US WTI crude flows to India climb in April

Improved arbitrage economics and firmer demand for petrochemical feedstocks helped boost exports of naphtha-rich US WTI crude to India in April to its highest level in nearly a year, according to vessel tracking data.

Around 208,000 b/d of light sweet WTI departed the US Gulf Coast for India in April, preliminary data from global trade analytics platform Kpler and Vortexa show. The shipments are to discharge at various Indian ports mostly in June, although the vessels' final destinations are still subject to change. The April volumes were higher compared with India-bound exports in March at an average of about 159,000 b/d and the highest monthly shipments of WTI from the US to India since May 2023, according to Kpler and Vortexa.

Indian refiners had stepped up their purchases of WTI in recent months as prices for the grade on a delivered basis were deemed competitive compared with comparable alternatives such as Abu Dhabi light sour Murban crude, sources close to international trading firms and Indian refiners told Argus. Weak European demand as a result of refinery turnarounds had weighed on April-loading WTI prices, prompting other Asian refiners like China's state-controlled Sinopec to also buy June-delivery cargoes.

The increase in WTI flows to India follow Indian refiners shunning light sweet ESPO Blend and Sokol crude from far east Russia earlier this year because of tightening US sanctions, prompting refiners to consider other alternative grades of similar quality.

While Indian refiners have resumed purchases of ESPO Blend and Sokol crude loading in May and June following weaker demand from the grade's usual buyers in China, WTI exports to India remain steady. State-controlled Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) has signed a deal with BP to buy 1mn bl/month of WTI for four months starting in June, while preliminary data from Kpler and Vortexa show that more than 210,000 b/d of WTI has already departed for India in the first half of this month.

Petrochemical push

WTI is appealing for Indian refiners as the grade has a higher yield of naphtha, a key petrochemical feedstock, than other options such as Murban and west African crude, with Indian refiners looking to increase their petrochemical output. Naphtha comprises roughly 35pc of WTI's product yield, while Murban has a higher yield of gasoil and jet-kerosine than WTI.

Despite Murban prices also coming under pressure as a result of Abu Dhabi's state-owned Adnoc diverting more of its heavier Upper Zakum crude to the domestic Ruwais refinery and freeing up more Murban for exports, Indian refiners prefer to import WTI for its high naphtha yields, market participants said.

Firmer domestic demand has cut India's naphtha exports, with Indian refiners keeping larger volumes for use as a petrochemical feedstock. India's naphtha exports in 2023 were around 126,000 b/d (5.15mn t), down by about 17pc from average exports of 151,000 b/d in 2022, according to oil ministry data.

Indian state-controlled refiners have instead focused on expanding their refining capacity, with a view to increase their diversification into petrochemicals to meet export demand. Most state-controlled refiners plan new petrochemical capacity.BPCL's expansion of its 156,000 b/d Bina refinery to 220,000 b/d will feature a new chemicals complex and produce more petrochemical products like ethylene and propylene. Hindustan Petroleum is aiming to commission an integrated petrochemical complex at its new 180,000 b/d Barmer refinery in 2025.

By Sathya Narayanan and Roshni Devi