Latest market news

Jet fuel barge deliveries to Frankfurt: Correction

  • : Oil products
  • 22/08/15

Corrects that barge deliveries to Frankfurt airport have been reduced, not stopped, in headline, paragraph 1,2

Jet fuel deliveries by barge to Germany's Frankfurt airport have been reduced in recent days because of extremely low water levels on the Rhine. Northwest Europe jet fuel barge trade liquidity has stalled in turn.

A limited number of barges are arriving at Frankfurt airport, German airline Lufthansa told Argus. Lufthansa has stopped sending jet fuel via barge, but some small volumes are still arriving at the airport. The dry weather has meant water levels at Kaub, a key measuring point on the Rhine north of Frankfurt, have dropped to 32cm today, within the 30-40cm range at which river operations are completely halted. But with some rainfall today and with more expected in the Rhine basin on 18 August, water levels on the river are expected to rise by a modest 10cm.

Although there are no official restrictions on navigation, some barge owners have stopped sending vessels south of Kaub.

"The last thing we now need is an accident on the river Rhine and an extension of the closure due to retrieving a barge or, even worse, a contamination," Lufthansa said, as air travel demand rises at Frankfurt. Airport operator Fraport recently expanded its 2022 outlook to 45mn-50mn passengers, from 39mn-46mn. German flight numbers lagged pre-pandemic levels by 18pc this week, Eurocontrol data show, from a 21pc lag at the start of July.

A jet fuel shortage at Frankfurt is unlikely, as it also receives fuel through the Nato and RMR pipelines, both of which are pumping jet at full capacity. As long as this continues supply will be adequate, Lufthansa said.

Other airports that receive jet fuel by barge include Zurich in Switzerland and Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Swiss strategic reserve organisation Carbura has released jet fuel from stocks to alleviate any shortage arising while Zurich airport cannot receive fuel by barge. While it is unclear what if any contingency plans are in place at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, it is a considerable distance north of the problem area on the Rhine. It limited the number of daily passengers in August to 72,500, because of staff shortages, which may cap jet fuel demand.

Jet fuel barge trading has stalled in recent days, and barge prices have risen. No barges have been reported to Argus to have traded since 27 July, and the jet fuel barge price premium to the underlying Ice August gasoil contract has widened to $54.75/t as of 10 August, from $49/t on 27 July.


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.

24/07/22

Dangote refinery's diesel quality proves divisive

Dangote refinery's diesel quality proves divisive

London, 22 July (Argus) — Nigerian conglomerate Dangote Group has defended the quality of diesel output from its 650,000 b/d refinery near Lagos after the country's downstream regulator said it contained much higher levels of sulphur than imported product. Dangote said the sulphur content of its diesel is now as low as 88ppm, citing laboratory tests on a sample from the refinery's mild hydrocracking unit. The company issued the statement in response to claims from the head of the downstream regulator NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, that diesel from Dangote and some of Nigeria's small modular refineries lies between 650ppm and 1,200ppm. Dangote said it aims to achieve 10ppm diesel production this week, in line with Euro V specifications and lower than the 50ppm cap on west African imports, adding that the NMDPRA allows domestic refiners to produce up to 650ppm diesel until January next year. Since receiving its first crude feedstock cargo late last year, the refinery has exported low-sulphur straight run fuel oil, naphtha, gasoil and jet fuel via its offshore single point moorings, according to vessel trackers Vortexa and Kpler. The refinery also hosts its own truck-out gantries to load product for overland delivery. Farouk said the NMDPRA has not complied with a request from Dangote to suspend imports of middle distillates due to concerns around security of supply and market monopoly. Dangote has pushed back against the monopoly concerns, saying there are multiple players in the industry, including state-owned NNPC. Nigerian imports of diesel, jet fuel/kerosine, naphtha and fuel oil have declined since the Dangote refinery came online, falling to 8,600 t/d so far this year from 10,900 t/d across the whole of 2023, according to Vortexa data. Nigeria's gasoline imports have declined too, but at a slower pace — to 27,500 t/d from 30,200 t/d over the same period — reflecting the fact Dangote's gasoline production units have yet to start up. By George Maher-Bonnett and Adebiyi Olusolape Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

