China awards first oil product export quotas for 2021

Market: Oil products
28/12/20

The Chinese government has issued its first batch of oil products export quotas for 2021, to six state-controlled firms — PetroChina, Sinopec, CNOOC, Sinochem, CNAF and Norinco's 120,000 b/d Huajin refinery, as well as private-sector Rongsheng's 800,000 b/d ZPC refinery.

The government awarded 29.5mn t of quotas in the latest batch, up by 1.51mn t or 5pc from the first batch in 2020. A breakdown by gasoline, diesel and jet fuel has not been announced.

The year-on-year growth mainly reflects the awards to ZPC and Huajin, which have been granted 2mn t and 150,000t respectively under general trade terms. These two firms have been added to the recipient list since the award of the third batch of quotas for 2020.

The quotas granted to the five other firms are down by 646,000t or 2pc on the year to 27.35mn t. State-controlled firms have struggled to use up their quotas and are likely to only run through 80pc of their allowances for 2020 because of poor export margins and weak demand from overseas.

The quotas cover both general trade and exports under third-party processing deals. The general trade quotas total 26.17mn t, 1.62mn t higher than a year earlier. PetroChina and CNOOC received 7pc and 14pc more quotas than last year respectively, while Sinopec, Sinochem and aviation fuel distributor CNAF received less. CNAF's jet fuel quota halved from a year earlier to 30,000t, amid a much slower recovery in aviation sector jet fuel demand compared to road fuels gasoline and diesel.

Quotas granted for third-party processing deals total 3.33mn t, lower by 110,000t or 3pc from the first batch this year. The quotas are shared among Sinopec, PetroChina and Sinochem, with 2.4mn t, 800,000t and 130,000t respectively. CNOOC was awarded 100,000t in last year's first batch but was not included in the latest list.

China's 2021 oil products export quotas, first batch				'000 t
	General trade	Third-party processing	Total	± vs 2020 first batch

PetroChina	9,010	800	9,810	610
Sinopec	9,670	2,400	12,070	-1,290
CNOOC	2,838	0	2,838	254
Sinochem	2,468	130	2,598	-190
CNAF	30	0	30	-30
ZPC	2,000	0	2,000	2,000
Norinco	150	0	150	150
Total	26,166	3,330	29,496	1,504
Source: Ministry of commerce

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

News

14/04/25

Funding cuts could delay US river lock work: Correction

Corrects lock locations in paragraph 5. Houston, 14 April (Argus) — The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) will have to choose between various lock reconstruction and waterway projects for its annual construction plan after its funding was cut earlier this year. Last year Congress allowed the Corps to use $800mn from unspent infrastructure funds for other waterways projects. But when Congress passed a continuing resolutions for this year's budget they effectively removed that $800mn from what was a $2.6bn annual budget for lock reconstruction and waterways projects. This means a construction plan that must be sent to Congress by 14 May can only include $1.8bn in spending. No specific projects were allocated funding by Congress, allowing the Corps the final say on what projects it pursues under the new budget. River industry trade group Waterways Council said its top priority is for the Corps to provide a combined $205mn for work at the Montgomery lock in Pennsylvania on the Ohio River and Chickamauga lock in Tennessee on the Tennessee River since they are the nearest to completion and could become more expensive if further delayed. There are seven active navigation construction projects expected to take precedent, including the following: the Chickamauga and Kentucky Locks on the Tennessee River; Locks 2-4 on the Monongahela River; the Three Rivers project on the Arkansas River; the LaGrange Lock on the Illinois River; Lock 25 on the Mississippi River; and the Montgomery Lock on the Ohio River. There are three other locks in Texas, Pennsylvania and Illinois that are in the active design phase (see map) . By Meghan Yoyotte Corps active construction projects 2025 Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Find out more

