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Singapore raises road fuel taxes, adds support for EVs

  • Market: Emissions, Oil products
  • 16/02/21

Singapore has raised gasoline taxes by more than 20pc and announced new incentives for electric vehicles (EVs) in its 2021 budget.

Taxes on premium gasoline, with a retail octane number (Ron) above 97, have been increased by 23pc or S$0.15/litre (11¢/l) to S$0.79/l. Duties on 90-97 Ron gasoline rise by S$0.10/l to S$0.66/l.

The tax increases, the first for six years, take effect immediately. Rebates will be in place for a year starting from August to cushion the impact.

Singapore, a major oil refining hub, is also one of the world's most expensive places to own a vehicle as the government seeks to limit congestion on the city-state's roads and encourage the use of public transport.

The budget also introduced more tax breaks and rebates for EVs, as well as S$30mn in new funding for the sector over the next five years.

Singapore's carbon tax, which is currently set at S$5/t of greenhouse gas emissions, will be reviewed after 2023 in line with a planned increase to S$10-15/t by 2030, deputy prime minister Heng Swee Keat said.


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15/04/25

United Airlines to cut 3Q capacity on uncertainty

United Airlines to cut 3Q capacity on uncertainty

Houston, 15 April (Argus) — United Airlines plans to decrease the number of flights it operates in the third quarter because of lower passenger numbers and economic uncertainties. The US-based air carrier said that it will be removing four percentage points of scheduled domestic capacity in the third quarter of 2025 and expects to retire 21 aircraft earlier than previously planned. Global economic uncertainty prompted the company to provide two scenarios for for its financial results for 2025 — one based on the US economy remaining weaker but stable, and the other for the US entering a recession. In the stable scenario, assuming current fuel price outlooks, the company expects a $11.50-$13.50 per share profit. Under the recessionary scenario profits would be in the $7-9/share range. Despite the possibility of slower busines, the airline plans to expand its investments at Chicago O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, with six additional gates and plans to expand at San Francisco's international airport as well. 1Q results In the first quarter domestic passenger load factor — a measurement of capacity utilization — declined by 3.4 percentage points to 80.3pc compared to the same quarter in 2024. United's revenue passenger miles (RPM) — a measurement of total miles flown by paying passengers — increased by 3.6pc to 59.5bn miles in the first quarter compared to the previous year. Available seat miles (ASM) — a measure of capacity — rose by 4.9pc to 75.2bn miles in the quarter. United's average fuel cost decreased by 12.2pc to $2.53/USG during the first quarter. The airline consumed 4.1pc more fuel in the quarter. Total operating expenses rose by 1.3pc to $12.6bn in the quarter while total operating revenue increased by 5.4pc to $13.2bn. The airline reported $387mn profit in the first quarter, up from a $124mn loss reported a year earlier. By Hunter Fite Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Pemex road fuel inventories down in March


15/04/25
News
15/04/25

Pemex road fuel inventories down in March

Mexico City, 15 April (Argus) — Mexican state-owned Pemex's road fuel inventories fell by 17pc in March from a year earlier, driven by lower regular and premium gasoline stocks. Pemex's regular gasoline, premium gasoline and diesel inventories at its 81 port and inland terminals decreased to 8mn bl in March, down from 9.6mn bl in March 2024, according to a Pemex transparency response to an Argus request. The company stored on average 5,350 bl of gasoline and 3,800 bl of ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD) at its Olmeca terminal in Dos Bocas in March. In the past, the energy ministry published Mexico's total fuel inventories — Pemex and non-Pemex — with a delay of up to two months, but it has not updated the data since late 2023. Pemex increased its gasoline and diesel production in February by 5pc from the same month a year prior, but imports dropped sharply by 30pc year-over-year to roughly 362,000 b/d. Regular gasoline inventories fell by 19pc to 4.1mn bl in March from a year earlier, despite higher domestic output, likely because of lower imports. Diesel stocks dropped by 10pc to 2.8mn bl from the previous year, while premium gasoline inventories sank by 23pc to 1.1mn bl, tracking an increase in premium gasoline demand as well as lower imports. Jet fuel stocks down Meanwhile, jet fuel inventories fell by 12pc to 368,800 bl in March from the prior year, Pemex data requested by Argus show. Pemex's jet fuel production dropped by 21pc to roughly 34,000 b/d in February from the same month a year earlier, while domestic sales decreased by 4pc to about 95,000 b/d in the same period. Jet fuel imports also declined, falling by 4pc to 55,000 b/d in February from the previous year. Pemex's March gasoline and diesel inventories were just over nine days' worth of the company's sales so far in 2025. Its jet fuel inventories were just under four days' worth. Mexico's minimum fuel storage policy — in effect since July 2020 — requires fuel sellers to have at least five days' worth of sales on hand for gasoline and diesel, and three days' worth of sales for jet fuel. 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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Net zero banking body ups flexibility for climate goals