German diesel prices drop with demand low


24/07/22
24/07/22

German diesel prices drop with demand low

Hamburg, 22 July (Argus) — German middle distillate prices fell in the week to 19 July, as declining Ice gasoil futures coupled with low domestic demand. The extent of the price drop varied significantly across regions. Traders in areas with the lowest prices made only minor downward adjustments, while prices fell most sharply in those regions that were relatively expensive. This is because of varying supply and demand situations. At the Miro consortium's 310,000 b/d Karlsruhe refinery, oversupply of diesel has been decreasing steadily in recent weeks. The build up has led to a significant price drop at the end of June, but suppliers no longer seem compelled to significantly lower their prices to attract buyers. In southern Germany at Shell's 334,000 b/d Rhineland refinery, spot supply of diesel is being rationed. Scheduled maintenance work at the Bayernoil consortium's 215,000 b/d Neustadt-Vohburg refinery and a resulting shortage of spot offers are cushioning the price drop. Around the Rhineland refinery the price decrease was relatively small, as a previously defective plant for diesel production in the 147,000 b/d Wesseling part of the plant was only ramped up at the beginning of the past week. Spot offers will be limited until stocks are refilled, traders said. The largest price drop was in northern Germany, again primarily a result of diesel oversupply. Imports of diesel into northern Germany in July are at their lowest since February, as domestic supply is sufficient to meet regional demand. An importer said demand is so low that contract volumes imported by cargo are barely being sold. Another importer has reduced its barge term volumes in view of weak diesel demand. Importers are worried that the situation will not change fundamentally until at least autumn, when maintenance work begins at TotalEnergies' 236,000 b/d Leuna refinery and at the 187,000 b/d Godorf section of the Rhineland complex. By Johannes Guhlke Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Газпром нефть направляет битум на собственное дорожное строительство


24/07/22
24/07/22

Газпром нефть направляет битум на собственное дорожное строительство

Moscow, 22 July (Argus) — Газпром нефть расширила географию поставок битумных материалов внутри России, объединив битумное производство с услугами по строительству и ремонту дорог. В текущем году компания Газпромнефть – Дорожное строительство обустроит 150 км автомобильных покрытий в Пермском крае, используя битум, произведенный на мощностях Газпром нефти, сообщили в компании. С 2021 г. компания выполнила устройство 400 км участков автомобильных трасс в 11 регионах России. Газпромнефть – Дорожное строительство входит в периметр битумного бизнеса Газпром нефти наряду с компанией Газпромнефть – Битумные материалы. Газпром нефть производит гудрон и битум на Московском и Омском НПЗ, на мощностях Ярославского НПЗ Славнефти и на специализированных заводах в Рязанской, Смоленской и Ростовской областях. Кроме того, компания использует для выпуска битумных материалов сторонние процессинговые площадки – одна из них расположена в Перми. По данным Газпром нефти, на строительстве дорог в Пермском крае используется 50 тыс. т/год битумных вяжущих из ресурса компании. Часть этого объема битумных вяжущих Газпром нефть направляет на собственный асфальтобетонный завод в Перми мощностью 200 тыс. т/год готовой продукции. В текущем году асфальтобетон с данного завода используется для обустройства участков федеральных трасс М-7 Волга и Р-242 Пермь – Екатеринбург и участков региональных автодорог Пермь – Березники и Большая Соснова – Частые, сообщил генеральный директор компании Газпромнефть – Дорожное строительство Михаил Поздняков. При производстве асфальтобетона в Перми Газпром нефть использует в том числе полимерно-битумные вяжущие материалы (ПБВ), которые позволяют увеличить стойкость дорожного полотна к образованию колеи. Компания Газпромнефть – Дорожное строительство создана в 2021 г. Пилотными проектами компании стали автодороги на месторождениях Газпром нефти в Ханты-Мансийском и Ямало-Ненецком автономных округах. Позднее компания приступила к устройству асфальтобетонных оснований и покрытий на региональных и федеральных трассах. Газпромнефть – Дорожное строительство производит асфальтобетон, рецептура которого учитывает особенности конкретной магистрали, и располагает собственным парком специализированной дорожной техники. Вы можете присылать комментарии по адресу или запросить дополнительную информацию feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Группа Argus Media . Все права защищены.

