Marine fuel global weekly market update

Market: Biofuels, Fertilizers, Hydrogen, Natural gas, Oil products, Petrochemicals
10/04/23

A weekly Argus news digest of interest to the conventional and alternative marine fuel markets. Argus' offices were closed on 7 April. To speak to our team about accessing the stories below, please contact: oil-products@argusmedia.com.

Alternative marine fuels

6 Apr Indonesia ships first sizeable volume of UCO to the US Indonesia exported the first ever sizeable volume of used cooking oil (UCO) to the US in...

6 Apr Malaysia's Petronas sells ammonia on formula to Gemoil Malaysia's state-owned Petronas has sold...

6 Apr Brazil's diesel consumption drops in February Brazil's diesel consumption fell in February amid lower demand from the agriculture sector, while gasoline consumption increased.

5 Apr Planned e-methanol site in southern Spain progresses Project developer Cetaer is advancing plans to develop an e-methanol production site in ...

5 Apr West Virginia 2.2mn t/yr blue ammonia plant secures gas One of the largest blue hydrogen projects under development, in West Virginia, US, has secured a supply ...

4 Apr Biodiesel share in German fuel mix up in January The share of biodiesel in Germany's road fuel mix rose on the month in ...

4 Apr UK's Atome actualises Iceland green ammonia plans UK-based green hydrogen and ammonia firm Atome Energy has announced a ...

4 Apr France remained an RME biodiesel market in 2022 French domestic supply and demand for biodiesel remains dominated by ...

4 Apr LNG discount to methanol renews LNG bunker interest The premium for LNG compared with grey methanol flipped to a discount in ...

4 Apr US methanol spot prices sink to multiyear lows The US Gulf coast methanol spot price assessment for the front-month sank to ...

3 Apr Morocco's OCP targets 1mn t of green ammonia by 2027 Moroccan fertilizer firm OCP has announced ambitious green ammonia ...

3 Apr Ireland's ethanol, biodiesel demand edges higher in Feb Irish biodiesel and ethanol consumption increased on the month and the year in …

3 Apr Q&A: EU boosts green marine fuels, says OCI CEO Inclusion of shipping emissions under the EU's emissions trading system (ETS) and mandatory reduction in the greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of marine fuels excites OCI Global and Fertiglobe chief executive Ahmed El-Hoshy. The ETS, GHG fuel intensity cuts for EU maritime fuels and upwards revised renewables targets are building the market, he told Argus.

3 Apr Methanex cuts April Asia methanol contract price Canada-based methanol producer Methanex has cut its Asian Posted Contract Price (APCP) to ...

Conventional marine fuels

6 Ap ExxonMobil workers end strikes at French refineries Workers at ExxonMobil's downstream sites in France are ending a...

6 Apr Capesize bulkers face ‘anemic' port congestion: BRS The recent rise in Capesize rates on the back of rebounding...

5 Apr US Gulf coast fuel oil output at 3½-year high in March US Gulf coast residual fuel oil production in March rose to the highest in more than...

5 Apr Croatia's Ina seeks diesel made from non-Russian crude Croatia's Ina has issued a tender to buy diesel on a...

5 Apr India removes crude windfall levy, halves diesel tax India has removed a windfall tax on crude production and...

5 Apr Non-Russia origin bunker fuel sold at premium in UAE Guaranteed non-Russia origin fuel oil has been trading at substantial ...

4 Apr Pemex output of less-desired HSFO at 10-year high Pemex produced 305,100 b/d of heavy sulfur fuel oil (HSFO) in February, a high not seen since ...

4 Apr Japan sees higher oil product demand in FY2023-24 Japan's oil product demand is forecast to increase in the April 2023-March 2024 fiscal year, on the back of ...

4 Apr Lowest European diesel crack spread since war began European non-Russian diesel prices have fallen to their lowest premium against crude since ...

3 Apr Higher Asian bunkers may lift Pacific Panamax rates Freight rates for Pacific dry bulk Panamax vessels could continue to rise on ...

3 Apr NE Asian MR freight rises on higher Chinese exports Freight rates for clean Medium Range (MR) tankers from northeast Asia are higher, supported by ...

3 Apr Oil tanker backlog grows as French strikes rumble on Strikes over pension rights are continuing to hamper operations at French refineries, while a ...

3 Apr Russian Black Sea product exports rise Product loadings at Russian Black Sea ports increased by 60pc ...

3 Apr Fire hits Pertamina's Indonesian Dumai refinery An explosion and a fire hit state-controlled Indonesian refiner Pertamina's ...

3 Apr Boarded tanker found but some crew missing A tanker that was boarded by pirates on 25 March has been recovered, but ...

3 Apr German's Bayernoil refinery extends partial shutdown The shutdown at the Neustadt section of the 207,000 b/d Neustadt-Vohburg refining complex is ...

