Libyan crude exports to rise 6pc in April

Spanish Market: Crude oil
08/04/25

Libyan crude exports are scheduled to rise by 6pc on the month in April, according to loading programmes.

Final April loading schedules for all 12 of the country's crude grades show total exports at 1.23mn b/d this month, around 65,000 b/d higher than the March programme.

Loadings of Libya's flagship crude, medium sweet Es Sider, are scheduled to fall by 7pc on the month to 347,000 b/d across 16 cargoes. But exports of all the other grades are scheduled to rise, including a 53pc increase in combined loadings of Sarir and Mesla.

April exports of light sweet Esharara, Libya's second-largest export grade, are set at 210,000 b/d across 10 cargoes, up by 3pc compared with the March plan.

By Ellanee Kruck

Libyan crude exports				000 b/d
Grade	Loading port	April	March	±%
Es Sider	Es Sider	347	374	-7
Esharara	Zawia	210	203	3
Sarir/Mesla	Hariga	200	131	53
Amna/Sirtica	Ras Lanuf	140	135	4
Mellitah Blend	Mellitah	100	97	3
Bu Attifel/Zueitina	Zueitina	93	90	3
Brega	Brega	100	97	3
Al Jurf	Farwah	20	19	5
Bouri	Bouri	20	19	5
Total		1,230	1,165	6

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.

25/04/25

Phillips 66 ups crude switching at Texas refinery

Houston, 25 April (Argus) — US independent refiner Phillips 66 completed a project in the first quarter that allows it to adjust more of the crude slate at its 265,000 b/d Sweeny refinery in Old Ocean, Texas. The project will allow the company to switch about 40,000 b/d between heavy and light crude, Phillips 66 said today in an earnings release. The flexibility project was completed during a first quarter turnaround. Several US refiners are exploring ways to run more lighter crude grades in the wake of new US tariffs and other actions that may limit the supply of heavier and medium grade crudes imported from trading partners. By Eunice Bridges Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Kurdish gas plans may boost Iraqi oil exports

25/04/25

Kurdish gas plans may boost Iraqi oil exports

Dubai, 25 April (Argus) — Plans for a significant increase in natural gas production in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region over the next 18 months could not only help address the country's chronic power shortages but also enable Baghdad to boost its oil exports. The Pearl Petroleum consortium — which comprises Abu Dhabi-listed Dana Gas, Sharjah-based Crescent Petroleum, Austria's OMV, Hungary's Mol, and Germany's RWE — aims to increase gas production capacity in Kurdistan to 825mn ft³/d by the end of next year, representing a more than 50pc increase from current output. The plan involves expanding the capacity of the region's sole gas-producing field, Khor Mor, to 750mn ft³/d by the first quarter of 2026, and adding up to 75mn ft³/d from the Chemchemal field by the end of 2026. According to a source at Pearl, the development of Chemchemal is a key priority for the companies, as it is believed to have reservoirs comparable to those of Khor Mor. Under a 2019 agreement, the additional gas from the expansion project will be sold to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for a 20-year term, which should help eliminate the region's frequent power outages, particularly during peak summer months when demand for air conditioning is high. The Kurdistan region will also be well-positioned to supply any excess gas to the rest of Iraq. The federal government in Baghdad had previously approved a plan to import approximately 100mn ft³/d of gas from Khor Mor to power a 620MW plant in Kirkuk province, but no formal agreement has been signed to date. "The federal ministry of electricity and Crescent Petroleum have already met to finalise the agreement, which is ready for signature and awaiting implementation," the Pearl source said. "The infrastructure needed to support the sale of this quantity of gas is also in place." The plan has faced delays partly because of Iran's long-standing influence over Iraq and the potential impact such an agreement with the Kurdistan region could have on Baghdad's reliance on Iranian gas and power. However, the revival of US president Donald Trump's ‘maximum pressure' campaign against Tehran is forcing Baghdad to get serious about seeking alternative energy sources, with the Kurdistan region emerging as a viable option. Crude Export Boost Formalising the deal to import Kurdish gas would allow Baghdad to allocate more oil for export, as it would reduce the need to burn crude for power generation. Argus estimates that Iraq typically burns between 50,000 b/d and 100,000 b/d of crude in its power stations, depending on the season, and has recently increased imports of gasoil for power generation. By the time Iraqi Kurdistan has fully ramped up its additional gas capacity, Iraq's Opec+ crude output target will be 200,000 b/d higher than it is today, based on the group's latest production plans. By Bachar Halabi and Nader Itayim Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Water levels delay Tennessee River lock reopening