ExxonMobil Joliet refinery may be limited for 3 weeks


24/07/19
24/07/19

ExxonMobil Joliet refinery may be limited for 3 weeks

Houston, 19 July (Argus) — It could take up to three weeks for ExxonMobil's 252,000 b/d Joliet refinery in Channahon, Illinois, to resume normal operations after severe weather caused a facility-wide shutdown Monday . The company has limited its unbranded fuel supply in the region and placed customers on allocation, according to buyers. Restoring power and ramping-up the refinery to full operations could take up to three weeks, lasting well into August. ExxonMobil confirmed this afternoon that power has not been restored to the plant and previously declined to comment on a time line for a return to normal operations as it assesses damage at the plant. Channahon's emergency management director told Argus that Monday's tornado skirted the refinery and it faced no direct damage. US Interstate 55 which borders Exxon's refinery was closed due to downed power lines, but these have since been cleared and the road re-opened. By Nathan Risser Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Trump vows to target 'green' spending, EV rules


24/07/19
24/07/19

Trump vows to target 'green' spending, EV rules

Washington, 19 July (Argus) — Former president Donald Trump promised to redirect US green energy spending to other projects, throw out electric vehicle (EV) rules and increase drilling, in a speech Thursday night formally accepting the Republican presidential nomination. Trump's acceptance speech, delivered at the Republican National Convention, offered the clearest hints yet at his potential plans for dismantling the Inflation Reduction Act and the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. Without explicitly naming the two laws, Trump said he would claw back unspent funds for the "Green New Scam," a shorthand he has used in the past to criticize spending on wind, solar, EVs, energy infrastructure and climate resilience. "All of the trillions of dollars that are sitting there not yet spent, we will redirect that money for important projects like roads, bridges, dams, and we will not allow it to be spent on the meaningless Green New Scam ideas," Trump said during the final night of the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Trump and his campaign have yet to clearly detail their plans for the two laws, which collectively provide hundreds of billions of dollars worth of federal tax credits and direct spending for renewable energy, EVs, clean hydrogen, carbon capture, sustainable aviation fuel, biofuels, nuclear and advanced manufacturing. Repealing those programs outright could be politically difficult because a majority of spending from the two laws have flowed to districts represented by Republican lawmakers. The speech was Trump's first public remarks since he was grazed by a bullet in an assassination attempt on 13 July. Trump used the shooting to call for the country to unite, but he repeatedly slipped back into the divisive rhetoric of his campaign and his grievances against President Joe Biden, who he claimed was the worst president in US history. Trump vowed to "end the electric vehicle mandate" on the first day of his administration, in an apparent reference to tailpipe rules that are expected to result in about 54pc of new cars and trucks sales being battery-only EVs by model year 2032. Trump also said that unless automakers put their manufacturing facilities in the US, he would put tariffs of 100-200pc on imported vehicles. To tackle inflation, Trump said he would bring down interest rates, which are controlled by the US Federal Reserve, an agency that historically acts independently from the White House. Trump also said he would bring down prices for energy through a policy of "drill, baby, drill" and cutting regulations. Trump also vowed to pursue tax cuts, tariffs and the "largest deportation in history," all of which independent economists say would add to inflation. The Republican convention unfolded as Biden, who is isolating after testing positive for Covid-19, faces a growing chorus of top Democratic lawmakers pressuring him to drop out of the presidential race. Democrats plan to select their presidential nominee during an early virtual roll-call vote or at the Democratic National Convention on 19-22 August. By Chris Knigh t Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. 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