Oil Markets

In this episode, the Americas NGLs pricing team discusses Gulf Coast and Canada NGL market dynamics. Light ends manager Sarah Hernandez and LPG reporters Hunter Marrow and Marcus Still review conditions from 2024 that led to record-high export premiums and compare those conditions with the current market context. They also analyze changes in export flows amid geopolitical tensions and discuss poss...

With European middle-distillate markets remaining well-supplied amid turbulence in the Middle East, the prospect of new legislation regarding the origin of European product imports provides fuel for thought for market participants. To discuss the latest developments in the middle-distillate markets, Gary Clark is joined by Virginie Malicier and Nadia Bliznikova with a sharp focus on diesel and jet...

Oil prices rallied following Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear and military targets, but just as quickly reversed after the US bombed three of Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities. War premiums were mostly erased after US President Donald Trump said Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire.  Jeff Mower, director of Americas oil news, speaks about the price swings, US crude production growth, global...

A sudden ramp-up in tensions as Israel and Iran exchange blows has proved impactful for oil markets in the EMEA region. In this episode of the Platts Oil Markets podcast, Gary Clark is joined by front-line reporters Joey Daly, Jan Kedzior and Dias Kazym to discuss how the volatility in the Middle East is shaping the European markets in crude oil, middle-distillates and light ends.

Energy Asia will be held from June 16-18, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The role of national oil companies in securing a net-zero future, the challenges in navigating energy security, the scope for fossil fuels growth, as well as the pressure Asian companies are facing to pursue sustainable growth will be some of the key themes that will be in focus. In this episode of Platts Oil Markets Podcas...

The Memorial Day weekend in the US is often considered the kickoff to the summer driving season, a period of heightened gasoline demand where families take vacations and refiners profit on healthier margins. But how is the European supply and demand balance coping with changes in the global refining picture, as some European refineries shut down while production ramps up in Africa and further afie...

Mexico is facing regional gasoline shortages as its refining system struggles to meet demand, deepening reliance on U.S. imports. With the Dos Bocas refinery not expected to reach full capacity until 2026, questions loom over the role of private importers in supplying the country with gasoline. In this episode of the Oil Markets podcast by S&P Global Commodity Insights, host Jeff Mower is joined b...

The proposed 2025 Section 301 actions by the US Trade Representative (USTR) against China's maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors could reshape merchant shipping trade. These historic measures include significant port fees and operational restrictions based on vessel ownership and cargo type. This unprecedented approach not only targets Chinese interests but also influences global shipping...

In this episode of the Oil Markets podcast, host Joel Hanley is joined by front-line North Sea reporters Natasha Tan and Joey Daly to mark the second anniversary of US crude WTI Midland's inclusion in the Dated Brent benchmark and the current dynamics underpinning the North Sea markets. How has the addition of WTI Midland improved the robustness of the benchmark amid shifting dynamics in the Atlan...

Guyana's latest crude stream is due to reach the market in the third quarter, adding 250,000 b/d to the South American country's production capacity. Output has climbed rapidly since Guyana's Liza grade made its debut in late 2019. This time, however, the new Yellowtail development will be bringing more light sweet crude to the market, which will compete with exports from Argentina and the US. How...

When the US began announcing tariffs a month ago and China hit back with reciprocal tariffs, the whole oil market complex tumbled. Despite a relative recovery in line with crude oil four weeks later, the lighter end products of the barrel are still feeling the sting from an uncertain macroeconomic environment, as outlook in the global petrochemical industry flounders. With recession fears looming,...

The sweeping reciprocal tariffs announced by the United States in early April, followed by China's retaliatory levies on US imports, along with OPEC+'s decision to significantly increase output in May, have driven Platts Dated Brent to its lowest level since April 2021. As one of the largest oil-importing regions, Asia is poised to face substantial implications from these developments. In this epi...

Following the swathe of protectionist tariff measures announced by US President Donald Trump April 2nd, the crude oil complex was sent into a frenzy, with market outlook rapidly souring. But interesting patterns in both the paper and physical markets have been materializing. In this episode of the Oil Markets podcast,  Joey Daly  leads an in-depth discussion with market experts  David Neef  and  J...

