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BHP, Australia's BHP, explores ship biofuel made from animal fat and cooking oil
BHP Australia and the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation in Singapore have refueled a cargo ship with biofuel that is made from waste cooking oil and animal fat as part of a pilot project. As the shipping industry looks for alternatives to conventional marine diesel to reduce emissions, it is necessary to investigate novel blends. Due to a lack of supply, companies are now looking at other waste-based feedstocks, such as animal fats. The Berge Lyngor owned and operated Berge Bulk, a BHP chartered bulk carrier, used the blend to transport iron ore from Western Australia to China. The ship bunkered in Singapore 'early May' with a 'full biofuel blend consisting 50% tallow-derived Biodiesel supplied by HAMR Energy and 50% used cooking oils supplied by Mitsui & Co. Energy Trading Singapore. BHP and GCMD stated that the pilot will evaluate how biofuels can be blended, handled, and introduced in real-world conditions using existing bunkering facilities applied to used cooking oil. The project will identify solutions for challenges relating to fuel quality, handling, traceability, and vessel performance. The study will also assess potential problems that could arise from the use of biofuels made from different feedstocks. These include corrosion due to oxidation, and fuel system clogging from wax formation. BHP and GCMD stated that using the bio-blend fuel can reduce greenhouse gas?emissions for one voyage by 79% compared to sailing on conventional low-sulphur fuel oil. Fuel production, delivery, and use onboard vessels are all covered by Well-to Wake. (Reporting and editing by Kevin Buckland; Jeslyn Lerh)
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Oil products shipments exit Hormuz, LNG tanker loads at UAE
Shipping data shows that two tankers with oil products have left the Strait of Hormuz in the last week while a liquefied gas carrier has loaded cargo into the United Arab Emirates. These are rare movements, as the traffic through this chokepoint is still limited. The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran began on February 28, but despite the fact that several tankers left the Gulf over the last month, oil and LNG flow is still severely restricted. Around a fifth of the world's oil and LNG supplies normally pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The Aframax Cy Victorious tanker,?carrying 80,000 metric tonnes (more than 508,000 barrels), of high-sulfur straight-run fuel, left the strait May 30 according to ship tracking data from Kpler & LSEG. The vessel is expected to arrive in Malaysia in the second half of June, after it was last loaded in Iraq's Khor al Zubair Port in early April. Kpler data shows that another Long-Range 2 Tanker Sti Elysees loaded with clean Kuwaiti products in late February left the Strait on May 29. The?destination of the tanker is unknown. FLUCTUATING HOPES The Marigold LNG tanker managed by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, (ADNOC) loaded a cargo at UAE's Das Island between May 24-25, according to analytics firm Vortexa. In a report published on Monday, Vortexa reported that "the vessel halted AIS transmittals on 3 May prior to a 'dark inbound transit of Strait of Hormuz". AIS (Automatic Identification System) is used to track the location of ships. Some vessels turn off AIS when they are trying to cross strait. It is the last of a four-ship group controlled by ADNOC, who all turned off AIS, to cross Hormuz in a westward direction? To reload. "The other three – Mraweh Al Hamra, and Umm Al Astan – have already made their subsequent dark outbound transits," Vortexa stated. Kpler data shows that the Marigold last sighted east of?the Strait was May 1. However, it had been loaded at Das Island by May 25. ADNOC refused to comment on the positions, movements or routings of its ships, citing a company policy. According to Vortexa Kpler LSEG data, four ballast LNG tanks have moved recently towards the eastern entry of the strait, and are now positioned there. Ashley Sherman, senior LNG Analyst at Vortexa, stated that the vessels reached their current position on May 30-31. He said that while such movements were not new, they reflected fluctuating hopes of a reopening the strait as well as a "broader peace agreement". Al Hamra returned to the strait last week after delivering cargo from Das Island to India. Around May 25-27, Al Areesh Al Khuwair Al Marrouna (all controlled by QatarEnergy) began moving towards the strait from the waters near India and Sri Lanka. QatarEnergy has not responded to our request for comment. Reporting by Emily Chow and Florence Tan. Mark Potter edited the article.
