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Singapore's June base oil exports fall on weak demand

  • Spanish Market: Oil products
  • 06/08/24

Singapore's base oil exports fell in June, GTT data show, as demand in China and India weakened. The decline mirrors the trend in South Korea, Asia's top base oils supplier.

  • Exports dipped amid weakening demand from China and India, the two largest lubricant consumers in Asia.
  • Chinese demand typically falls in June as severe weather conditions weigh on construction activity. Buyers also held back as prospects of an economic recovery remained uncertain. China's GDP grew by 4.7pc in the second quarter, below the government's target of 5pc for the year, according to official data. The country's economic performance continues to be plagued by weak consumption and persistent property market slump.
  • Indian buying interest decreased as its monsoon season began in June, weighing on industrial and transportation activities.
  • Overall southeast Asian demand held relatively stable. June volumes were down by 6pc on the month and 9pc on the year, but remained 19pc higher than the five year monthly average of 58,100t.

Singapore's base oil exports (t)
Jun'24m-o-m ± %y-o-y ± %Jan-Jun'24y-o-y ± %
India26,432-40.11.1202,10537.2
China21,288-50.9-35.2209,923-23.2
Indonesia31,619-12.0-5.2188,8991.0
Malaysia13,598-1.1-15.677,23412.8
Total140,549-24.9-19.6962,528-4.9
Total includes all countries, not just those listed

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06/08/24

Estaciones Pemex dominan el mercado en México

Estaciones Pemex dominan el mercado en México

Mexico City, 6 August (Argus) — El mercado minorista de combustible de México está cambiando cada vez más a estaciones de la marca Pemex, impulsado por una combinación de políticas gubernamentales y condiciones comerciales favorables de la empresa estatal. El número de gasolineras bajo la bandera de Pemex aumentó en 3pc a 7,266 en el segundo trimestre, desde 7,080 en el mismo período de 2023, según muestran los datos de la empresa. Pemex acumula 23 meses consecutivos de crecimiento en su red de estaciones. Las estaciones de la marca Pemex representan aproximadamente 53pc del total de 13,600 estaciones en México. "Estos resultados demuestran el éxito de nuestra estrategia comercial, con la imagen de Pemex que transmite orgullo, identidad y lealtad en el mercado nacional", dijo el director ejecutivo Octavio Romero el 26 de julio durante la llamada de resultados del segundo trimestre de la empresa. Pero la creciente cuota de estaciones de Pemex en México se vio impulsada en primer lugar por las políticas energéticas nacionalistas del gobierno, que han favorecido a la empresa estatal en los últimos cinco años. El apoyo gubernamental a Pemex, que incluye inyecciones de capital, reducciones de impuestos sobre regalías y la asunción temporal de reembolsos de deudas, totalizó más de $70,000 millones desde 2019 hasta el segundo trimestre de 2024, según el instituto mexicano para la competitividad (Imco). Además, la comisión reguladora de energía (CRE) ha concedido la mayoría de los permisos para nuevas estaciones a las que venden gasolina y diésel Pemex por encima de otras marcas. La CRE ha emitido 233 permisos para nuevas estaciones este año, y 49 de los últimos 50 permisos publicados en el sitio web del CRE se concedieron a nuevas estaciones que venden combustible Pemex. La oferta comercial de Pemex también ha impulsado a muchas estaciones a cambiar su marca, según fuentes del mercado. La empresa estableció a finales de 2021 una bonificación en efectivo de Ps0.09/l para estaciones de marca Pemex y duplicó el bono a Ps0.20/l en mayo. "En las últimas dos semanas, las solicitudes de renovación de imagen de [Pemex] han aumentado significativamente", dijo Miguel Yasser, director de estrategia comercial de Pemex, el 20 de junio. La bonificación de visibilidad de la marca solo se aplica a las estaciones con la imagen más reciente de Pemex, introducida en agosto de 2018, y no a las estaciones que venden combustible Pemex bajo otras banderas. Además, las nuevas estaciones reciben una bonificación de Ps0.30/l durante el primer año de operaciones. Estos incentivos son cruciales en un negocio con márgenes de ganancia ajustados, dijo un gasolinero a Argus . "La cuota de nuestras estaciones Pemex se ha triplicado en el último año porque es más fácil obtener un permiso de la CRE para una estación Pemex, y otras marcas tienen dificultades para cumplir con los términos comerciales de Pemex en algunas regiones después de que duplicó su bono de visibilidad de marca", dijo a Argus un ejecutivo de una cadena de gasolineras con más de 150 estaciones de marcas privadas y Pemex. El crecimiento de la red de estaciones de Pemex ha llevado a un aumento de la cuota de la empresa en los mercados de gasolina y diésel en los últimos tres años. La cuota de mercado de Pemex en el mercado de la gasolina se situó en 86.4pc al final del segundo trimestre, frente a un mínimo histórico de 73.7pc en 2021, mientras que su cuota en el mercado de diésel se situó en 81.2pc, frente a un mínimo histórico de 63.2pc en 2021. La política energética también ha afectado a la cadena de valor del combustible a otros niveles, alterando directamente el mercado gasolinero de México. Aunque la reforma energética de 2014 sigue en vigor por ley, en la práctica la secretaría de energía (Sener) y los reguladores autónomos como la CRE se han alineado con las políticas energéticas nacionalistas del presidente Andrés Manuel López Obrador, cancelando permisos para las empresas del sector privado a todos los niveles de la cadena de valor del combustible. Sener canceló o dejó caducar decenas de permisos de combustible de 2020-2022, reduciendo el mercado de importación de combustible a cinco empresas. Mientras tanto, la CRE ha detenido proyectos de almacenamiento de combustible del sector privado en México, suspendiendo las operaciones en algunas terminales durante meses y negando múltiples permisos de almacenamiento de combustible desde 2020. Por Antonio Gozain Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Harris selects Minnesota's Walz as running mate