15/04/25
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15/04/25

Net zero banking body ups flexibility for climate goals

London, 15 April (Argus) — The Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) will increase flexibility around climate targets in its framework, allowing its members to set targets aligned with the upper temperature limit sought by the Paris climate agreement. Members voted to introduce less stringent targets "in response to changing external circumstances and member needs", the NZBA said today. The NZBA is a voluntary global initiative with more than 120 banks as members. The group aims to align financing with reaching net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 — in line with the Paris agreement. The Paris accord seeks to limit the rise in global temperature to "well below" 2°C above pre-industrial levels, while pursuing efforts to limit this to 1.5°C. Members "voted overwhelmingly in favour of adopting proposed changes", the NZBA said today. Banks that join the alliance commit to developing long-term and intermediate targets towards net zero GHG emissions and to reporting on progress towards these. The changes to the guidance "acknowledge a wider range of net zero pathways that align with the temperature goals of the Paris agreement… This acknowledgment increases flexibility for banks with exposures to a range of markets and sectors to manage targets and transition across their balance sheet", the NZBA said. The alliance also intends to further support members, including around sectoral engagement and to help members understand new and emerging practices and approaches. "Over 100 member banks have already set independent sectoral targets using net zero by 2050 1.5°C pathways. There is nothing in the adopted changes that would cause them to move away from this. 1.5°C remains the guiding star", an NZBA spokesperson told Argus . But the alliance noted that in recent years "the external landscape for banks has rapidly changed". The amended framework recognises that "net zero transitions in the real economy are progressing at different speeds across sectors and regions and that regulatory requirements for climate risk and disclosure have increased in some jurisdictions", the spokesperson said. Several large US banks exited the initiative earlier this year , days ahead of US President Donald Trump's return to the White House. Netherlands-based, sustainability-focused Triodos Bank today said that it would leave the NZBA, as "the new guidelines fall short of the needed urgency to align loans and investments portfolios" with the 1.5°C goal. By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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IEA slashes 2025 global refinery runs growth forecast


15/04/25
News
15/04/25

IEA slashes 2025 global refinery runs growth forecast

London, 15 April (Argus) — The IEA has sharply lowered its forecast for refinery run growth this year, citing escalating tensions in global trade. In its latest Oil Market Report (OMR) published today, the energy watchdog said it expects growth in global crude runs of 340,000 b/d, down by 40pc from its previous forecast of 570,000 b/d. The IEA sees total global crude runs averaging 83.2mn b/d this year. Increased throughput from non-OECD countries still drives this year's growth, with the IEA expecting an increase of 830,000 b/d to 47.6mn b/d. The IEA has not adjusted this figure, as stronger runs in China through the first quarter of this year and higher Russian forecasts have offset downgrades in other non-OECD countries. Chinese crude runs in January and February averaged 15.2mn b/d, around 470,000 b/d higher than the IEA's forecast, it said. The body raised its Russian forecasts from the second quarter as Ukrainian attacks on Russian infrastructure have slowed. The IEA forecasts OECD refinery runs will fall by 490,000 b/d this year because of refinery closures, resulting in a cut from its previous forecast of 100,000 b/d, to 35.6mn b/d. OECD Europe runs are forecast to fall by 310,000 b/d on the year to 10.9mn b/d. OECD crude runs rose by 200,000 b/d on the year in February, 40,000 b/d higher than the IEA expected. Throughput was particularly weak in the first quarter of 2024, when extreme cold cut US run rates. In Mexico, state-owned Pemex's 340,000 b/d Olmeca refinery has still not reached stable operations having started up in mid-2024. The refinery ran no crude in January because of crude quality constraints, the IEA said, and February output there was 7,000 b/d. The IEA estimates the refinery's second crude unit will come online in the fourth quarter. The IEA said refiners will add more than 1mn b/d of global capacity in 2026, but it forecast growths in crude runs of only 300,000 b/d for that year. Assuming all new and expanded refineries come into operation by then, producers will have to cut runs at older refineries, it said. Capacity additions will be largest in Asia-Pacific. The IEA expects China's 320,000 b/d Panjin refinery to come online in the second half of 2026, and for producers to add capacity of 480,000 b/d in India. It sees growth in crude runs as focused on the Mideast Gulf, and runs across the OECD falling. By Josh Michalowski Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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UN carbon market advances on leakage, baseline issues


15/04/25
News
15/04/25

UN carbon market advances on leakage, baseline issues

Berlin, 15 April (Argus) — The UN's climate arm the UNFCCC has further refined rules relating to greenhouse gas (GHG) leakage and emissions reduction baselines for generating credits under the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (Pacm). The mechanism's methodological expert panel drew up a draft standard on addressing GHG leakage at its fifth meeting last week, clarifying definitions such as "positive" and "negative" leakage, the "activity boundary" and "controlled" sources of GHG. The standard clarifies that the avoidance or minimisation of leakage only applies to negative leakage, even while avoidance of leakage is not possible in all instances. The standard will apply to both emission reductions and removals, and will focus on project-level activities, with a future version to address larger-scale activities such as national crediting programmes. And a draft standard on setting the baseline against which emissions reductions are measured, to prevent over-crediting, outlined the importance of ensuring that the downward adjusted historical baseline of emissions is at least as low as the conservative business-as-usual scenario. The panel proposed future regular revisions of the standard to allow for advances in best available technology, or for mitigation actions implemented at larger and therefore more cost-efficient scales. The panel also suggested some guidance may be needed to determine the scenario for certain types of carbon removal activities. The two draft standards will be put to the Pacm regulator — the supervisory body of the mechanism's governing Article 6.4 of the Paris climate agreement — for adoption. The panel was set up in early 2024 after countries at the UN Cop 28 climate summit in December 2023 threw out the supervisory body's proposals for the mechanism. The panel at its meeting also made progress on the concept of "suppressed demand", which must be taken into account by the Pacm to allow some increase in emissions to enable a host country's socio-economic development. It agreed on the conservative level of 1,000kWh/per capita to "minimise" over-crediting. The panel also progressed on addressing the non-permanence of emissions reductions, with a focus on instances of late, incomplete or missing monitoring reports, deciding on appropriate notification timing and relevant consequences. And it continued work on revising methodologies from the Pacm's predecessor, the clean development mechanism (CDM). The Pacm's first credits will be from transitioned CDM projects. But from next year, all Pacm credits must adhere to their own methodologies. The panel will next meet at the end of May. Stakeholders planning to propose new methodologies and methodological tools for consideration at that meeting must submit them by 21 April. By Chloe Jardine Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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