at a time of elevated threats to shipping, with strikes on at least five ships in the past week . The UAE accused Iran of targeting two vessels affiliated with state-owned Adnoc last week. Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on 18 August that the strait will remain closed until the US fulfils commitments made under the now-expired ceasefire agreement signed in June. By Leonard Fisher-Matthews Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Iraq expands crude discounting as oil revenue falls
Iraq expands crude discounting as oil revenue falls
Dubai, 19 August (Argus) — Iraq has approved a new crude discount mechanism in an attempt to restore exports and bolster oil revenue after traffic restrictions through the strait of Hormuz sharply reduced crude sales. The cabinet on 18 August approved crude purchases from 1 September at a 30pc discount to the lower of state-owned marketer Somo's price or the oil price stipulated in the federal budget. The financial impact of the mechanism will be reviewed, according to a statement from prime minister Ali al-Zaidi's office. The statement did not identify which buyers or purchases would qualify for the mechanism, or how it would interact with the steep discounts Somo is already offering buyers loading Iraqi crude from southern terminals. The cabinet also approved three-month contracts, starting on 1 September, allowing specialised international and Iraqi companies to handle crude exports through multiple outlets. The statement did not explain what those companies will do beyond handling exports, which outlets will be used, or whether the measure affects Somo's role in Iraqi crude sales. Somo this month offered term customers Basrah Medium and Basrah Heavy cargoes loading in August at discounts of $25-29.80/bl to their respective official selling prices (OSPs), reflecting the additional logistical, insurance and security costs buyers face when loading crude at Basrah and moving it through the strait of Hormuz. Basrah Medium loading on 1-10 August was offered at a $27/bl discount to its OSP, falling to $26/bl for 11-20 August and $25/bl for the rest of the month. Basrah Heavy discounts ranged from $29.80/bl for early-August loading to $27.80/bl later in the month. Those discounts widened from the $14-18.80/bl Somo offered for July-loading cargoes, underlining the pressure on the Iraqi government to move more crude and restore its main source of revenue. Iraq exports most of its crude from southern terminals inside the Mideast Gulf, leaving it particularly exposed to disruption around the strait of Hormuz. Loadings averaged around 3.5mn b/d before the US-Iran war but fell sharply after traffic through the strait was restricted. Exports have since partly recovered, according to oil minister Basim Mohammed Khudair, who said on 14 August that Iraq had exported around 2mn b/d so far this month , up from 49mn bl, or 1.58mn b/d, in July. But volumes remain well below pre-war levels. At least four tankers carrying Iraqi crude this month have used ship-to-ship (STS) transfers to move cargo through Hormuz to waters near Fujairah, according to Vortexa data. Abu Dhabi's Adnoc Trading has also offered August-loading Basrah crude on a fob STS basis near Fujairah, as well as delivered cargoes to buyers in Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Mediterranean. The arrangement allows refiners to buy Iraqi crude without sending their own vessels through Hormuz, shifting some of the logistical, insurance and security burden to traders able to move crude out of the Mideast Gulf. The cabinet has given the oil minister authority to establish new transport routes under existing contracts and renew those agreements. State-owned Oil Pipelines has been instructed to expand loading platforms. The government has also approved mechanisms covering advance payments for Iraqi crude sales and where buyers' payments and deposits will be held. Fiscal squeeze The export disruption has already opened a large gap in Iraq's public finances. Federal spending reached 57.18 trillion Iraqi dinars ($43.6bn) in the first half of 2026, against revenues of ID35.9 trillion, according to finance ministry data, leaving a deficit of more than ID21 trillion. Oil revenue fell to ID28.5 trillion from ID57 trillion in the first half of 2025, effectively halving year on year as constrained exports deprived Baghdad of its principal source of income. Non-oil revenue increased to ID7.4 trillion from ID4.9 trillion, lifting its share of government receipts to around 20pc. But the increase fell well short of offsetting the loss of oil income. The squeeze is compounded by the rigidity of Iraqi spending. Operational expenditure accounted for ID54.67 trillion of first-half spending, while investment expenditure was just ID2.5 trillion. Salaries, pensions, social welfare, subsidies and bonuses amounted to ID48.76 trillion, equivalent to 85pc of total expenditure. The figures leave Baghdad with limited room to absorb an extended disruption to crude exports and help explain the government's willingness to accept substantial discounts to move more barrels. By Bachar Halabi Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Renewable shifts in 4 nations near 1.5°C target: Report
Renewable shifts in 4 nations near 1.5°C target: Report
