Oil Markets

Platts Olivier Lejeune, managing editor, Europe and Africa middle distillates and Eline Potie, Europe and Africa gasoil editor, discuss the changing face of the European gasoil market after Russian refinery upgrade projects led to lower sulfur gasoil exports. We welcome any feedback or suggestions...

In this podcast, Vandana Hari, Platts editorial director in Asia, and Pradeep Rajan, Platts senior managing editor for freight markets, assess the oil volumes stockpiled by Iran and how much of it could flood the global market, as well as how the insurance landscape could evolve once oil sanctions...

Platts Benno Spencer, senior managing editor, Europe and Africa Oil and Erduan Reid, Europe and Africa fuel oil editor, discuss the surprising resurgence in Northwest European low sulfur fuel oil barge demand seen in the first half of April. The discussion focuses on Vitol's recent buying spree in...

China recently released criteria for refiners that do not have crude import quotas or licenses to start applying for new import quotas. Platts senior oil news writer Song Yen Ling explains this policy change, the current status of application for rights to import crude, and how it may affect the...

On March 28-29, Nigeria elected Muhammadu Buhari as the country's new president, defeating incumbent Goodluck Jonathan. Robert Beaman, Managing Editor for European and African crude oil, discusses the impact of the election on the oil industry and on the physical oil markets with editors Eklavya...

Gasoline accounts for roughly 30% of Japan's domestic oil demand. Platts Asian oil news associate director Mriganka Jaipuriyar and senior editor Takeo Kumagai analyze Japan's improved refining margins, the changes that helped refiners in the fiscal year 2014-2015, and the industry's outlook for...

Sophie Byron, managing editor of Europe and Africa light ends, and Iain Stevenson, associate editor for LPG, analyze what is causing the tightness in propane supply in Europe, its impact on prices, and the steps being taken by the region's producers to meet their propane requirements. We welcome...

Sophie Byron, managing editor for European and African light ends, discusses with editor Virginie Malicier, the gasoline seasonality switch from winter to summer specification and blending demand; and analyze Where US gasoline strength after strike action, refinery issues and maintenance has...

Robert Beaman, managing editor for European and African crude oil, discusses the impact on the WAF crude market of the recent changes in Suezmax and VLCC freight rates, with freight editor John Morley and price assessments specialist Dimitrios Moraitelis. With Brent crude contango having narrowed...

Platts Christopher Vowden, managing editor of fuel oil and feedstocks, and Marko Trtica, fuel oil editor, discuss the recent change in shipping emission regulations that has led to increased demand for European marine gasoil and the growing interest in other alternative fuels and technologies. We...

Several Asian governments have taken advantage of low oil prices to carry out retail pricing reforms in their respective countries. In this podcast, Platts senior editor Mriganka Jaipuriyar, editorial director in China Sebastian Lewis, and senior analyst Oceana Zhou discuss the potentially big...

Brian Pearce, IATA's chief economist, talks to Ilana Djelal, associate editorial director for European clean products and Philippe Casey, European jet fuel editor on the impact of lower energy complex on downstream airline markets. We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics. Contact...

In this podcast, Platts senior oil news writer Yen Ling Song looks at the pattern of China's crude imports over the past years and discusses the factors that may affect the country's buying decision in 2015, as well as its current and upcoming capacity for commercial storage and strategic petroleum...

Sophie Byron, managing editor of Europe and Africa light ends, and and Iain Stevenson, associate editor for LPG discuss structural changes in the LPG market, focusing on increased propane exports from the US and the impact on the European market. Also examined is the lack of seasonal strength in...

Malaysia has scrapped fuel subsidies and Indonesia has reduced them. Platts editors James Bourne, Mriganka Jaipuriyar, and Jonathan Nonis discuss the subsidy policy shifts, the impact on oil imports, and the domestic appetite for fuel in both countries. This is the latest in a series of weekly...

Benno Spencer, senior managing editor, Europe and Africa oil, Elza Turner, senior editor for Russian crude and products, and Paula VanLaningham, editor for Mediterranean and Urals crude, discuss the upcoming changes to the Russian oil export tax scheme and their impact on both crude and product...

Sophie Byron, managing editor of EMEA light ends and Virginie Malicier, editor for EMEA naphtha discuss the recent weakness in the European naphtha market with oversupply in Europe and low demand in Asia. Also examined is the ongoing competition from LPG for petrochemical cracking in Europe as...

Benno Spencer, senior managing editor, Europe and Africa oil, and Marko Trtica, fuel oil editor, discuss the recent OW Bunker bankruptcy and the consequences for the global bunker fuel market; focusing on price, competition, finance, losses and other ramifications. This is the latest in a series of...

Aleksandrs Juhnevics, managing editor, global shipping and freight, and Eklavya Gupte and John Morley, associate editors for West African crude and shipping, discuss the impact on the oil and shipping markets of the recent Ebola outbreak in WAF; and examine the steps taken by the shipping industry...

Cheong Su Yeen, Platts senior editor for jet fuel in Asia, and Song Yen Ling, Platts senior writer for oil, discuss the growth prospect of jet fuel demand in China amid the rapid development of high-speed railway network; the product balance for jet fuel in China; and the factors that will likely...

Elza Turner, senior editor for the Russian domestic oil market and Alex Pearce, editor for Northwest Europe distillates, discuss the temporary drop of Russian October diesel exports against the overall picture of steady flows to Europe and expected increase of volumes next year. This is the latest...

Sophie Byron, managing editor for EMEA light ends and Virginie Malicier, editor for EMEA naphtha, discuss the recent weakness in the European naphtha market, where cheaper propane remains in the petrochemical cracking pool and good availability of naphtha creates an overhang in the market. In...

A glut in ultra low sulfur diesel and gasoline looms in Asia. Jonathan Nonis, Platts senior managing editor for the Asian oil markets, discusses the factors behind the impending oversupply, Australia's potential demand growth, and the possibility of other markets as destinations of the surplus...

Sophie Byron, managing editor for EMEA light ends and Francesco Di Salvo, editor for EMEA gasoline, discuss the recent strength in the Northwest European gasoline market, where refinery maintenance has exerted upwards pressure on prices. This is despite the transition to cheaper winter-grade...

Andrew Bonnington, editorial director for European and African oil and Eklavya Gupte, associate editor covering the West African crude oil markets, discuss the unique challenges and opportunities facing the African continent. Booming US crude oil production has meant that Nigeria in particular has...