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ADNOC resumes exports of naphtha via an alternative route to Oman, traders claim
The price of Asia's naphtha fell to its lowest level since early March, as the Abu Dhabi Oil Company (ADNOC), resumed exports via the Omani port in Sohar. This could provide an alternative supply route, which would ease the supply shortage caused by the U.S./Israeli war against Iran. ADNOC stopped exports of around 1 million metric tonnes per month of petrochemical feedstock to its Ruwais Refinery in April, after the war curtailed shipping via the Strait?Hormuz. Last month, the United Arab Emirates producer resumed its exports by using tankers to transport cargoes to the?refinery within the Gulf and then transferring them onto other tankers in Sohar port to export to Asia. This process is known as ship-to -ship transfers. ADNOC has devised a workaround that allows buyers who are reluctant to take the risk of ships crossing through the Strait to receive more oil products. Shipping data showed that two of these tankers, Minerva Pisces, and Torm Gwyneth?loaded naphtha on ADNOC vessels in Sohar around May 30 and are headed to Asia. The traders said that more tankers could have loaded ADNOC Naphtha through Sohar. However, shipping data may not reflect all vessel movements. ADNOC's spokesperson stated that "We don't comment on the positions, movements or routes of our vessels because it is against policy". NAPHTHA PRICES TUMBLE Prices for Naphtha The price of crude oil in Asia has risen to an all-time high of $1,300 per metric ton. In March, the price of Brent crude rose to a new record high of $467 per ton after the war cut off supplies from the Gulf region. This region accounts for over?half the Asian imports. On Tuesday, Asia’s benchmark naphtha for delivery in second half of July dropped to $788 per ton. The margin meanwhile slipped to about $84 per ton. Insufficient feedstock supplies are causing widespread run-cuts and force majeures at petrochemical plants in Asia. The International Energy Agency predicts that global?naphtha consumption will fall by 80,000 barrels per day this year to 7,136 million bpd. A trader in India said that naphtha is unlikely to reach its peak levels of March because the demand for the product has already been weak, and the market doesn't expect any further cuts to supply from the Gulf. Reporting by Mohi Nrayan, Editing by Florence Tan & David Goodwin
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Bolivian Defence Minister Salinas Resigns After Weeks of Mass Protests
A ministry source said that Marcelo Salinas, Bolivia's defence minister, resigned on Tuesday, after a month of protests and social unrest in the country. Another government source confirmed that Ernesto Justiniano had been selected to replace Salinas. Labor unions and groups loyal to former leftist president Evo Morales have led anti-government protests that have strangled supply chain and demanded the resignation of a centrist 'President Rodrigo Paz who took office in November 2025, ending almost two decades of leftist government. Paz has taken steps to declare a state emergency, which could see troops sent into the streets in order to restore calm. Protesters are calling on the new government to reverse austerity and address rising living costs. The conflict began in May with a workers strike that escalated to 'highway blocksades,' which cut off access to neighboring cities La Paz and El Alto. These two cities are home to around 2 million people.
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Oldelval, a company in Argentina, expects Vaca Muerta production to reach 1 million bpd before 2028
Vaca Muerta shale in Argentina is 'on track' to produce 1 million barrels of oil a day by the second quarter of 2028. This was announced on Tuesday by Ricardo Hosel CEO of Oleoductos del Valle, an oil pipeline operator. Vaca Muerta, a vast shale deposit the size of Belgium, has transformed Argentina into a rapidly growing energy producer. It also raised hopes that it could be a major exporter. Oldelval 'is responsible for the transport of oil from the Vaca Muerta fields to Argentina's 'export ports' and manages a $1.4billion pipeline that 'connects' the western 'Neuquen basin', the home of Vaca Muerta to the country's Atlantic Coast. Hosel, at an Argentinean event, said that the country would not face any problems with oil transport capacity by 2031. The Argentinean President Javier Milei has a strategy to increase Argentina's financial stability by increasing energy exports. Argentina's Energy Minister said in April that the country could reach a?1,000,000 bpd? in oil production by 2026. The current output is just over 850,000bpd. (Reporting and editing by Eliana Razewski)
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US lawmakers propose to end 12% excise duty on heavy-duty vehicles
Two U.S. Senators proposed Tuesday to 'end' the 12% federal excise tax for heavy-duty trucks. They said that this could increase sales of cleaner, newer models. Republican Senator Todd Young, and Democrat Senator Angela Alsobrooks, noted that the tax "adds between $15,000 and $30,000 to the price of a new heavy truck, trailer or semi-trailer chassis and tractor" and encourages the continued use of older vehicles. Engines from before 2010 are found in about?one fifth of the largest trucks on the roads. Alsobrooks stated that the bill would support "a modern trucking sector, allowing the adoption of newer trucks which are safer and more fuel efficient." The tax generates more than $6 billion per year that will be used to?build and repair roads. Congress has been trying to find new sources of revenue for road repairs. Diesel costs for truckers have also risen sharply since the Iran war began. (Reporting and editing by Cynthia Osterman; David Shepardson)
