Suez blockage continues with extra rescue tugs en route

Market: Coal, Crude oil, Freight, LPG, Metals, Oil products
28/03/21

The container ship Ever Given, which run aground in the Suez Canal on 23 March, continues to be stranded there despite multiple attempts to re-float the vessel over the past days.

BSM, the ship's technical management company, said late on 27 March that re-floating attempts are continuing after "significant progress was made" the prior night, when the vessel's rudder was released from sediment at the stern of the ship. However, the ship remains in place and continues to block the critical waterway.

Two additional tugs, each with towing power (bollard pull) of 220-240t, have been dispatched are scheduled to arrive at the location of the incident later today to help with the re-floating attempts, according to BSM.

The Netherlands-flagged ALP Guard is currently in the Red Sea, about 80km from Egypt's Hurghada, according to vessel tracker FleetMon, while the Italy-flagged Carlo Magno is now around 60km off Egypt's Safaga port. Both are expected to arrive at the location before 18:00 local time.

These tugs will join eleven others that have been working alongside the ongoing dredging operations which continue to remove sand and mud from around the port side of the vessel's bow.

At the time of the incident on 23 March, the Ever Given was transiting northbound through the canal en route to Rotterdam, Netherlands. Initial investigations suggest the vessel grounded due to strong wind.

The Suez Canal is a vital artery between east and west, and the risk of disruption to shipping markets increases the longer that it remains blocked. As of now, there is still little clarity on how long that will be.

By Ieva Paldaviciute

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14/04/25

Ecuador's Noboa wins reelection with ample margin

Quito, 14 April (Argus) — Ecuador's president Daniel Noboa won reelection in a run-off on Sunday with 56pc of the vote, a wider margin than projected after a tight first-round race in February . Electoral authority (CNE) head Diana Atamaint confirmed the results with 93pc of votes counted. Noboa will hold office through May 2029. Security has topped voters' concerns as gang violence has increased in recent years, and Noboa has vowed a tough approach on crime. He also wants to attract more private-sector investment to Ecuador's energy sector, with hopes of boosting crude production of about 467,000 b/d. His challenger, Luisa Gonzalez, obtained only 44pc, but she did not recognize Noboa's win and has called for a recount. She belongs to the left-wing Revolucion Ciudadana party, sponsored by former president Rafael Correa, a close friend of presidents Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela and Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua. She promised more state-led energy-sector investment. Noboa won with a difference of about 1.1mn votes out of the 10.5mn Ecuadorians that voted, the CNE said. He called the results overwhelmingly in his favor, speaking from his residency in Santa Elena province. He will hold office through May 2029. The Organization of American States (OAS) declared the voting process normal based on the participation of 84 of its observers. None of the 40,000 observers from Gonzalez's Revolucion Ciudadana party or Noboa's ADN party denounced irregularities. Noboa will continue in power with no single party holding a majority in the national assembly, Ecuador's 151-member unicameral congress, based on results from the 9 February congressional and first-round presidential election. Revolucion Ciudadana will have the first minority with 67 members, followed by ADN with 66 members and 18 members from another five parties. Noboa will be sworn in on 24 May. He took office in November 2023 to fulfill the mandate of former president Guillermo Lasso, who dissolved the national assembly in May 2023 and called for anticipated elections. By Alberto Araujo Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Keystone oil pipeline to restart by 15 April

13/04/25

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13/04/25

Keystone oil pipeline to restart by 15 April

Houston, 13 April (Argus) — The 622,000 b/d Keystone crude pipeline is expected to resume service by 15 April, following a leak in North Dakota that shut deliveries last week. Calgary-based pipeline operator South Bow said the repair and replacement of the leaking section of pipe was taking place over the weekend. Once the company meets the terms of a corrective action order (CAO) issued by the US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), it will be able to resume service. The pipeline has been off line since early on 8 April, when a leak was discovered in a rural field near Kathryn, North Dakota. An estimated 3,500 bl of crude was released but did not appear to have reached any waterways. "Keystone is targeting restoration of service and energy deliveries by Tuesday April 15, 2025, under the requirements of the CAO," South Bow said. "South Bow will require approval from PHMSA prior to restarting the pipeline." Under the CAO, South Bow must run metallurgical testing of the failed section of pipe, conduct a root cause analysis and meet other requirements. The pipeline system will also have to comply with certain pressure restrictions on Canadian sections of the line. The Keystone system is a major route for Canadian heavy crude destined for both the US midcontinent and the US Gulf coast, delivering about 15pc of the roughly 4mn b/d that the US imports from its northern neighbor. The line runs from the Canadian production and storage hub at Hardisty, Alberta, to Steele City, Nebraska, before splitting in two to head toward Illinois and the Gulf coast. Discounts for Western Canadian Select (WCS) at Hardisty to the CMA Nymex narrowed at the end of last week despite the shutdown, because of low inventories in Hardisty and open pipeline space on Canadian crude pipelines, including Enbridge's 3mn b/d Mainline system to the US midcontinent and the 890,000 b/d Trans Mountain pipeline to the Canadian Pacific coast. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Mexico suspends Valero fuel import permits

