Poland's 210,000 b/d Gdansk refinery is increasing production after completing scheduled maintenance earlier this month. Most of the units taken off line for between late February and early April have restarted, as planned, operator Rafineria Gdanska said on 7 April. Maintenance was conducted on crude and vacuum distillation units, a diesel hydrotreater, the MHC mild hydrocracker, a reformer, the jet fuel Merox and hydrogen generation units, and two sulphur recovery units. A second phase of planned maintenance at Gdansk takes the refinery's three base oil units off line from 8 April until mid-May. Rafineria Gdanska is a joint venture of state-controlled Orlen with 70pc and state-controlled Saudi Aramco holding 30pc. Orlen is planning maintenance on a hydrocracker at its 373,000 b/d Plock refinery in Poland from 13 May until 24 June. The Polish company's 63,000 b/d Kralupy refinery in the Czech Republic has been shut down for scheduled maintenance since mid-March and should restart in early May. Orlen's 190,000 b/d Mazeikiai refinery in Lithuania was off line for 30 days of planned maintenance last month.
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Hohe Benzinpreise treiben E10-Nachfrage
Hohe Benzinpreise treiben E10-Nachfrage
Hamburg, 7 October (Argus) — Der Absatz von E10-Benzin hat aufgrund der seit Anfang März stark gestiegenen Kraftstoffpreise deutlich zugelegt, weil es im Verhältnis zu E5 noch günstiger angeboten wird. Mehrere Tankstellenbetreiber berichten zeitgleich von einer seit dem 1. Oktober deutlichen höheren Nachfrage nach Kraftstoffen, wobei Versorgungsengpässe bislang weitgehend ausbleiben. Ein Tankstellenbetreiber berichtet, dass sich das Verhältnis von E5- zu E10-Verkäufen derzeit auf etwa 50:50 verschoben habe. Üblicherweise entfallen rund 70 % der Benzinverkäufe auf E5 und lediglich 30 % auf E10. Bei einem anderen tanken Endverbraucher inzwischen mehr E10 als E5. Ausschlaggebend seien die hohen Kraftstoffpreise und die deutlich gestiegene Preisempfindlichkeit der Verbraucher, so Tankstellenbetreiber. So lag der Großhandelspreis für E5-Benzin am 30. September — vor der befristeten Steuersenkung — rund 40 €/100l über dem Preis am 27. Februar, vor Beginn des Iran-Krieges. Dies schlägt sich entsprehchend auch in den Preisen an der Zapfsäule nieder. Der Anstieg folgt auf eine bereits länger anhaltende Entwicklung. Nach Daten des Bundesamts für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle war der Anteil von E10 am Benzinmix in den ersten sechs Monaten des Jahres 2026 auf nahezu ein Drittel gestiegen. Bereits 2025 hatte E10 einen Marktanteil von rund 29 % erreicht und damit seinen Anteil gegenüber dem Vorjahr weiter ausgebaut. Hohe Nachfrage belastet Logistik Trotz der gestiegenen Nachfrage infolge der befristeten Energiesteuersenkung seit dem 1. Oktober berichten Marktteilnehmer bislang nicht von flächendeckenden Produktengpässen an Tankstellen. Allerdings habe sich der Nachversorgungsaufwand erhöht. Einige Betreiber müssen ihre Tankstellen derzeit täglich beliefern, da die Nachfrage außergewöhnlich hoch sei. Einzelne Tankstellen waren vor dem Inkrafttreten der Steuersenkung zum 1. Oktober zeitweise knapp versorgt. Tankstellenbetreiber hatten ihre Bestände vor dem Inkrafttreten der Steuersenkung weitmöglichst reduziert. Seit dem 1. Oktober haben Betreiber ihre Bestände jedoch wieder aufgefüllt. Auch an Standorten, an denen die Nachversorgung aufgrund des Niedrigwassers auf dem Rhein derzeit erschwert ist, sehen Unternehmen das Angebot als gesichert. So sei am Raffineriestandort Karlsruhe (307.000 bl/Tag) ausreichend Produkt verfügbar, um auch die Tankstellen in den Regionen entlang des Rheins mitzuversorgen. Debatte um E5-Schutzsorte bleibt aktuell Die jüngste Absatzentwicklung könnte die Diskussion über die Zukunft von E5-Benzin weiter befeuern. Die Bundesregierung prüft derzeit verschiedene Möglichkeiten zur Flexibilisierung des Schutzsortenstatus von E5. Das Bundesumweltministerium teilte Argus Ende Juni mit, dass auf Grundlage einer Entschließung des Bundestags unterschiedliche Umsetzungsoptionen untersucht werden würden. Angaben zu einer konkreten Ausgestaltung oder einem Zeitplan seien derzeit jedoch nicht möglich. Branchenverbände und Teile der Mineralölwirtschaft setzen sich seit längerer Zeit für eine stärkere Verbreitung von E10 ein und sehen den verpflichtenden Bestandsschutz für E5 als Hindernis. Unabhängig von möglichen regulatorischen Änderungen deuten die aktuellen Marktbeobachtungen jedoch darauf hin, dass steigende Kraftstoffpreise die Akzeptanz von E10 bereits deutlich erhöhen. Von Gabriele Zindel Senden Sie Kommentare und fordern Sie weitere Informationen an feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
