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Low German middle distillate demand encourages exports

  • Mercados: Oil products
  • 30/03/26

Southwestern Germany continues to attract middle distillates buyers from other regions because of oversupply, and suppliers are increasingly exporting middle distillates down the Rhine River to the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) hub.

Nationwide heating-oil buying interest remains weak, while diesel demand is picking up slightly with the start of the agricultural season.

Supply pressure at the Miro consortium's 310,000 b/d Karlsruhe refinery persisted in the week to 27 March. Regional heating oil prices there were up to €13/100 litres below the national average. This has attracted traders from as far away as northern Germany, which normally do not source from Miro.

The discount has since narrowed by about €4/100l, indicating slightly easing pressure at the refinery and possible countermeasures in other regions. Diesel discounts also narrowed by about €4/100l throughout the week.

Traded spot volumes reported to Argus remain low. Daily nationwide heating oil volumes in March fell by about half compared with February. This is partly because prices have surged since the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran war, prompting traders to delay purchases where possible. Many buyers stocked up early in the conflict, concerned about shortages.

German suppliers have started ramping up exports of middle distillates down the Rhine to ARA, instead of importing as usual. Market participants attribute this shift to weak domestic buying and contractual offtake obligations through to the end of March, which carry penalties if not met.

Bayernoil said this week that units at its 87,000 b/d Neustadt refinery are back online after maintenance work. Traders said all shareholders are again offering spot supply, although diesel supply may still face some restrictions. It is unclear if full contractual volumes will be available in April.

Trading firm Gunvor's neighbouring 100,000 b/d Ingolstadt refinery remains under maintenance, which has further tightened supply in the region.


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