11/04/25

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11/04/25

Mexico suspends Valero fuel import permits

Mexico City, 11 April (Argus) — Mexico's tax authority SAT on 9 April suspended US refiner Valero's fuel import permits, the company said today. The company did not specify why its import license was suspended. "Valero is addressing each administrative observation noted in the suspension to clarify the issues. Additionally, [authorities] mistakenly stated that the company does not have valid import permits, which is incorrect since the permits are valid through 2038," the company said. When consulted, Valero told Argus it has no further information to share at this time. In Mexico, Valero holds gasoline, diesel and jet fuel import permits valid through 2038. The company is one of only a handful of private-sector companies with such permits. Shell, Marathon and ExxonMobil hold permits to import only gasoline and diesel. Valero is the leading private fuel importer in Mexico. On 9 April, its sales accounted for 10pc of Mexico's gasoline and diesel demand, according to the company. Private-sector companies started importing fuel into Mexico in 2016 after the market opened to more competition, but under former president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's administration, the energy ministry (Sener) cancelled dozens of fuel import permits. Valero is cooperating with the Mexican government and has recently joined a voluntary price cap agreement to keep regular gasoline below Ps24/l ($4.45/USG), the company said, adding that it "implements rigorous traceability and security controls throughout its supply chain." The company stores fuel at four private-sector terminals in Mexico, with over 4mn bl of capacity. The company is also expected to start storing fuel at the new 1.1mn bl OTM terminal in Altamira, Tamaulipas, in the near future. By Cas Biekmann Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Opec+ overproducers cast doubt on compensation pledges

11/04/25

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11/04/25

Opec+ overproducers cast doubt on compensation pledges

Output is set to rise in the coming months, with Kazakhstan and Iraq unlikely to live up to commitments to rein in production, writes Aydin Calik London, 11 April (Argus) — The Opec+ alliance's planned production increases in April and May should, in theory, be offset by pledges to compensate for past overproduction, particularly by Kazakhstan and Iraq. But there are few signs that either country will significantly reduce output in the coming weeks. If anything, Kazakhstan has signalled that production will continue at or near record levels of around 1.8mn b/d , putting it some 300,000 b/d above its Opec+ target. Opec+ members subject to targets cut output by 90,000 b/d to 33.93mn b/d in March, according to Argus estimates, but this was still 80,000 b/d above the group's collective crude production target of 33.85mn b/d. The decision by a core group of eight Opec+ members to accelerate the return of 2.2mn b/d of production cuts is a key reason for the recent slide in oil prices, alongside US tariff announcements. But Opec+ has stressed that its implied output increase of 137,000 b/d for April and another 411,000 b/d in May should be cancelled out by compensation-related cuts of 249,000 b/d for April and 309,000 b/d in May. In reality, this is unlikely to happen — the group's output is set to rise. Kazakhstan is the main reason why Opec+ has exceeded its target over the past two months. Kazakh production has surged following a major output increase at the Chevron-led Tengiz field in January — part of the field's future growth project (FGP). Tengiz production rose to a record 901,000 b/d in March, compared with previous levels of 600,000-660,000 b/d. The increase came several months earlier than anticipated, Kazakh officials say, and they have subsequently asked international oil companies that operate Tengiz and the Kashagan oil field to reduce output. But the answer has so far been negative. "Unfortunately, we have not yet agreed with them to the reduction, because for them it is a very challenging action, especially Chevron, [which] spent $50bn on the FGP project. They told us it's not possible for them to reduce [output]," deputy energy minister Alibek Zhamauov said this week. Kazakhstan will try to reduce production from smaller fields operated by domestic producers such as state-controlled Kazmunaigaz, Zhamauov said. But any decrease from these fields will not be enough to offset the rise from Tengiz. Target practice Iraq's output dipped below its 4mn b/d target in March at 3.98mn b/d, but this was still well above the country's effective target of 3.88mn b/d under its compensation plan. If Iraq's past production record is anything to go by, its output is unlikely to fall much further in the months ahead. While Kazakhstan and Iraq are unlikely to see much change in their production, members such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are set to drive the alliance's output higher. The biggest increase is expected from Saudi Arabia, which will see its 8.98mn b/d target rise by 222,000 b/d by May, offset only marginally by its compensation plans. Riyadh has already signalled that it is preparing to increase production after state-controlled Saudi Aramco cut the official formula price of its May-loading crude exports. The largest cut was for buyers in Asia-Pacific, Saudi Arabia's biggest market. Formula prices can indicate intentions on output, as producers fine-tune how affordable their crude is for marginal refiners. The second-largest production increase is set to come from the UAE, which has long been eager to raise output . The UAE will see its target rise by 103,000 b/d by May, which will also only be offset marginally by its compensation plan. Russia is also scheduled to deliver a significant production increase over the next two months, with its target rising by 105,000 b/d. But all of this increase will be cancelled out if the country sticks to its compensation plan. Opec+ crude production mn b/d Mar Feb* Mar target† ± target Opec 9 21.22 21.36 21.23 -0.01 Non-Opec 9 12.71 12.66 12.62 0.09 Total Opec+ 18 33.93 34.02 33.85 0.08 *revised †includes additional cuts where applicable Opec wellhead production mn b/d Mar Feb* Mar target† ± target Saudi Arabia 8.98 8.93 8.98 0.00 Iraq 3.98 4.05 4.00 -0.02 Kuwait 2.42 2.43 2.41 0.01 UAE 2.91 2.93 2.91 -0.00 Algeria 0.92 0.92 0.91 0.01 Nigeria 1.49 1.58 1.50 -0.01 Congo (Brazzaville) 0.26 0.24 0.28 -0.02 Gabon 0.20 0.22 0.17 0.03 Equatorial Guinea 0.06 0.06 0.07 -0.01 Opec 9 21.22 21.36 21.23 -0.01 Iran 3.34 3.38 na na Libya 1.36 1.39 na na Venezuela 0.87 0.84 na na Total Opec 12^ 26.79 26.97 na na *revised †includes additional cuts where applicable ^Iran, Libya and Venezuela are exempt from production targets Non-Opec crude production mn b/d Mar Feb* Mar target† ± target Russia 8.97 8.96 8.98 -0.01 Oman 0.75 0.75 0.76 -0.01 Azerbaijan 0.47 0.47 0.55 -0.08 Kazakhstan 1.79 1.76 1.47 0.32 Malaysia 0.36 0.36 0.40 -0.04 Bahrain 0.18 0.18 0.20 -0.02 Brunei 0.10 0.09 0.08 0.02 Sudan 0.02 0.02 0.06 -0.04 South Sudan 0.07 0.07 0.12 -0.05 Total non-Opec 12.71 12.66 12.62 0.09 *revised †includes additional cuts where applicable Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Participants mostly support IMO GHG pricing mechanism