06/08/24
06/08/24

Harris selects Minnesota's Walz as running mate

Washington, 6 August (Argus) — Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has picked Minnesota governor Tim Walz (D) as her running mate, elevating a Midwestern voice who has championed ambitious policies on climate change and clean energy during his two terms as governor. Walz, who was a schoolteacher before serving in the US Congress and then as governor, only recently emerged on the national stage as a favorite of progressives who could take on Republicans. Harris said she chose Walz as her running mate based partly on his "convictions on fighting for middle class families" and his efforts to deliver for "working families like his own." Harris will appear with Walz today at a rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the first event the campaign says will be a "five-day barnstorm" to introduce the Democratic ticket to voters in battleground states. The Harris campaign today touted Walz's service in the military and election in a conservative-leaning district as a sign of his broader political appeal. In 2021, Walz made Minnesota the first state in the Midwest to adopt California's tailpipe standards, and last year he signed a law requiring Minnesota utilities to switch entirely to wind, solar and other carbon-free electricity sources by 2040. Walz signed a separate law in June that would expedite the state's permitting process for renewable power projects. The campaign for Republican nominee Donald Trump today said Walz was a "West Coast wannabe" who as governor replicated California's policies on the environment. "From proposing his own carbon-free agenda, to suggesting stricter emission standards for gas-powered cars and embracing policies to allow convicted felons to vote, Walz is obsessed with spreading California's dangerously liberal agenda," Trump campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. Minnesota does not produce any crude or natural gas and has no coal mines. As of 2022, coal-fired power plants represented 27pc of Minneosta's in-state electricity generation, nuclear generated 24pc of electricity and renewable resources supplied 31pc of electricity. Minnesota is the fifth-largest ethanol producer in the US and has a production capacity of 1,400mn USG/yr. Environmentalists applauded Walz's selection as a running mate who has sought ambitious policies related to climate change and clean energy, in addition to signing a law last year providing $2bn for environment, climate and energy. The Harris-Walz ticket "isn't afraid to tackle climate change head-on," Sierra Club executive director Ben Jealous said. Harris' vice presidential selection meant passing over Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro (D), who was also being vetted as someone who could help Harris win the battleground state. Democrats hope the selection of Walz will offer a contrast to Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance, who Walz has criticized as "just weird" for positions such as faulting women for not having children. By Chris Knight Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Australia’s Queensland pledges state-owned retail fuel


06/08/24
06/08/24

Australia’s Queensland pledges state-owned retail fuel

Sydney, 6 August (Argus) — Australia's Queensland Labour party government has promised to open a chain of state-owned retail fuel outlets and cap day-to-day fuel increases, as part of its campaign in the lead-up to the 26 October state election. State-owned stations would charge a fair price for fuel and increase competition for Queensland motorists, premier Steven Miles said, adding that the fuel stations will be built in areas where competition was needed, operate on a cost-recovery basis, sell gasoline and diesel, as well as charging stations for electric vehicles. "Currently when you fuel up your car with petrol you're sending money offshore to big multinationals. Our publicly owned fuel stations won't be taking a profit," Miles said on 6 August. Miles also promised to legislate to limit gasoline price rises to once per day and to trial capping daily increases no more than 5A ¢/litre, with fuel outlets required to release price changes a day in advance, saying Queensland has the nation's least competitive gasoline market. The fuel retailing policy has been costed at A$36mn ($23.4mn), to be funded by borrowings in the government-owned corporations sector, Miles said. Queensland's retail gasoline sales were 47,000 b/d during January-May this year, according to Australian Petroleum Statistics, with diesel retail sales of 42,000 b/d over the same period. The state's capital Brisbane hosts the 109,000 b/d Lytton refinery, one of only two remaining in the country, which is operated by Australian refiner and retailer Ampol. By Tom Major Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

