Oil Markets

Turbulence in oil markets and shifting regulation has led to some surprising dynamics at the bottom of the barrel. Following S&P Global Platts' European Bunker Fuel Virtual Conference, fuel oil reporters Sarah-Jane Flaws, James Goldburn and Britt Russell-Webster discuss how expectations have panned out for fuel oil and refinery feedstocks with Platts Associate Director EMEA Oil John Morley.

Rising driving demand has offered some support to the top of the barrel but, with expectations of higher demand also in evidence, higher inventories may take the shine off gasoline and naphtha recoveries, as arbitrage opportunities still look shaky. Light end reporters Joseph McDonnell and Evridiki Dimitriadou tell Francesco Di Salvo the latest.

Fuel demand across Northeast Asia plunged at the height of the coronavirus outbreak in the region over February and March. But the tide has since turned for the good in recent months. Manufacturing, construction and transportation activities are picking up fast in China with signs of the pandemic being largely contained in the country. S&P Global Platts oil specialists Philip Vahn, Oceana Zhou and...

There are some that say the aviation sector is on life-support but industry participants are already looking to signs of recovery, with no sign of ditching previously established environmental targets, jet fuel reporters Gary Clark and Ellie Valencia tell Francesco Di Salvo. Later in the program, Tamara Sleiman and Tom Washington discuss the outlook for bunker fuel in the latest IMO 2020 update.

Falling values for naphtha are stimulating margins for some petrochemical manufacturers, as COVID-19 sends people rushing to buy hand sanitizer and disposable plastics . Naphtha reporter Evridiki Dimitriadou and petrochemicals reporter Ora Lazic discuss the winners and losers at the top of the barrel and beyond with Joel Hanley.

In this special bonus episode of the S&P Global Platts Oil Markets podcast, Dave Ernsberger, head of pricing and market insight, discusses with Joel how commodity and energy benchmarks are faring amid the coronavirus outbreak, and Platts' approach to dealing with recent market stress.

New fuel cell electric vehicle manufacturer Hyzon Motors has made rapid progress since forming in March, already signing an MOU with a UK partner to deliver 1,000 hydrogen fuelled buses. In this S&P Global Platts Commodities Focus podcast we talk to Hyzon's CTO, Ian Thompson , about the advantages and costs of FCEVs in buses and heavy-duty trucks compared with battery EVs, and opportunities for fu...

The malaise in jet fuel and air traffic is grounding airmail and the outlook seems bleak for airlines as the contango in jet fuel stretches out ever further. Jet fuel reporter Gary Clark and Middle Distillates editorial manager Eleni Pittalis tell Joel Hanley the latest.

The European diesel markets are in turmoil: demand has crashed – taking prices with it – and storage is filling up fast. Could we see a repeat of negative oil prices as we have seen in the US crude markets? In this episode, Platts editor Virginie Malicier tells Joel Hanley how diesel markets are coping in the Covid-19 pandemic. We also hear from freight reporter Charlotte Bucchioni, who gives an u...

Oil products are succumbing to record breaking lows, with jet cracks entering record-breaking and negative territory, and refineries are presented with complex decisions as a result of COVID-19. Senior refining reporter Elza Turner and middle distillate specialist Gary Clark discuss with Joel Hanley product margins and the options before refiners.

COVID-19 has crushed crude prices and is now closing North Sea oil fields . S&P Global Platts reporters Nick Coleman and Emma Kettley share their views with Joel Hanley, explaining the key logistical dependencies, and the differing impacts on Dated Brent and ICE Brent futures. In fuel oil , Britt Russell-Webster gives an update on the Coronavirus's role in changing bunker fundamentals , and how sh...

Nationwide lockdowns imposed by governments in the race to contain the spread of COVID-19 have in turn dampened economies and triggered severe demand destruction on refined oil products. In the latest S&P Global Platts Oil Markets podcast, our team of refined product specialists Ramthan Hussein, Mark Tan, and Wendy Cheong examine how containment measures are affecting demand for transport fuel gas...

