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Russian ESPO Blend oil leaps to premium on higher demand in China, sources say

Russia's Far East ESPO Blend oil grade has firmed to premium against the Brent standard on shipment basis for the very first time since November 2023 on greater need from Chinese refiners cooling India's. purchasing, 3 trade sources informed Reuters.

ESPO Blend cargoes packing in November traded at premium of. $ 0.20-0.50 per barrel at DES (delivered ex-ship) China basis,. depending upon the seller, terms of the deal and packing dates,. the sources stated.

The last time ESPO Blend traded at premium to Brent in. Chinese ports on DES basis had to do with a year earlier, Reuters information. showed.

ESPO Blend is a popular oil grade with Chinese independent. refiners, referred to as teapots, drawn in by its good quality and. close proximity to Chinese ports.

In June-July this year ESPO Blend has been trading at. discount rate to Brent in the middle of lacklustre demand in China, opening. opportunities for Indian refiners to increase purchases of the. grade.

Meanwhile, Chinese refineries are seeking the grade ahead of. the winter season, while some new players are aiming to Russian. oil to fuel up the need.

Yulong Petrochemical, China's the most recent refiner, released a. 200,000 barrels daily unrefined unit last Friday after 4 years. of building. The privately-led refiner in September had likewise. stockpiled Russian oil ahead its startup.

State trader Unipec, the trading arm of a refining significant. Sinopec, has also increase purchases, taking about 10 cargoes. of ESPO Blend packing in October, according to among the. trading sources based in Shandong.

Both players has actually been squeezing the smaller teapots. refiners pressing ESPO Blend prices up, he included.

Reasonably inexpensive freight for ESPO Blend oil shipments to. China is keeping refiners' interest high. The freight rate was. about $1.35 million per trip in September, Simpson Spence. Young data on LSEG revealed.

Chinese need rebound resulted in lower purchases by Indian. refiners, which are not prepared to pay high cost for ESPO Blend. as they likewise have to pay greater transportation expenses. India is a primary. buyer of Russian seaborne oil freights buying primarily Urals oil as. it is diesel-rich.

One of the sources said that Indian refineries find ESPO. Blend too pricey now and are not likely to buy any, while the. grade can be replaced with oil grades from West Africa.

(source: Reuters)