Ecuadorean crudes hit record discounts on freight rates
Ecuadorean crudes hit record discounts on freight rates
Sao Paulo, 7 October (Argus) — Ecuadorean heavy sour crudes fell to record-wide discounts to WTI on Tuesday as higher freight prices and strong competition with other similar-quality crudes weighed on prices. Heavy sour Napo fell by $8.70/bl on 6 October to a $26.50/bl discounts to January Nymex WTI, equivalent to $60.92/bl using that day's settlement of the benchmark. This is the widest discount assessed by Argus since it launched the assessment in 2003. Heavy sour Oriente dropped by $6.13/bl to a $14.13/bl discount to WTI, totaling $73.30/bl — its lowest level since January 2009. Freight rates from Ecuador to the US west coast rose by $1/bl over the past two weeks, although buyers typically shuttle Ecuadorean crude for transfer onto larger vessels at a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer zone offshore Panama. This is due to requirements that all Ecuador crude must be exported from the country's ports by ships run by state-owned company Flopec. The greatest impact on crude prices likely stems from higher freight costs for long haul voyages. The cost to ship a cargo from North America's Pacific coast to China rose by $7/bl since 1 October. Higher shipping costs have pressured crude prices across Latin America, but heavy sour grades have been particularly affected since they were already trending at multi-year lows before the surge in shipping costs. This was mainly because of the return of Venezuelan crude exports to the non-sanctioned market starting in January, following the US capture of former president Nicolas Maduro and a warming of relations between the countries. Ecuadorean grades have also faced stronger competition from rising Canadian crude exports to China and the US west coast, both Ecuador's main markets. Canadian crude exports to China, for example, rose from about 100,000 b/d in 2024 to 278,000 b/d in the first half of 2026. By João Scheller Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
North Sea's Ninian fields breach venting limit again
North Sea's Ninian fields breach venting limit again
Edinburgh, 7 October (Argus) — North Sea operator CNR International has been fined £300,000 ($396,300) after exceeding its venting limit at the Ninian fields in 2024, the UK's North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) said. CNR reported on 26 November 2024 that it had exceeded its consent to vent 273.2t of gas between 15 June and 31 December that year. It exceeded the limit by 20.9t. The company was fined £250,000 earlier this year for exceeding venting limits twice at the same fields in 2023. Venting occurs when excess gas, predominantly methane, is released unignited into the atmosphere. The NSTA increased the penalty for the latest breach, even though it was small and limited in time, because it was CNR's third breach of a venting consent at the same location. The repeated breaches showed "an absence of effective internal process and a failure to learn sufficiently from the previous breaches", the regulator said. CNR argued that the fine was disproportionate and excessive, according to the NSTA. "Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of a licence or consent has the potential to undermine public confidence in the ability of the industry to operate within prescribed limits," the NSTA said, adding that such breaches could also undermine investor confidence. Emissions from North Sea oil and gas production still account for just over 3pc of total UK greenhouse gas emissions, and the industry must maintain its focus on cutting emissions to help the UK reach net zero by 2050, the NSTA said. CNR has begun decommissioning the Ninian fields. A consultation on draft decommissioning programmes for the Ninian Central topsides closes on 16 October, while the decommissioning programme for the Ninian Southern topsides was approved in February. By Caroline Varin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Asia to pull in more US, European bitumen
