German Rhine oil product barge demand rises sharply

Spanish Market: Oil products
24/03/25

The closure of Shell's 147,000 b/d Wesseling refinery and a power unit failure at the Miro refinery have led to increased demand for oil products barges on the Rhine this week, although low water levels significantly drove freight costs up.

Heating oil prices in the Cologne area have risen since mid-March, with Shell looking to supply the area through barge imports since it has shut down crude processing at Wesseling. Meanwhile, buyers are increasingly switching to alternative loading points in neighboring regions, which has raised product sales in a few tank farms along the Rhine and Main rivers. Suppliers now need more barges for resupply, shipping operators said.

Demand for barges has also increased from the 310,000 b/d Miro refinery in Karlsruhe after one of the power plants failed on 18 March, which affected production temporarily. Market participants shipped more Naphtha by barge toward Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) or other inland locations. Demand for oil product deliveries to the refinery has also increased.

The combination of low water levels on the Rhine and increased demand for barges towards the end of week ending 23 March have pushed freight rates up, particularly on the Main and upper Rhine.

The water level at Kaub over the weekend fell to 1.10 m, forcing loading capacity to be reduced by more than half. More barges are needed to transport the same amount of product, and shippers expect freight rates to rise further this week.

By Johannes Guhlke

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.

26/03/25

Trump unveils new tariffs on auto imports: Update

Adds details throughout Washington, 26 March (Argus) — President Donald Trump said today he would impose a 25pc tariff on foreign-made cars and trucks imported into the US, but said there will be no tariffs on automobiles assembled in the US. Trump said the new tariffs on imported automobiles marked the "beginning of Liberation Day", the term Trump has used to reference his plan to unveil sweeping tariffs on major foreign trade partners on 2 April. The White House estimates the tariff on imported cars and trucks will generate $100bn/yr in new tariff revenue. Trump said the auto tariff will go into effect on 2 April, providing a financial incentive for automakers to relocate manufacturing to the US. "We'll effectively be charging a 25pc tariff, but if you build your car in the United States, there's no tariff," Trump said in remarks at the White House. "And what that means is a lot of foreign car companies, a lot of companies, are going to be in great shape." The auto tariffs will likely add thousands of dollars to the price of many imported cars and trucks. But the tariffs — the details of which have yet to be released — appears more targeted than Trump's initial plan to impose a 25pc tariff on nearly all imports from Canada and Mexico, because the tariffs would not apply to cars and trucks parts, so long as the vehicles are assembled in the US. "Anybody that has plants in the United States it's going to be good for, in my opinion," Trump said. Ontario premier Doug Ford previously warned that Trump's plan to impose a nearly across-the-board import tariff could have caused auto manufacturing in the US and Canada to grind to a halt within as few as 10 days. Trump eventually delayed those tariffs until 2 April. Earlier this week, Trump said that South Korean automaker Hyundai's decision to invest $5.8bn to build a steel mill in Louisiana offered a blueprint for how companies could avoid tariffs. Trump has already imposed a 25pc tariff on steel and aluminum, and earlier this week said he would announce tariffs on imported lumber, semiconductor chips and pharmaceuticals. Even as a lack of details about the upcoming tariffs has fueled uncertainty for businesses and sharp declines on US stock markets, Trump has continued to announce additional tariffs. On Tuesday, Trump said any country taking delivery of Venezuelan oil or gas would be "forced" to pay an incremental 25pc tariff on any goods imported in the US. US oil executives appear to be growing tired of Trump's chaotic trade policy, particularly his imposition of a 25pc tariff on imported steel that is used in drill pipes, executives said in a survey the US Federal Reserve of Dallas released Wednesday. The uncertainty over tariffs and trade policy is causing "chaos", they said in the survey, and increasing their cost of capital. "Tariff policy is impossible for us to predict and doesn't have a clear goal," an unnamed oil executive said in the survey. "We want more stability." By Chris Knight Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Trump to impose new tariffs on auto imports

26/03/25

Trump to impose new tariffs on auto imports

Washington, 26 March (Argus) — President Donald Trump will announce new tariffs on the automobile industry later today, the White House said, at a time of significant uncertainty about his trade policies. Trump plans to offer further details on the automobile tariffs this afternoon, less than a week before he plans to announce tariffs against major foreign trade partners on 2 April, which Trump has dubbed "Liberation Day". Trump has already imposed a 25pc tariff on steel and aluminum, and earlier this week said he would announce tariffs on imported lumber, semiconductor chips and pharmaceuticals. Trump last month threatened to impose 25pc tariffs on most imports from Canada and Mexico, starting on 4 March — including imported automobiles and vehicle parts — but he eventually offered a one-month reprieve for US automakers before delaying those tariffs entirely until 2 April. The scope and timing of the upcoming automobile tariffs remains unclear, and the White House has yet to provide further details. But Ontario premier Doug Ford previously warned that steep tariffs on Canada could cause auto manufacturing in the US and Canada to grind to a halt within as few as 10 days. Earlier this week, Trump said that South Korean automaker Hyundai's recent decision to invest $5.8bn to build a steel mill in Louisiana offered a blueprint for how companies could avoid tariffs. "This is the beginning of a lot of things happening," Trump said. Even as a lack of details about the upcoming tariffs has fueled uncertainty for businesses and sharp declines on US stock markets, Trump has continued to announce additional tariffs. On Tuesday, Trump said any country taking delivery of Venezuelan oil or gas would be "forced" to pay an incremental 25pc tariff on any goods imported in the US. US oil executives appear to be growing tired of Trump's chaotic trade policy, particularly his imposition of a 25pc tariff on imported steel that is used in drill pipes, executives said in a survey the US Federal Reserve of Dallas released Wednesday. The uncertainty over tariffs and trade policy is causing "chaos", they said in the survey, and increasing their cost of capital. "Tariff policy is impossible for us to predict and doesn't have a clear goal," an unnamed oil executive said in the survey. "We want more stability." By Chris Knight Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Vitol bidding for Citgo, seeks 'stalking horse' info

