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Malaysia's Lotte Titan yet to produce on-spec aromatics

  • Spanish Market: Oil products, Petrochemicals
  • 19/06/24

Malaysian petrochemical producer Lotte Titan has yet to produce on-specification aromatics after its aromatics unit in Pasir Gudang restarted on 10 June.

The unit, which can produce up to 110,000 t/yr of benzene and 60,000 t/yr of toluene, continues to face technical issues after experiencing delays to its restart date earlier this month, with flaring being observed at the Pasir Gudang complex.

The company now aims to produce on-specification aromatics products by the end of the week.

The associated No.2 naphtha cracker, which also restarted on 10 June, is producing on-specification olefins, although production rates remain unstable. The No.2 cracker has a nameplate capacity of 430,000 t/yr of ethylene and 220,000 t/yr of propylene.


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19/02/25

Green marine fuel uptake slowed by regulations: GMF

Green marine fuel uptake slowed by regulations: GMF

Singapore, 19 February (Argus) — The global shipping sector requires clearer fuel regulations for widespread adoption of green marine fuels, according to panellists at the opening session of the Argus Green Marine Fuels Asia conference on 18 February. Regulations will be a key driver of fuel adoption in the industry but unclear directives remain a barrier to extensive uptake, said Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation's (GCMD) director for research and projects Prapisala Thepsithar. The pricing outlook for low to zero carbon fuels will become clearer only after the global shipping market progresses on a consistent set of regulations. Buyers will have to work with regulators to ensure that the uptake of fuels will be compliant across the value chain, said Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) regional manager Ashok Srinivasan. Shipowners and charterers would not want to increase bunkering of biofuels and subsequently discover it is not sustainable according to regulatory requirements, Srinivasan said. Market concerns such as fuel feedstock origin and production process, shipping infrastructure and technology, and vessel readiness were also discussed during the panel. The industry should strive towards regulations that are recognised as a global standard to be applied worldwide, said chief technology officer of energy and fuels at Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Centre for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS) Torben Nørgaard. But new regulations on alternative fuels must be aligned with existing ones, or it would be a challenge for the industry to comply, said Srinivasan. The market is looking ahead to the 83rd session of Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) for any potential announcements about global fuel standardisation from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). MEPC 83 will be held on 7-11 April 2025. The shipping sector expects a multi-fuel future, but more effort and time will be needed to ensure scalable supplies and feasible pricing. Shipping has "no history of being a market maker" that drives energy consumption and the industry will have to look for opportunities in other energy sectors to aggregate demand and pass the cost to customers, said Nørgaard. Fuel pathways are shared across industries and scalability is limited unless there is widespread adoption, added Nørgaard. Current and projected fuel prices are "a major factor" in the uptake of different fuel types, said Srinivasan. By Cassia Teo Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US court pauses refiner's biofuel case after EPA shift


18/02/25
18/02/25

US court pauses refiner's biofuel case after EPA shift

New York, 18 February (Argus) — A US federal appeals court has paused the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s rejection of a refiner's request for exemptions from federal biofuel blend mandates, with relief possible for two more refiners as the US reassesses policy under a new administration. A three-judge panel on the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals last week granted a request from Calumet's 57,000 b/d refinery in Shreveport, Louisiana, to pause a recent EPA action denying the refinery relief from its 2023 obligations under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard. The stay will remain as the court continues reviewing the legality of EPA's rejection, issued in the waning days of President Joe Biden's administration. Under the program, EPA sets annual mandates for blending biofuels into the conventional fuel supply but allows oil refineries that process 75,000 b/d or less to apply for exemptions if they can prove they would suffer "disproportionate" economic hardship. The Biden administration denied these petitions en masse, though most of these rejections were struck down by courts concerned with the government's reasoning. During his first term, President Donald Trump was more generous with refinery relief, which in turn weighed on biofuel demand and the prices of Renewable Identification Number (RIN) credits at the time. Though the 5th Circuit did not explain its decision, EPA had shifted course after the presidential transition, telling the court earlier in the week that it did not oppose Calumet's request for a stay and that it was reconsidering the refiner's earlier exemption petition. The agency said in other court cases that it would not oppose similar pauses on recently issued waiver rejections affecting Calumet's 15,000 b/d oil refinery in Great Falls, Montana, and CVR Energy's 75,000 b/d refinery in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. EPA's ambivalence makes stays more likely, leaving those refiners with little reason for now to enter the market for RIN credits. The agency still says it "takes no position on the merits" as its review of small refinery exemptions continues but the filings at least suggest the possibility of reversing prior rejections. EPA has not yet signaled a more substantive policy around how it will handle similar small refinery requests, which have piled up in recent months. There were 139 pending petitions covering ten compliance years according to the latest program data. By Cole Martin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Shell starts construction of base oil unit at Wesseling