"O Petróleo é Nosso," or "The Oil is Ours," was a popular slogan central to the founding of Brazil's state-owned oil company, Petrobras, in 1953. The slogan can also be interpreted more broadly, as Brazil's refined products markets have opened to more participants, leading to a surge in spot market activity and price transparency. As a result, Platts has launched new price assessments for Brazilia...

With the May 1st deadline for Mediterranean Emissions Control Area fast approaching, marine fuel suppliers and shipowners are bracing for impact. In this episode of the Oil Markets podcast, Rowan Staden-Coats is joined by Jan Kedzior and Tommy Petrou to discuss the different fuel options vessels have to comply with the upcoming sulfur emission regulations. What opportunity does this pose for compl...

Russia's temporary halt on attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure has raised hopes of the two countries eventually moving towards a peace deal, followed by the potential lifting of sanctions. This has also prompted a debate on whether any normalization of Russian oil flows could lead to an immediate reduction in flows from Russia to Asia—mainly India and China. O oil diplomacy will be at play...

The Mediterranean gasoil market is undergoing significant changes as new Emission Control Zones come into effect, drastically altering sulfur limits for marine fuels. In this episode of the Oil Markets podcast, our experts explore the evolving role of gasoil, an important middle distillate that is often overshadowed by diesel and jet fuel. Host Joel Hanley is joined by Virginie Malicier , manager...

The tech industry came in hot at the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in 2025, and the conversation shifted from decarbonization and energy security in previous years to boosting the energy industry as a key piece of the AI race.  In this bonus episode, Commodity Insights co-president Dave Ernsberger  joins Americas oil news director  Jeff Mower  to recap the key themes and developments from the...

The beginning of spring marks the start of gasoline's seasonal transition from winter into summer specification but the market fundamentals remain under pressure on the prompt. Gary Clark is joined by Dias Kazym and Matthew Tracey-Cook to discuss how weak gasoline fundamentals extended to the European naphtha market, which also faces challenging petrochemical environment despite short-term supply...

New US tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico are highlighting the dependence of US refiners and consumers on crude and refined products from both countries. Why is the US Atlantic Coast in particular exposed to the supply and price impacts of the tariffs? Who will eat the costs of tariffs on Canadian crude?  Jeff Mower speaks with senior refining editor Janet McGurty and crude price editor Jad...

India Energy Week brought together thought leaders, industry pioneers and curious minds from around the globe to discuss the future of energy in India and beyond. From shifting spotlight of oil producers towards India to the optimism around clean energy, such as hydrogen and biofuels, the event witnessed discussions and debates around India's current and future energy landscape. And a key question...

In what was the first direct hit from drone attacks on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium route since the onset of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, close to 1.5 million b/d of crude output from oil giant Kazakhstan has been brought into the spotlight. The development comes with an uptick in broader energy infrastructure attacks and against a backdrop of US and Russian talks over the war's near-t...

Since his return to the US presidency, Donald Trump has launched a maximum-pressure campaign on Iran in pursuit of a nuclear deal, in sharp contrast with a more diplomatic approach towards Venezuela. How will these geopolitical strategies affect oil exports, spot markets, and the role of players like China on the global stage?  Jeff Mower, Kate Winston, Chris van Moessner, and Pat Harrington unpac...

India's rapidly growing energy demand, the shifting focus of oil producers towards the country, and the transition to cleaner energy sources are key themes at India Energy Week. Delegates will seek insights on how Indian energy companies and policymakers can balance the reliance on traditional fuels with a new energy roadmap. In a comprehensive discussion, Dave Ernsberger, Co-President at S&P Glob...

A fast-paced beginning to the second Trump presidency has sent ripples across financial and commodities markets globally with tough talk on sanctions and tariffs, in particular. Joel Hanley is joined by Thomas Washington and Herman Wang to dissect the impact US policy is having on oil and shipping markets and what OPEC+ make of Trump 2.0.  Links : Register for London Energy Forum 2025 US tariffs o...