Oil Markets

Tighter European sanctions targeting refined products made from Russian crude are accelerating shifts in global middle distillate trade flows, with Asia increasingly at the center of the impact. By closing loopholes that previously allowed barrels processed outside Russia to re‑enter Europe, the latest measures are forcing market participants to reassess compliance risk, arbitrage economics, and r...

Dated Brent differential soars to three-year high amid a supply crunch driven by disrupted flows of Kazakhstan's CPC Blend crude. However, market participants caution that a potentially swift return of CPC Blend outflows could swell European supplies, dragging on the Dated Brent complex. Join Gary Clark , Associate Director of Price Reporting, EMEA Clean Refined Products, as he discusses this and...

A sudden shift in US policy has put Venezuela back at the center of global oil markets. US and international oil executives are striking different tones on Venezuela after President Donald Trump said the White House will decide which companies are allowed back into the country's oil sector following the US seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3.  Heavy oil price discounts are alr...

Sweeping changes to crude and product flows following sanctions and tariffs, shipping disruptions and questions surrounding China's demand outlook—oil markets have seen it all in 2025. The year was also a mixed bag for oil investments across the globe amid accelerated push towards clean energy and rising EV usage, while some regions also unveiled concrete plans on refinery expansions. In this spec...

In the winter months, demand for gasoline in Europe softens, and stocks in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp hub begin to thicken. But recent developments in West African government policy and intermittent maintenance at Nigeria's Dangote refinery have resulted in an unconventionally robust gasoline market, shadowed by an existing tightness in supply. Where have the gasoline markets diverged, and wh...

The adoption of AI among energy and shipping companies is growing steadily. While it's helping to cut operational costs, boost productivity, and reduce emissions, a shortage of skills, data integration complexity, and trust are posing some challenges. In exploration, AI is helping to analyze complex sub-surface data and improve success rates. In midstream logistics, it is helping to optimize compl...

Physical differentials in the North Sea crude market and wider Atlantic basin have reached multiyear lows amid high freight rates and market length in the region. While high freight rates are often expected in the last quarter of the year, oversupply and market structure have also come into play.  In this podcast, Emma Kettle y , S&P Global Energy's associate director, price reporting, is joined b...

Global tanker markets are riding high as shipowners post strong third-quarter earnings amid bullish forecasts. What's driving the surge in day rates? Why are newbuilds still lagging even as fleet capacity tightens? How have sanctions reshaped both dirty and clean tanker markets? And could US shipyards stage a comeback in the global shipbuilding race? Join host  Jeff Mower as he discusses these and...

Europe's 19th sanctions package has promised to shut the door on the last remaining flows of Russian energy still trading into the region, including butane and isobutane that was previously exempted from import bans. From Jan 2026, the new LPG embargo will force lead buyer Poland to find alternatives to Russian supplies, adding support to an already tight European market. Associate Director, Prici...

The US has ramped up its naval presence in the Caribbean, following several strikes against suspected drug smuggling vessels off the coast of major oil producer Venezuela. Yet oil prices have barely budged as Latin American production continues to ramp up. What is the role of Guyana and Argentina's emerging crudes, and how do flows to destinations like India fit into Trump's strategy? How are Perm...

In this Oil Markets podcast, we discuss the outlook for diesel and jet fuel/kerosene demand in Asia in the fourth quarter of 2025. This period is always critical, but as we approach the end of the year, a complex interplay of seasonal patterns, supply constraints, geopolitical developments, and economic factors is shaping the landscape.  S&P Global Commodity Insights' market reporters,  Ng Mei Hue...

Following the resumption of Kirkuk crude exports on September 27, 2025, the oil markets are poised for significant shifts. This development marks a crucial turning point for the Mediterranean oil landscape, as the Iraqi grade reenters the market amid ongoing geopolitical dynamics and supply chain adjustments. In this episode,  John Morley is joined by crude oil reporters Luke Stuart and Ernest Pue...

A jump in US crude exports has helped to boost prices for high sulfur fuel oil, supplies of which are currently tight. What is driving demand for US crude to South Korea and India? What is the connection between low US imports of heavy crudes and HSFO supply tightness? What is the short-term outlook for HSFO? And why is the Trump administration pushing back on international net-zero shipping fuels...