18/02/25
18/02/25

Shell starts construction of base oil unit at Wesseling

London, 18 February (Argus) — Shell has started construction of a Group III base oil production plant at its Wesseling oil refinery in western Germany, with commissioning scheduled by 2028, the company told Argus today. Two columns of 54 and 37 meters for the base oil conversion unit have been delivered and assembled at the site, Shell said. It announced plans to convert its Wesseling hydrocracker into a Group III base oil production unit at end of January 2024. The unit is anticipated to have a production capacity of 300,000 t/yr. Shell will cease crude distillation by March 2025 at the 147,000 b/d Wesseling refinery, as the company looks to reduce CO2 emissions. The base oil plant will receive vacuum gasoil (VGO) feedstocks from Shell's neighbouring 187,000 b/d Godorf refinery. European Group III prices have dropped on a persistent supply overhang. Argus -assessed prices for fca northwest Europe Group III 4cst with partial or no approvals fell by 23pc on the year to $1,020/t on 7 February. Suppliers in the Mideast Gulf target European buyers with ample spot supplies to capitalise on higher margins. Europe is the most attractive export outlet as it remains dependent on imports of Group III material owing to its smaller Group III production capacity in comparison to other regions. By Christian Hotten Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Нефтетранспорт - НТС: правила на рынке меняются