Asia to pull in more US, European bitumen
London, 7 October (Argus) — A price rally in Asia bitumen, supported by particularly tight supply from Singapore and South Korea, is drawing in much cheaper arbitrage cargoes from both Europe and the US. Price spreads between Asia and the rest of the world are now at multi-year highs, while tight supply in export hubs Singapore and South Korea looks set to continue through until at least the end of October, while Mideast Gulf supply remains heavily restricted by US sanctions and shipping limitations through the strait of Hormuz. Singapore bitumen prices had a premium of $263/t over Mediterranean cargoes and $361/t over US Gulf exports as at 2 October (see chart). Disruptions to crude supply via the strait of Hormuz have limited suitable crude feedstock for refiners in Asia, while a major Singapore refinery will further reduce supply this month as a result of maintenance. In the Mediterranean differentials to high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) have been falling through September as more supply became available, particularly from Greek, Italian and Spanish export points, while regional demand has been weaker on funding issues and some pushback on high outright prices after US-Iran tensions increased. Greek premiums to HSFO were around $30/t in August, but now Argus assessments stand at $7.50/t above HSFO. September and October would usually be among the busiest months for the European export market, before a winter slowdown when road works are reduced, but this year poorer funding and high outright prices have slowed demand. US Gulf prices are now particularly attractive and with seasonal paving and roofing demand starting to fall there — and with supplies ample — prices look set to remain weak. Strong margins have also led many US refiners to run at high rates and produce more bitumen, along with higher value products. Earlier this year the arbitrage to Asia also briefly opened , but now with the price premium in Asia higher, more cargoes are expected into the region through until at least November, according to traders. Import demand from Oceania and southeast Asian markets is expected to remain firm in the coming months because the peak road-paving season is now under way. Importers are actively seeking supply alternatives as traditional producers Singapore and Thailand have limited output. Argus assessed the fob Singapore ABX 1 at $830/t on 2 October, up by $26.50/t from the previous week. Singapore bitumen prices have climbed consistently since early September, thanks to firmer import demand from southeast Asian importers, particularly in Vietnam, as well as supply tightness. The fob South Korea ABX 2 assessment stood at $815/t on 2 October, up by $32/t on the week. ABX 2 prices have been climbing steadily since mid-August , owing to firmer buying interest from key consumer east China, where higher domestic offers and tight domestic output have supported the market. Movements include the 17,779 deadweight tonne (dwt) White Allegra heading from Greece, having loaded 11 September, and set to arrive at Singapore on 8 October, according to vessel tracking data. The 36,771 dwt Asphalt Synergy loaded in the US Gulf in mid-September and is expected to Tauranga, New Zealand on 15 October. The 36,754dwt White Pearl loaded a multi-port cargo from Tarragona, Spain, on 7 August, and made its final stop at Napier, New Zealand, on 6 October. The 13,265dwt Jin Zhou Wan is also expected to move to Oceania and loaded in the US Gulf on 26 September, while the 12,972 dwt Da Hua Shan arrived at Geelong in Australia on 3 October having loaded in Louisiana, US, in mid-August. By Jonathan Weston and Claire Ng Bitumen prices $/t Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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