With European imports of products refined from Russian crude oil set to be banned in the beginning of 2026, the spotlight is on exporters such as India and Turkey, and how flows of diesel and jet fue l in the EMEA region are anticipated to change in the coming months. Gary Clark is joined by middle-distillate reporters Nadia Bliznikova and Aruni Sunil to delve into the shifting trade patterns of o...

In the wake of APPEC 2025, China's evolving oil demand and the impact on global shipping markets are in the spotlight. With China's oil consumption slowing and India's robust demand outlook, the intricate balance of these factors has major implications for global energy supply chains.  Asia energy editor Sambit Mohanty sits down with head of China content Alice Niu and head of Asia shipping and fr...

Dangote's RFCC outage has added additional length to the global fuel oil market, with Singapore blending significant volumes of feedstocks into their very low sulfur fuel oil bunkering pool. Host Gary Clark is joined by Charlie Wright, Joseph Jaffe and Kelly Norways to explore the impact of the outage on the fuel oil market in the EMEA and Asia regions.

As the US transitions to higher-volatility gasoline grades, refiners are adjusting their strategies to balance supply and demand amid seasonal maintenance and export pressures, which also have implications for butane demand. In this episode, the team unpacks the mechanics of the RVP transition, the impact of refinery issues in Mexico, and the growing demand for LPG in Southeast Asia. Jeff Mower, d...

During the summer season, warmer temperatures and muted levels of demand should traditionally bring length to the LPG markets. This certainly appears to have materialized in the propane markets, but a tightness in the butane market seems to be painting a different picture. How has supply been affected over the summer months, and what can we expect from the LPG market in the short-term with re-emer...

APPEC to look at Asia's changing energy narrative amid tariffs and transition   Navigating trade, technology and transition—that's the theme of this year's Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference, or APPEC 2025, by S&P Global Commodity Insights. It is scheduled to take place during September 8-11 in Singapore, where CEOs, government officials and market experts will share their insights on geopolitical...

The world's attention has turned the US in recent days after back-to-back peace summits separately involving Russia's and Ukraine's presidents. But in the absence of a ceasefire deal, drone attacks have taken on a new intensity, continuing to claim civilian lives and knocking out critical infrastructure. In the past week alone, Russia has sustained damage to at least five major oil refineries, as...

US diesel prices have rallied this summer as strong export demand has helped to tighten inventories, while jet fuel prices have remained stable. With diesel stocks remaining tight, export demand, refinery maintenance and hurricane season present upside risks to prices. In contrast, jet fuel is well supplied, keeping a lid on prices. The outlook for both diesel and jet fuel has been complicated by...

An outbreak of crude contamination impacting Azerbaijan's Azeri Light supply has set Europe's refiners on edge. As buyers seek to avoid being hit with corrosive organic chlorides, prices for the premium crude grade have tumbled, and some refiners have been forced to draw on emergency oil reserves. Kelly Norways, a downstream oil news reporter, is joined by senior news team editor Nick Coleman, Sam...

Heavy crude supplies to the US Gulf Coast have tightened. Waterborne imports have dropped sharply, driven largely by declines from Mexico and Venezuela. Canadian wildfires have further limited access to heavy barrels, and refiners like Valero are starting to feel the squeeze. Why are Mexican and Venezuelan crude imports collapsing, and can they recover? Why aren't USGC refiners just turning to Can...

  Oil is going through a period of uneasy calm. The higher-than-expected rise in OPEC+ production quotas for August, combined with a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, has provided oil markets some breathing space and introduced a bearish sentiment to prices, but new EU sanctions on Russia and the possibility of additional secondary sanctions by Washington could alter the price and trade flow scen...

With the UK at risk of losing its second oil refinery in less than six months, Europe's refining sector is showing growing signs of strain. In this episode of the Platts Oil Markets podcast, Gary Clark is joined by reporters Elza Turner and Kelly Norways to unpack why healthy margins are failing to prevent closures in a year that has already seen the most shutdowns since the coronavirus pandemic....