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The Cerrejon coalmine in Colombia temporarily suspends its operations due to road blocks
Glencore's Cerrejon Mine in Colombia is one of the world's largest open-pit coal mines. It has been forced to suspend its operations due to blockades. It said that the site had halted all mining, rail, and port operations on Monday because of a blockade which began 'May 23' and disrupted the transportation of essential supplies. Cerrejon added that the group leading the blockade will meet Thursday with 'the vice minister of government for social dialogue. In a Monday statement, Cerrejon stated that the gradual resumption will depend on whether there are no new obstructions, interruptions or impacts to mobility along the rail line and any other infrastructure related to the operation. The report did not mention the'reason behind blockades. Since years, communities around the mine have used blockades as a protest against what they claim is 'harsh pollution which has affected their health and environment. The Cerrejon mine includes a large mining area, a '150-kilometer railway line and a port located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Reporting by Nelson Bocanegra, Luis Jaime Acosta and Daina Beth Solon
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US LNG exports drop in May due to maintenance; Asia's share rises
The preliminary data of financial firm LSEG shows that U.S. liquefied gas exports dropped to 10.2 million metric tonnes (MT) in the month of May, which is the?lowest amount this year excluding January's shorter months, due to seasonal maintenance. The decline was primarily due to planned outages at several export plants as operators completed spring maintenance, after delaying earlier work in the year. Cheniere Energy, along with some U.S.-based exporters, had delayed maintenance in March in order to maximize shipments into Asia. This was due to supply disruptions caused by reduced Qatari supplies that resulted in almost 20% loss in global volumes. Cameron LNG, in Louisiana, reduced its feedgas demand due to annual maintenance of Train 2 and ongoing pipeline work. Golden Pass LNG, in Texas, saw a near-zero intake of gas for several days as it continued commissioning the plant. Cheniere's Sabine Pass in Louisiana also reported a sharp decline in feedgas flow in mid-May because of maintenance. Despite lower overall exports, shipments into Asia reached a record high. According to LSEG data, the U.S. shipped 3.68 MT of total shipments to?Asia, which is just under 36%. The rise was due to a pricing arbitrage. Asia's JKM benchmark traded at a higher price than Europe's TTF. The Asian spot LNG price fell slightly but remained high in May, with JKM at an average of $17.75 for a million British thermal unit (mmBtu), compared to $17.92 per MMBtu in April. The benchmark was roughly 10% higher than Europe's TTF which averaged $16.11 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) in May, up from $15.34. Europe was the top destination for U.S. exports of LNG, with 5.13 MT or slightly more than 50%. LSEG ship tracking data shows that this was down from 6,14?MT or almost 56% in April. According to LSEG data, exports to Latin America reached?600,000.00 tons or?6% of all volumes. This is the highest level seen since the U.S./Israeli war against Iran. According to LSEG data, exports from the U.S. to?Latin America have decreased since the beginning of the war. LSEG data shows that Egypt has reduced its monthly purchases to about 300,000 tonnes, or roughly half of its usual 600,000 tonnes. Two cargoes have been delivered to African countries while just 3% of the?U.S. At the end of last month, LNG cargoes were still on the water. This indicates that spot buyers have access to these cargoes. Despite lower U.S. output of LNG, preliminary LSEG results show that global LNG exports remained stable in May at 33.8 MT, slightly less than the 33.99 MT exported in April, and down from the 35.66 MT exported in March.
Tropical Storm Jangmi hits Japan and cuts power to 60,000 households
Tropical storm Jangmi, which was accompanied by torrential rain and fierce winds, swept across Japan?Wednesday afternoon, knocking out the power to tens of thousands of homes.
Japan's Meteorological Agency reported that the'storm's' 'centre' lay off Honshu's central island, and was tracking northeast to the greater Tokyo area with sustained winds up to 25 metres per second.
Minoru Kihara, a government spokesperson, said that the storm has caused a loss of?electricity to nearly 60,000 homes.
Kihara advised: "If you feel any danger, do not hesitate to act quickly?to save your life."
Residents of eight prefectures in southwestern and central Japan were advised to evacuate.
On Wednesday morning, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways cancelled almost 900 domestic and international flights.
East Japan Railway reported that certain?rail services? in the Tokyo area had been suspended, and others could be affected throughout the day.
In anticipation of severe weather conditions on Wednesday morning, Toyota Motor announced on Tuesday it would suspend the operations at 13 domestic factories. Suzuki Motor will?also stop work in the morning at all five plants in Shizuoka Prefecture east of Tokyo. (Reporting and editing by Kevin Buckland; Additional reporting from Kaori Kaneko, Kantaro Kommiya and Mariko Katsumura)
(source: Reuters)