11/04/25

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11/04/25

Participants mostly support IMO GHG pricing mechanism

London, 11 April (Argus) — International shipping organisations and market participants mostly support the global greenhouse gas (GHG) pricing mechanism approved today at the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) 83rd Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting, but some raised concerns. The structure approved by the IMO establishes that ships must reduce their fuel intensity by a "base target" of 4pc in 2028 against 93.3 gCO2e/MJ, the latter representing the average GHG fuel intensity value of international shipping in 2008. Emissions above this target will be charged at $380/tCO2e. The levels defined by the approved regulation are achievable, according to a market participant, who said the gradually increasing targets may allow the market to properly adapt to the transition. The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) secretary general Guy Platten said the sector is already investing billions of dollars in 'green' technology, so the agreement gives certainty that sustainable marine fuels producers need. "The world's governments have now come forward with a comprehensive agreement which, although not perfect in every respect, we very much hope will be formally adopted later this year," he said. The European Shipowners (ECSA) secretary general Sotiris Raptis agreed the draft "is not perfect", but he celebrated progress towards a net zero emissions target, saying "it is a good starting point for further work" and pointing out that it may ensure the necessary investment in production of clean fuels. During a press briefing, IMO secretary general Arsenio Dominguez said ships operating in international waters will be obliged to comply with the regulations after adoption, despite the US' refusal to engage with the discussions . Adoption of the pricing mechanism will be discussed and voted on in October. Offering a counterview, the Global Maritime Forum said the agreed measures may not be strong enough to reach IMO targets. "The GHG intensity targets create uncertainty as to whether the strategy's emissions reduction checkpoints for 2030 and 2040 will be met," it said. "As currently designed, measures are unlikely to be sufficient to incentivise the rapid development of e-fuels such as e-ammonia or e-methanol , which will be needed in the long run due to their scalability and emission reduction potential." It said that failure to invest in these fuels would put at risk the target of at least 5pc zero- and near-zero emission fuel use by 2030 and the industry's entire 2050 net-zero goal. The World Shipping Council's vice president Bryan Wood-Thomas praised the agreement and said one benefit of it is the pricing system that is "more aggressive" if a vessel fails to meet the GHG intensity standard. "But you also have a fee system that gives investors more confidence in actual revenue [from using cleaner fuels]," he said. The Brazilian representative told Argus the fact that some countries thought the agreement was too ambitious while others indicated it was not ambitious enough show the group may have reached a balance that can be possible to comply. About the Brazilian position, the representative said the country "was never against an agreement". "We were only against some aspects of the agreement, and we think that the membership has heard our concerns, and that's why we ended up pretty happy with the results", he said. Brazil voted in favour of the agreement today. By Hussein Al-Khalisy, Madeleine Jenkins, Natália Coelho, and Gabriel Tassi Lara. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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