California CARB ULSD prices hit multi-year lows


05/08/24
05/08/24

California CARB ULSD prices hit multi-year lows

Houston, 5 August (Argus) — Outright California CARB diesel prices are at nearly 31-month lows following a narrowing in Los Angeles differentials and the underlying Nymex ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD) contract last week. Front-month outright prices in Los Angeles closed at $2.20/USG on 2 August, the lowest level since December 2021, after a 4pc downturn in the Nymex ULSD contract and a 2¢/USG weekly dip in differentials as August volume was heard traded lower. Overall ULSD liquidity remained muted in San Francisco, but Friday's Nymex loss pressured outright cash prices to $2.14/USG, also the lowest level since December 2021. California refiners had nearly doubled CARB diesel production in the week ended 26 July and averaged 193,000 b/d, according to latest data from the California Energy Commission (CEC) released on 1 August. The uptick fueled a 1.6pc increase in the state's total diesel inventory, to 2.9mn bl, despite a concurrent 38pc drop in output of other diesel fuels — a category including high-sulphr, non-California EPA and renewable diesel. By Jasmine Davis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Guyana seeking to market carbon credits to airlines


05/08/24
05/08/24

Guyana seeking to market carbon credits to airlines

Kingston, 5 August (Argus) — Growing oil producer Guyana has started discussions with several airlines for the sale of its carbon credits, saying other efforts to transact its forest carbon are progressing slowly. The heavily forested country in northern South America will use a compliance market in Singapore to trade its certified carbon credits with airlines, vice president Bharrat Jagdeo said. The country faced the prospect of not being able to sell its credits after being proactive in establishing a low carbon development strategy and getting its credits certified, he said. "We have been fighting to get our carbon sold into a compliance market, and there is a Singapore-based market that allows trading in forest carbon for airlines," Jagdeo said. "We have started discussions to see whether we can sell our certified carbon to some of the airlines and hopefully the prices will be good." The government did not identify the potential buyers. Guyana aims to monetize its forests' climate and ecosystem services while promoting low-carbon economic development that is guided by its low carbon development strategy, the government said. Guyana's low-carbon development strategy is aimed at combating climate change globally, it said. "Guyana has set out a vision for monetizing the climate and ecosystem services provided by our standing forest, while accelerating the country's economic development along a low carbon trajectory," it said. Guyana has secured 7.14mn carbon units from Architecture for REDD+ Transaction (ART) for its low deforestation rate along with sustaining high levels of forest coverage. ART is a global initiative that encourages governments to reduce forest degradation and to restore forests. "This achievement made Guyana the first country to be issued carbon credits eligible for use by airline operators in their efforts to reduce carbon emissions," the government said. The credits were issued "in recognition of Guyana's successful efforts to reduce emissions from forest loss and degradation and maintain one of the world's most intact tropical forests," ART said. Heavily forested Guyana has a population of 750,000. It is a carbon sink with forests covering an area the size of England and stor ing 19.5 gigatons of carbo n , the government said. Guyana's deforestation rate is less than 0.05pc, it said. Airlines have been working towards their targets in the 2024-2026 phase of the International Civil Aviation Organization's carbon offsetting and reduction scheme. "There are some new standards required for the aviation sector and in those new standards there will have to be carbon credit offtake," Guyana's president Irfaan Ali said. ART issued 33.47mn TREES credits in December 2022 to Guyana for 2016-2020. The credits are ART's standard for measuring and quantifying greenhouse gas emission reductions. Guyana has had some success in transacting its carbon credits. It negotiated an agreement with Hess Corporation to sell carbon credits for $750mn. It received the first $150mn in 2023. Hess is part of an ExxonMobil-led consortium that started producing crude offshore Guyana in 2019. US major Chevron's planned takeover of Hess will not affect the agreement, Jagdeo said. Norway had earlier committed to providing Guyana up to $250mn for avoided deforestation once certain performance indicators were met. Guyana started negotiating with airlines after failing to get the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNfccc) and some non-governmental organizations to add forest carbon to a compliance market, the government said. But it made "no significant" progress" in the discussions, Jagdeo said. "The UNfccc is treating the tropical countries badly," he said. "If we didn't branch out on our own since 2009, and set up our low carbon development strategy that gave us the $250mn deal with Norway, then the $750mn agreement with Hess, we would be left back like some other countries." By Canute James Guyana forest credit payments $ Credit years Payment $/ton 2016-2020 187.5 15 2021-2025 250.0 20 2026-2030 312.5 25 — Guyana Payment by Hess, for approximately 30pc or 37.5mn of Guyana's ART TREES credits Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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