26/03/25

Vitol bidding for Citgo, seeks 'stalking horse' info

Houston, 26 March (Argus) — Trading firm Vitol is a bidder in the auction to buy US refiner Citgo and has asked a federal court for more information about the stalking horse bidder, according to a court document. Vitol is a "competing bidder" in the process, the company said in a 24 March filing to the US District Court for the District of Delaware. A court-appointed official overseeing the Citgo auction picked Contrarian Capital Management's $3.7bn proposal as the stalking horse bid in the sale, setting a price floor. The official cited the likelihood of regulatory approval, the bidder's "financial wherewithal" and certainty of financing, according to court filings. Another bidder, Gold Reserve, is protesting the choice after its own $7.08bn bid was not recommended. Gold Reserve asked the court to publicly release more information about the Contrarian Capital bid, including a "transaction support agreement" with a group of 2020 bondholders of Citgo's parent firm, Venezuelan state-owned PdV. Vitol joined Gold Reserve's request for the information saying that it shares concerns about sealed and heavily redacted documents, according to the court filing. Vitol said that it joined the request to "ensure it receives access to the information necessary to improve its bid during the topping period". The court received a total of four bids this month in the auction. Contrarian Capital was the second-highest bid, according to court filings. Citgo's three refineries, as well as its lubricant plants, midstream and retail assets are being auctioned to satisfy debts owed by Venezuelan state-owned PdV. Last year, Amber Energy was the top bidder in the auction for Citgo with a bid of $7.3bn. But the recommendation did not receive public support from the "sale process parties" or "additional judgment creditors", and the court officer pivoted to another round of bidding, according to court filings. By Eunice Bridges Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Dangote to hit full operating capacity in Apr: Source

25/03/25

Dangote to hit full operating capacity in Apr: Source

London, 25 March (Argus) — Nigeria's independently-owned 650,000 b/d Dangote refinery is commissioning its alkylation unit, which will enable it to run its crude distillation unit (CDU) at operating capacity "some time next month", according to a source with knowledge of the matter. The source said CDU capacity is 550,000 b/d currently, although vessel tracking data suggest it is running some way below that. Crude arrivals at the refinery to date in March have fallen to between 175,000-235,000 b/d, according to preliminary data from vessel trackers Kpler and Vortexa, from 405,000 b/d in February . Throughput hit a high of 433,000 b/d in December, according to Kpler. The alkylation line, which produces high octane alkylate for gasoline blending, is the last of Dangote's secondary units to come online. Argus Consulting puts it at a nameplate capacity of 27,000 b/d. Other secondary units could be utilised at their maximum capacity once the alkylation unit is up and running, which would give a boost to gasoline blending component production. Recent lower runs at Dangote could suggest decreased output of gasoline — a key product in the local refined product market. Nigerian gasoline and blending component imports are around 345,000t to date this month, up from 245,000t in all of February. Gasoline imports in the wider west African market will be around 450,000t in April, a European gasoline trader told Argus this week. Nigeria accounts for around three quarters of the region's imports. By George Maher-Bonnett Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Carnival raises 2025 outlook despite volatility

24/03/25

Carnival raises 2025 outlook despite volatility

New York, 24 March (Argus) — Carnival Cruise line raised its net income guidance for the rest of 2025 despite geopolitical and economic volatility affecting some of its booking activity. Carnival increased its 2025 projected earnings by $185mn to about $2.4bn. This would be around 30pc higher than its 2024 net income total at $1.9bn, the company said. While it recognized increased geopolitical tensions since US president Donald Trump took office in January, it remained vague on which events could affect its business. The company has had ebbs and flows in booking demand since the end of last year, but it was nothing out of the ordinary, chief executive Josh Weinstein said during the company's first quarter earnings call. "It all came out to the bookings we were able to make at the pricing that we wanted to make and sets us up, as we talked about, in a really good position. And at the end of the day, people just need to be getting used to the new normal, which is exactly what's happening," Weinstein said. Carnival has not noticed a change in customer spending onboard its vessels during the first quarter of this year and into the first weeks of March, according to Weinstein. The company's business in Europe has outperformed North America for about the last six quarters, Weinstein said, but said that does not indicate under-performance in North America. Carnival's marine fuel consumption was steady at 700,000 metric tonnes (t) to begin 2025. Its marine fuel expenses dropped from $505mn in the first quarter of 2024 to $465mn, an 8pc decline. The company reported a $78mn loss in this year's first quarter, down 63pc from the same quarter in 2024 at a $214mn loss. By Luis Gronda 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