24/04/25

Water levels delay Tennessee River lock reopening

Houston, 24 April (Argus) — The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) will delay the reopening of the Tennessee River's Wilson Lock by three weeks after high floodwater disrupted repair plans. The Wilson Lock is now planned to reopen in mid-June or July, the Corps said this week. The lock's main chamber has been closed since September after severe cracks were found in the structure. The Corps initiated evacuation procedures so personnel and equipment could be removed before any water entered the dewatered lock and ruined repairs after high water appeared too close to the lock's edge. The water did not crest above the temporary barrier the Corps installed to keep water out. Delays at the lock averaged around 10 days as of 24 April, according to the Corps. Barge carriers fees have been in place for each barge that must pass through the auxiliary chamber of the lock since 25 September, when the lock first closed. Restricted barge movement placed upward pressure on fertilizer prices in surrounding areas as well. The lock still requires structural repairs to the main chamber gates, including the replacement of the pintle components, the Corps said. This is the fourth opening delay the Corps have issued for the Wilson Lock, with the prior opening dates being in November , then April and then in June . The Wilson Lock will enter its eighth month of repairs next month. By Meghan Yoyotte and Sneha Kumar Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Eni cuts capex on macro headwinds, tariff uncertainty

24/04/25

Eni cuts capex on macro headwinds, tariff uncertainty

London, 24 April (Argus) — Italy's Eni has cut its spending plans for this year in response to macroeconomic headwinds, uncertainty around trade tariffs and a lower oil price outlook. The company is planning a series of "mitigation measures" worth over €2bn [$2.28bn], a key element of which is a reduction in 2025 capex to below €8.5bn from previous guidance of €9bn. Eni now expects net capex — which takes into account acquisitions and asset sales — to come in below €6bn this year, compared with its initial plan of €6.5bn-7bn. Other savings will come from "mitigating actions" around its portfolio, operating costs and "other cash initiatives", the firm said. Eni's plan reflects a tariff-driven deterioration in the outlook for the global economy and, in turn, global oil demand and oil prices. The company has revised its Brent crude price assumption for 2025 down to $65/bl from $75/bl previously. It has also lowered its refining margin indicator assumption for the year to $3.5/bl from $4.7/bl. The lower oil price assumption has not changed the company's upstream production forecast — it still expects 2025 output to average 1.7mn b/d of oil equivalent (boe/d). But Eni's production in the first quarter was only 1.65mn boe/d, 5pc lower than the same period last year. The firm's gas production took the biggest hit, falling by 9pc on the year to 4.5bn ft³/d (861,000 boe/d) as a result of divestments and natural decline at mature fields. Liquids output fell by 1pc year on year to 786,000 boe/d. Eni reported a profit of €1.17bn for January-March, 3pc lower than the same period last year. Underlying profit— which strips out inventory valuation effects and other one off-items — fell by 11pc on the year to €1.41bn. Eni said the fall in profits was mainly due to lower oil prices. The company also had to contend with weaker refining margins and throughputs, as well as a continuing downturn in the European chemicals sector. By Aydin Calik Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Taiwan’s CPC buys Vincent crude ahead of CDU turnaround

24/04/25

Taiwan’s CPC buys Vincent crude ahead of CDU turnaround

Singapore, 24 April (Argus) — Taiwanese state-controlled refiner CPC has purchased a rare cargo of Australian heavy sweet Vincent crude, ahead of a June crude distillation unit (CDU) turnaround that is expected to tighten blendstock component availability at its refinery. CPC recently bought the end-May loading Vincent from Japanese trading firm Mitsui at around a $5-5.50/bl premium to North Sea Dated, traders said. Vincent is usually sold in volumes of 550,000 bl. An upcoming CDU maintenance at a CPC refinery in June, expected to last 1-2 months, will limit production of other blendstock components needed for fuel oil production, market sources told Argus . It is unclear which refinery — the 200,000 b/d Taoyuan or 400,000 b/d Dalin — is having the maintenance. Production constraints, arising from the upcoming turnaround, may have prompted CPC to seek alternative blendstocks like Vincent to help meet its fuel oil supply obligations during this period. CPC is responsible for supplying the majority of Taiwan's bunker fuel at domestic ports. The Vincent deal marks CPC's first crude purchase from Australia since November 2023, when it received heavy sweet Van Gogh crude, data from oil analytics firm Vortexa show. Van Gogh is similar in quality to Vincent. The last time CPC took Vincent was in March 2023. CPC has mainly relied on US light sweet WTI in the past year, supplemented by medium sour Saudi Arab Light and Abu Dhabi Upper Zakum. Vincent and Van Gogh, as well as Australian heavy sweet Pyrenees, are valued as blendstocks for very low-sulphur fuel oil production in the Singapore strait region. These grades' heavier density relative to other sweet crude grades make them less economical for refining, and better suited for direct use in fuel oil blending. By Asill Bardh and Reena Nathan 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