3 Apr Germany's costly return to diesel cargo market looms German diesel stockpiles are steadily sinking and ...

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News

16/04/25

Cyclone cuts Australian refiner Ampol's 1Q output

Sydney, 16 April (Argus) — Australian refiner and fuel retailer Ampol's 109,000 b/d Lytton refinery production dropped on the quarter in January-March, and margins remained low on the year, partly because of Cyclone Alfred and a weak global refining market. Ampol shut Lytton for 10 days to secure the facility before Cyclone Alfred hit mainland Australia on 8 March, damaging the roof of a crude tank at the facility, leading to demurrage costs for the firm. Lytton's production dropped by 15pc on the quarter to 91,000 b/d from 108,000 b/d in October-December and dropped by 6pc from a year earlier . Total sales at Ampol dropped by 7pc on the quarter to 429,000 b/d, because of ample market supply, which limited short-term physical sales, the firm said. Fellow Australian refiner Viva Energy also experienced low fuel sales in the January-March quarter, because of adverse weather events in January, likely weighing on consumption . Total oil product sales across Australia dipped by 4pc in the month to 1mn b/d in February to 1.04mn b/d in January. Ampol's Lytton Refinery Margin (LRM) was up by 24pc on the quarter to $6.07/bl, but was down by 49pc from the year-earlier figure. Ampol flagged that it could be eligible for government support , under the Fuel Security Services Payment program (FSSP), if their margins do not recover for the remainder of the April-June quarter. Refiners become eligible for the FSSP when margin markers fall to A$10.20/bl ($6.49/bl), with a maximum of A1.8¢/litre available when the marker drops to a floor of A$7.30/bl. Ampol's margin for January-March quarter was A$9.57/b. The programme started in July 2021 to protect Australian refiners in a weak global refining market, and Australian refiner Viva Energy applied for the FSSP in their July-September quarter in 2024. By Grace Dudley Ampol Results (b/d) Jan-Mar '25 Oct-Dec '24 Jan-Mar '24 y-o-y % ± q-o-q % ± Refining intake 90,725 107,761 96,510 -6 -15 Sales volumes 429,367 523,641 463,750 -7 -18 LRM ($/bl) 6.1 4.6 11.8 -49 24 Source: Ampol Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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News

United Airlines to cut 3Q capacity on uncertainty

15/04/25

News

15/04/25

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.

News

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.

News

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.

News

VG begins contracted LNG deliveries at Calcasieu Pass

15/04/25

News

15/04/25

VG begins contracted LNG deliveries at Calcasieu Pass

Houston, 15 April (Argus) — US LNG exporter Venture Global began deliveries of long-term contractual cargoes at its 12.4mn t/yr Calcasieu Pass terminal in Louisiana today after the facility started commercial operations, more than three years after producing its first LNG. "We are excited to reach this milestone and are grateful for our regulators and supply chain partners who have worked with our team to reach commercial operations as efficiently and safely as possible," said Venture Global chief executive Mike Sabel. But the long-delayed and highly contested start comes amid ongoing arbitration proceedings against Venture Global, which some customers including Shell, BP, Italian utility Edison and Spanish company Repsol argue was unjustified in deferring the contracted supplies (see offtakers table) . The LNG exporter originally sought to begin commercial operations in 2022 but cited impacts from Covid-19, two hurricanes and "major unforeseen manufacturing issues" related to one of the plant's heat recovery steam generators, equipment that helps power the facility. Because several of the plant's facilities, including the power island, were not officially placed in service with federal authorization, Venture Global maintained that the plant was not commercially operating — despite producing 444 cargoes totaling 28.2mn t of LNG (about 1.28 trillion cubic feet of natural gas) since its first in March 2022, according to Vortexa data. The start-up Tuesday comes on the final day before Venture Global could have lost control of the project. The company said in a December filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that the agreement under which it had financed debt requires commercial operations to be completed by 1 June 2025. Should commercial operations have not begun 45 days prior to this date — which is Tuesday — then the agreement defaults, allowing "certain investors" to exercise control over the project. Before Tuesday, the company instead sold cargoes on the spot market for prices much higher than the terms of its offtake agreements. Calcasieu Pass produced its first LNG in January 2022 and exported its first cargo on 1 March 2022 — less than a week after Russia, then a key supplier of gas to Europe, invaded Ukraine. The facility produced its first LNG just 29 months after reaching a final investment decision (FID) on the project, compared with the industry average of four to five years. The timing of the project's start dovetailed with the war-driven volatility in the European gas market, helping Venture Global realize much larger profits than it would have under contracted volumes. The firm's liquefaction fees in 2023 and 2024 averaged $12.23/mn Btu and $7.28/mn Btu, respectively, compared with the average $1.97/mn Btu in its long-term deals, according to a company presentation in March. The lengthy commissioning process generated $19.6bn in revenue by the end of September 2024, Venture Global said in the December SEC filing. Shell estimated that Venture Global sold cargoes in 2023 at an average of $48.8mn per shipment, "raking in billions of dollars while shirking its contractual obligations", according to a filing with US energy regulator FERC in March 2024. Venture Global said in March that the customer arbitration cases are not likely to be resolved until after 2025. LNG facilities usually produce commissioning cargoes for a few months before beginning long-term contracts. But Venture Global has said its unique plant design, which uses a higher number of smaller, modular liquefaction trains compared with traditional trains, requires a longer start-up process. Calcasieu Pass LNG consists of 18 trains paired in nine blocks, and a similarly long commissioning period is expected at the first two phases of Venture Global's 27.2mn t/yr Plaquemines facility consisting of 36 trains. The company also has plans for an 18.1mn t/yr expansion at Plaquemines. An FID is expected in mid-2027, with first LNG production 18-24 months later. Venture Global estimated that its third LNG facility, the 28mn t/yr CP2 facility adjacent to Calcasieu Pass, could export up to 550 commissioning cargoes . The company expects to make an investment decision on the first phase of CP2 this year. By Tray Swanson Calcasieu Pass offtake deals Offtaker Volume, mn t/yr Contract length, yrs Shell 2.0 20 Galp 1.0 20 Sinopec 1.0 3 CNOOC 0.5 5 Edison 1.0 20 Repsol 1.0 20 PGNiG 1.5 20 BP 2.0 20 — US DOE Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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