News

IMO GHG pricing not yet Paris deal-aligned: EU

14/04/25

News

14/04/25

IMO GHG pricing not yet Paris deal-aligned: EU

Brussels, 14 April (Argus) — The International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) global greenhouse gas (GHG) pricing mechanism "does not yet ensure the sector's full contribution to achieving the Paris Agreement goals", the European Commission has said. "Does it have everything for everybody? For sure, it doesn't," said Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, the commission's climate and energy spokesperson said. "This is often the case as an outcome from international negotiations, that not everybody gets the most optimal outcome." The IMO agreement reached last week will need to be confirmed by the organisation in October, the EU noted, even if it is a "strong foundation" and "meaningful step" towards net zero GHG emissions in global shipping by 2050. The commission will have 18 months following the IMO mechanism's formal approval to review the directive governing the bloc's emissions trading system (ETS), which currently includes maritime emissions for intra-EU voyages and those entering or leaving the bloc. By EU law, the commission will also have to report on possible "articulation or alignment" of the bloc's FuelEU Maritime regulation with the IMO, including the need to "avoid duplicating regulation of GHG emissions from maritime transport" at EU and international levels. That report should be presented, "without delay", following formal adoption of an IMO global GHG fuel standard or global GHG intensity limit. Finland's head representative at the IMO delegation talks, Anita Irmeli, told Argus that the EU's consideration of whether the approved Marpol amendments are ambitious enough won't be until "well after October". Commenting on the IMO agreement, the European Biodiesel Board (EBB) pointed to the "neutral" approach to feedstocks, including first generation biofuels. "The EBB welcomes this agreement, where all feedstocks and pathways have a role to play," EBB secretary general Xavier Noyon said. Faig Abbasov, shipping director at non-governmental organisation Transport and Environment, called for better incentives for green hydrogen. "The IMO deal creates a momentum for alternative marine fuels. But unfortunately it is the forest-destroying first generation biofuels that will get the biggest push for the next decade," he said. By Dafydd ab Iago Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Australian refiner Viva posts lower sales in Jan-Mar

14/04/25

News

14/04/25

Australian refiner Viva posts lower sales in Jan-Mar

Sydney, 14 April (Argus) — Australian refiner Viva Energy's January-March sales slumped against a year and quarter earlier, while its Geelong refinery margin (GRM) rebounded slightly despite the impact of a refinery-wide outage in January. Total sales for the first quarter of Viva's fiscal year fell on lower commercial and industrial sales, which dipped by 6pc because adverse weather impacted mining demand. Crude intake of 107,000 b/d at the 120,000 b/d Geelong refinery was up by 6pc on the quarter, but 6pc lower on the year. Viva's energy and infrastructure division was hit by a A$20mn ($12.6mn) loss after an unplanned shutdown at Geelong resulting from a power outage in January. Geelong's October-December output was affected by problems with the refinery's residual catalytic cracker unit, late crude arrivals and minor unscheduled maintenance. The GRM was marginally above breakeven levels, Viva said, despite the January outage. Tariffs imposed by the US on its trading partners have led to a fall in oil prices, which should stimulate consumer demand and support retail margins, and the firm has limited exposure to customers directly dependent on US markets, it said. Viva's upgrade to ultra-low sulphur gasoline at the 120,000 b/d Geelong refinery is on schedule, with supply expected to begin from August to meet the federal government's deadline of December this year. A proposed large-scale advanced soft plastics recycling facility to be co-developed with waste management firm Cleanaway will proceed to initial engineering phase in 2026, Viva said on 9 April. The project aims to convert waste soft plastics into food-grade recycled plastics but requires policy certainty, which is expected once details of Canberra's packaging reform, the Extended Producer Responsibility, are released. By Tom Major Viva Energy results (b/d) Jan-Mar '25 Oct-Dec '24 Jan-Mar '24 q-o-q % ± y-o-y % ± Refining intake 107,000 101,000 112,000 6 -6 Sales 288,000 298,000 297,000 -3 -4 GRM ($/bl) 8 7 12 18 -34 Viva has adjusted volumes to account for its acquisition of OTR retail group on 28 March 2024 Source: Viva Energy Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Keystone oil pipeline to restart by 15 April

13/04/25

News

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.

News

Mexico suspends Valero fuel import permits

11/04/25

News

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.

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more