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US crude exports to Europe fall with margins in Nov

  • Mercados: Crude oil, Freight, Oil products
  • 30/11/23

US crude exports to Europe are on track to decline by roughly 300,000 b/d in November as narrower refining margins in the region cut demand.

Departures of US crude, largely light sweet West Texas Intermediate (WTI), in November are on track to decline by 300,000 b/d from October levels to about 1.8mn b/d this month, according to the latest estimates from analytics firm Vortexa. That would make November the weakest month of exports since Opec+ producers Saudi Arabia and Russia cut their exports by a combined 1.3mn b/d in July and August.

Transatlantic demand for WTI declined following a downturn in refinery margins. The 3-2-1 crack spread for North Sea Dated crude in northwest Europe held between $30-$40/bl during July-September before collapsing and then making a modest recovery to just under $20/bl over the last couple weeks. Some refiners face margins in the single digits, according to traders.

Reduced demand for refined products in Europe has been unable to support local refinery production. Meanwhile a weak outflow of gasoline exports and strong inflow of foreign diesel has weighed on crack spreads. Arrivals of diesel from India were the highest on record in November, as Reliance's 1.2mn b/d Jamnagar refinery was expected to have completed a partial turnaround that began in September.

An overhang of light sweet North Sea crude in the region has emerged as a result, according to traders, weighing on WTI values. Total European crude imports fell in November to roughly 9.4mn b/d, down by 1.7mn b/d from October, according to Vortexa's latest estimates.

Demand for December loading cargoes has been lackluster so far in Europe, reflected by lower delivered values for WTI and lower freight rates.

The premium of prompt arriving WTI to North Sea Dated declined through November from about $3/bl at the start of the month to about $1.50/bl in recent sessions, after bottoming out last week at a $1.20/bl premium.

The ebbing demand suppressed freight rates throughout November, which is typically a stronger month for crude tankers due to winter heating demand in the northern hemisphere. But the 300,000 b/d decline in US-Europe crude trade equals about 13 fewer Aframax voyages for the month. With more tonnage available on the US Gulf coast, the rate for a 90,000t shipment of WTI to Europe fell to $4.05/bl on 30 November from a five-month high of $6.25/bl on 31 October.


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