18/02/25
18/02/25

Нефтетранспорт - НТС: правила на рынке меняются

Moscow, 18 February (Argus) — Ситуация в сегменте железнодорожной транспортировки нефтеналивных грузов остается сложной. О причинах, приведших к этому, взаимодействии с грузоотправителями и планах строительства нового парка рассказал Argus генеральный директор Нефтетранссервиса (НТС) Сергей Ермолаев. — Как вы охарактеризуете текущую ситуацию на рынке перевозок нефтяных грузов по железной дороге? — Наблюдаем падение грузооборота и тоннажа отправок. Меры РЖД, которые должны были вернуть отправителям веру в надежное обеспечение парком, а также дать гарантии вывоза груза, пока не привели к результату. — Какие факторы к этому привели? В чем основные сложности для НТС? — Сегодня всем непросто, и наше положение не отличается от других субъектов экономики. Ограничения экспорта топлива из России, полное закрытие границ Казахстана на заезд порожнего парка цистерн, атаки на перерабатывающую и транспортную инфраструктуру, тарифные инициативы перевозчика, рост ключевой ставки Центрального банка России (ЦБР) — все это делает невозможным долгосрочный прогноз. А без прогноза нет инвестиций. В такой ситуации рынок выбирает простые схемы купил-продал. Это давит на переработку, на наших клиентов и на нас, соответственно. — НТС является одним из основных перевозчиков нефтеналивных грузов с заводов Роснефти. Как оцениваете итоги работы по этим долгосрочным контрактам? Как, на ваш взгляд, будет строиться дальнейшее сотрудничество с нефтяной компанией после завершения договора в конце I квартала 2026 г.? — Роснефть — наш главный клиент. Несмотря на то, что ни один из основных параметров, лежавших в основе долгосрочных договорных отношений, не сохранился в изначальном виде, компания чутко и оперативно адаптируется к новым обстоятельствам. В настоящее время мы совместно с коллегами выверяем позиции перед будущим тендером. У всех появился новый опыт, который должен быть учтен в новом цикле. Работа непростая, времени осталось совсем немного, но мы надеемся успеть вовремя. Разумеется, речь о ценах пока не идет. Нашей задачей является описать взаимные обязательства так, чтобы они имели ясные критерии исполнения и могли бы быть оцифрованы ставкой в ходе тендера. — Рынок в этом году столкнется со значительным выбытием нефтебензиновых цистерн. Планирует ли НТС покупки новых вагонов? — Мы ждем снижения ставки ЦБР, а точнее сужения разрыва между инфляцией и стоимостью кредитов. Также мы ждем, что из-за уменьшения заказов на постройку нового парка вагоностроители пересмотрят свою рентабельность до разумных уровней. Вероятно, после этого мы сможем начать постройку парка. Не исключено и принудительное снижение срока службы вагонов. Это создаст дефицит, увеличит требования к доходности нового парка из-за неопределенности будущего срока окупаемости. Тогда тоже можно будет строить. Но мы надеемся, что этого не произойдет: в условиях ограниченных ресурсов вряд ли нужно утилизировать то, что еще может послужить. Да и нагружать экспортеров новыми затратами странно, когда Россия нуждается в экспортных доходах. — Планирует ли НТС в ближайшее время развивать перевозки другой номенклатуры грузов, помимо нефтеналивных? — Мы всегда в поиске. Но вход в новые рынки требует хорошей аналитики, а сейчас мы находимся в ситуации отмены всех известных нам правил и принципов. В результате вся предыдущая статистика оказывается слабо применима. Если какие-то идеи выдержат и эти условия, обязательно их реализуем. Нефтетранссервис (НТС) Является одним из лидеров на рынке железнодорожных перевозок нефти и нефтепродуктов, парк в управлении превышает 35 тыс. единиц. Помимо вагонов-цистерн и локомотивов, холдингу принадлежат производственные предприятия в Центральном, Приволжском, Южном и Дальневосточном федеральных округах. Более 19 лет НТС сотрудничает с ведущими компаниями топливно-энергетического комплекса России. Сергей Ермолаев В 1997 г. окончил Московскую государственную академию приборостроения и информатики, в 2009 г. — Академию народного хозяйства при правительстве Москвы. В разные периоды времени занимал руководящие должности в сфере организации железнодорожных перевозок сначала в Северной грузовой компании, а затем в НТС, где в течение 2013—2021 гг. возглавлял коммерческое управление перевозок наливных грузов, направления логистики и эксплуатации подвижного состава. В начале 2022 г. был приглашен в Национальную транспортную компанию на должность коммерческого директора. С июня 2024 г. — генеральный директор НТС. Вы можете присылать комментарии по адресу или запросить дополнительную информацию feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Группа Argus Media . Все права защищены.

Australia's Virgin, Qatar given approval to add flights


18/02/25
18/02/25

Australia's Virgin, Qatar given approval to add flights

Sydney, 18 February (Argus) — Privately-held airline Virgin Australia has been given approval by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for a planned agreement with state-owned carrier Qatar Airways to boost international flights to Australia. The proposed co-operation includes 28 new weekly return flights from Doha to Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne beginning in mid-2025, and is likely to benefit travellers and increase choices for consumers, the ACCC said. Virgin plans to wet-lease aircraft from Qatar to operate the services and has already commenced selling fares. Virgin entered voluntary administration during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 before being sold to US private equity investor Bain Capital. The company, Australia's second-largest consumer of jet fuel, formerly operated long-haul flights but has since only operated flights to Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific and Indonesia. Qatar agreed to buy a minority 25pc stake in Virgin in 2024 as part of its expansion into Australia after it was refused authorisation to increase flights to the country by the federal transport minister. The Australian Foreign Investment Review Board and federal treasurer have yet to approve the deal. Australia's sales of jet fuel for international flights averaged 91,000 b/d in 2024, up by 17pc on the year from 78,000 b/d in 2023, according to Australian Petroleum Statistics. Total jet fuel sales were at 161,000 b/d. International jet fuel sales totalled 102,000 b/d in 2019, the final full year before the pandemic. Australia's jet fuel imports totalled 128,000 b/d in 2024, up by 8pc on the year. Further demand growth is likely, with Sydney — Australia's largest airport — reporting international passenger numbers 4pc below 2019 figures in 2024. By Tom Major Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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