Edinburgh, 19 August (Argus) — Uruguay, Namibia, the Netherlands and Denmark are the only countries coming closer to achieving the annual global growth rates for renewable power capacity to 2030 needed to stay on track with limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5°C, as major emitters lag behind, according to Systems Change Lab — an initiative led by climate think-tank the World Resources Institute (WRI). No country has increased solar and wind over a five-year period at the rate needed to hit targets compatible with limiting global warming to 1.5°C, Systems Change Lab said. The Paris agreement seeks to curb the global rise in temperature to "well below" 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and pursues a 1.5°C limit. Its signatories recognised in 2023 "the need for deep, rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in line with 1.5°C". Solar and wind need to account for 57-78pc of the global electricity mix by 2030, but only made up 17.4pc of global electricity generation, according to the group's State of Climate Action 2025 report. But Uruguay, Namibia, the Netherlands and Denmark achieved around three-quarters of the annual global growth rate required from 2025 to 2030. In Uruguay, wind power generation rose to 32pc of the country's mix in 2018 from 1pc in 2013 — the fastest five-year renewable energy increase globally. In Namibia, solar grew to 39pc of electricity from 6pc in 2017-22, while solar and wind power rose to 45pc of electricity generation from 14pc between 2019 and 2024 in the Netherlands, according to Systems Change Lab. In Denmark, around 60pc of the country's electricity comes from wind, the highest share globally, it said. Uruguay, Namibia, the Netherlands and Denmark accounted for 0.08pc, 0.03pc, 0.27pc and 0.07pc, respectively, of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions in 2024, according to the EU's Edgar data. In comparison, China accounted for 29pc of global emissions and the US for 11pc, according to Edgar data. Even though China and the US — the world's two largest greenhouse gas emitters — build the most renewable energy capacity each year, solar and wind account for less than one-quarter of electricity generation in both countries, it said. "Other countries have both a large population and have achieved a high share of solar and wind in their national electricity mix, like Spain 42pc, Germany 45pc and the UK 36pc, but for those three countries, the growth took place over a longer period at slower rates," the group said. Although the four countries' economies and geographies are vastly different, Systems Change Lab found that for all of them, energy security concerns — reliance on fossil fuel and power imports — helped the initial shift, while progress depended largely on long-term policies and stable investment conditions. Political support meant that the policies were maintained over a long enough period to build up a critical speed, it said. Unlike Denmark, which started earlier than the other three countries, Uruguay and Namibia did not need to rely on subsidies because renewable costs have fallen and other options were expensive, but "they still needed to implement policy reforms to ensure the private sector could supply energy at competitive prices". "Achieving real systems change will require rapid rates of growth in solar and wind to be achieved and sustained in all countries," it said. "Developed countries that have greater historical responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions and greater capability to act should aim to grow renewables more quickly than the global average to accommodate other countries where a rapid shift is less feasible". By Caroline Varin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Venezuela's refining improves, work remains: PdV
Venezuela's refining improves, work remains: PdV
Houston, 18 August (Argus) — Venezuela refined 404,000 b/d of oil and feedstocks in July, a 13pc increase from a year earlier, signaling some improvements in its infrastructure, state-owned PdV executive vice president Jovanny Martinez said on Tuesday. Refinery runs declined from 451,000 b/d in June. Martinez did not define what feedstocks might be included besides oil. The figure is higher than a recent estimate for early August of 350,000 b/d that PdV president Hector Obregon provided. But the increased refining was part of several positive signs in the first half of the year for PdV, Martinez said during a presentation at the AAPG Image 2026 geoscience and energy conference in Houston, Texas. Oil production in July increased by 3.8pc to 1.221mn b/d from a year earlier, natural gas production rose by 4.2pc to 4.061 Bcf/d and domestic fuel and specialty sales grew by 5.4pc to 185,000 b/d over the same period, he added. Martinez and energy minister Paula Henao at the same event acknowledged that Venezuela still has massive work to do to draw more investment and improve conditions for the energy industry and for Venezuelans. "We have to recover our infrastructure," Martinez said. "We must have clear rules of the game." US under secretary of energy Kyle Haustveit also acknowledged "tremendous progress" in Venezuela since January, when US forces struck Caracas and arrested president Nicolas Maduro on drug trafficking charges. But Haustveit called for more. "I want to be clear that we are not declaring victory at this point," Haustveit said. "There is work to be done." The US has called for free and fair elections in Venezuela after most of the administration of jailed former leader Maduro remains in place. While no roadmap exists yet, Venezuela's acting national assembly and a US-recognized opposition-controlled body last week arrived at some initial agreements . By Carla Bass Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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