With the OPEC+ agreement in tatters and COVID-19 destroying demand, the crude oil markets are in turmoil. Prices have fallen over 70% since October but is there any upside in the short term, and where can the glut go? Platts reporters Emma Kettley and Nicholas Baldwin tell Joel Hanley the latest on benchmark Dated Brent as well as the wider North Sea and West African crude oil markets.

COVID-19 has crushed demand and prices of jet fuel around the world. What can be done with all that extra jet fuel, and what are the prospects for airlines as they struggle to stay viable? S&P Global Platts reporters Gary Clark and Francesco Di Salvo discuss this challenging market with Joel Hanley.

In an extended Oil Markets podcast, we present a panel discussion on the energy transition and its impact on oil and gas companies, recorded at this year's S&P Global Platts London Oil & Energy Forum. The past year has seen an explosion of environmental protest, yet hydrocarbons still account for around 80% of the global energy mix. Simon Thorne, global director of power and generating fuels conte...

International Petroleum Week is supposed to be a week of business and parties, but what happens when a virus outbreak threatens more disruption than environmental protesters could ever have hoped for? S&P Global Platts Global Head of Oil, Vera Blei, and Dave Ernsberger, Head of Content, discuss their takeaways from a fascinating IP Week with Joel Hanley. In the IMO2020 podcast, Britt Russell-Webst...

S&P Global Platts refined oil products experts Atsuko Kawasaki, Amy Tan, and Rajesh Nair examine the rapidly changing fortunes of the Asian Marine Fuel 0.5% market, which has seen a fundamental shift since International Maritime Organization's mandate to limit sulfur in marine fuels to a maximum of 0.5% kicked off from the start of the year.

Growing environmental scrutiny upon the aviation sector is shining a light on its carbon footprint. Tune into jet fuel specialist Emma Thomas and biofuel specialist Huw Shortland as they discuss the latest developments with Platts carbon news lead Frank Watson. Later in the program, fuel oil reporters Sarah-Jane Flaws and James Goldburn discuss falling premiums for very low sulfur with Tamara Slei...

While oil refineries should be enjoying a relatively low crude oil price, the Covid-19 virus has hit demand in some regions. Can refiners use this time to overhaul their plants and make the most of the downturn? Elza Turner and Joel Hanley discuss the latest options for refiners and count the cost of the Coronavirus.

The 2019 Novel Coronavirus has been dominating the news agenda, with the World Health Organization, governments and OPEC scrambling to find a response. As China takes drastic action, what impact are the oil markets seeing? Giving their perspective on the West African crude oil and global jet fuel markets, S&P Global Platts reporters Nicholas Baldwin and Emma Thomas tell Joel Hanley the latest. Als...

The start of the year sees new record premiums for Asia-Pacific crude with IMO 2020 kicking in, and amid fewer supply from Libya. But sentiment in the market could be weighed down by the coronavirus outbreak gripping commodity markets. S&P Global Platts Asia-Pacific crude oil market experts Jeslyn Lerh, Andrew Toh and Ada Taib examine the market.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin makes sweeping changes to his government, Platts Russia specialists Elza Turner and Rosemary Griffin tell Joel Hanley how these changes might affect the country's oil production and involvement in the OPEC+ agreement (recorded earlier in the week). And in the latest update on IMO 2020, fuel reporters Rajesh Nair and Britt Russell-Webster discuss with Tamara Slei...

Price rises in the European naphtha market and growing tightness in propane are putting pressure on petrochemicals producers, who face trouble downstream from US producers sending product to Europe instead of China, as the US-China trade war remains unresolved. Platts reporters Salome Germain and Ora Lazic tell Francesco di Salvo the latest.

Pressure on availability of sour crude could be brewing amid tension in the Middle East, with the potential for US involvement in the area to result in sanctions on Iraqi exports. Platts reporters William Bland and Eklavya Gupte discuss with Joel Hanley where recent events in the region could take us in this podcast, recorded on Tuesday. Also, Seth Clare, Britt Russell-Webster and Tom Washington u...