Tue 24 Oct 2017, 09:00 GMT

Oil and fuel oil hedging market update


By the Oil Desk at Freight Investor Services.



Commentary

Brent crude for December delivery was up $10 cents at $57.47 a barrel by 0651 GMT after settling down $38 cents on Monday, and U.S. crude for December delivery was up $6 cents at $51.96. Iraq production is down more than 200,000 bpd, the rig count is down, we have the highest compliance on cuts at 120%, and yet the market is currently trading in negative territory? "But why?" I hear you shout... stage fright. We are in a comfortable range, with an ability of those who desire it to keep prices at a suitable level. Higher as the market dips its toes into the high $50s and looking at $60 it breaks new uncharted ground for U.S. production and its makes it even harder to keep OPEC cut parties in line. It's like leaving chocolate in front of a child - you turn your back for too long and it will be gone. Brent is coming down and going to test the support levels around $57.12; let's see if it has the support to recover from that level once again.

Fuel Oil Market (October 23)

The front crack opened at -7.75, strengthening to -7.70, -7.80, ending at -7.75. The Cal 18 was valued at -8.10.

Asia's fuel oil crack rose to multi week highs, boosted by expectations of tighter supplies by the end of the year partly because of limited arbitrage bookings and lower output from key producers, including Russia and Venezuela. The Nov/Dec time spread of Asia's 380 cSst fuel oil slipped to a one-week low on Friday as inventories across key storage hubs remain elevated.

In addition to higher freight rates making arbitrage flows into Asia less profitable, some of the sources pointed to the reluctance of suppliers to import more cargoes as the current fiscal year draws to an end.Nov 180 crack to Dubai crude narrowed to -$1.91 a barrel, its narrowest discount since Sept. 21. Nov 180 discount to Brent crude narrowed by 26 cents a barrel from Friday to -$3.90, narrowest since Sept. 25.

Russian refinery runs were 5% down in September from the previous month and down 0.9% from the same time last year, down 8.3% from August.

Economic Data/Events: (UK times)

* 8am: France Markit manufacturing PMI SA for Oct., prelim., est. 56 (prior 56.1)

* 8:30am: Germany Markit/BME manufacturing PMI SA for Oct., prelim., est. 60 (prior 60.6)

* 9am: Eurozone Markit manufacturing PMI for Oct., prelim., est. 57.8 (prior 58.1)

* 2:45pm: U.S. Markit manufacturing PMI for Oct., prelim., est. 53.5 (prior 53.1)

* 3pm: U.S. Richmond Fed manufacturing index for Oct., est. 17 (prior 19)

* 9pm: Gustavo Coronel, former member of PDVSA Board of Directors, speaks about Venezuela's oil industry, at Cato Institute, Washington

* 9:30pm: API issues weekly U.S. oil inventory report

* Today:

** OPEC Board of Governors meet, Vienna, final day

** Africa Oil Week, 2nd day of 5

** Bloomberg-compiled weekly snapshot of key U.S. refinery outages with offline capacity projections for CDU, FCC units

** Singapore International Energy Week, 2nd day of 5, including Singapore IEA Forum

Singapore 380 cSt

Nov17 - 332.50 / 334.50

Dec17 - 330.75 / 332.75

Jan18 - 328.75 / 330.75

Feb18 - 327.00 / 329.00

Mar18 - 325.50 / 327.50

Apr18 - 324.00 / 326.00

Q1-18 - 327.25 / 329.25

Q2-18 - 323.25 / 325.25

Q3-18 - 319.00 / 321.50

Q4-18 - 315.00 / 317.50

CAL18 - 321.00 / 324.00

CAL19 - 289.75 / 294.75

CAL20 - 260.50 / 267.50

Singapore 180 cSt

Nov17 - 337.25 / 339.25

Dec17 - 336.00 / 338.00

Jan18 - 334.75 / 336.75

Feb18 - 333.25 / 335.25

Mar18 - 332.00 / 334.00

Apr18 - 330.75 / 332.75

Q1-18 - 333.50 / 335.50

Q2-18 - 330.00 / 332.00

Q3-18 - 325.50 / 328.00

Q4-18 - 322.50 / 325.00

CAL18 - 327.75 / 330.75

CAL19 - 298.75 / 303.75

CAL20 - 269.75 / 276.75

Rotterdam 380 cSt

Nov17 313.00 / 315.00

Dec17 309.00 / 311.00

Jan18 308.50 / 310.50

Feb18 308.25 / 310.25

Mar18 307.75 / 309.75

Apr18 307.25 / 309.25

Q1-18 308.25 / 310.25

Q2-18 306.75 / 308.75

Q3-18 302.75 / 305.25

Q4-18 296.25 / 298.75

CAL18 303.00 / 306.00

CAL19 271.00 / 276.00

CAL20 240.25 / 247.25

BP  

Malama vessel dock mounting ceremony. Hanwha Philly Shipyard advances construction on two LNG-fuelled container ships for Matson  

Dock mounting completed for Malama while steel cutting begins on sister vessel Makena.

Bow of the Explora V vessel. Fincantieri launches bow section of LNG-powered Explora V at Palermo yard  

Fifth ship in Explora Journeys’ six-vessel series is scheduled to enter service in 2027.

Steel cutting ceremony of vessel with builder's hull no. H5187. Wah Kwong marks steel-cutting for third dual-fuel LNG carrier at Dalian Shipyard  

Hong Kong shipowner’s 175,000 cbm newbuild is scheduled for delivery as fleet expansion continues.

Yu Neng Jiao Long vessel. Cosco Shipping takes delivery of 64,900-dwt Panamax crude tanker  

Yu Neng Jiao Long features dual-fuel capability and meets IMO Tier III emission standards.

Fuel for Thought: LNG report. LNG fleet reaches 1,665 vessels as methane slip technology advances  

Lloyd’s Register report highlights economic viability and emissions reduction progress for marine fuel.

Aerial view of Piraeus Harbour in Greece. Bureau Veritas seeks emissions compliance verifier in Piraeus  

Classification society advertises for specialist to verify shipping emissions data under IMO and EU regulations.

We are hiring graphic message with a handshake gesture. Trafigura seeks financial controller for shipping and bunkering operations in Athens  

Role involves accounting and controlling activities for shipping and bunkering entities, reporting to regional controller.

Port in Mauritania. Minerva Bunkering launches Mauritania operation after securing regulatory licence  

Company to supply marine fuels from Nouadhibou and Nouakchott to commercial vessels and offshore installations.

Mercedes Pinto vessel. Baleària's third dual-fuel fast ferry Mercedes Pinto hits 38 knots in sea trials  

The 123-metre vessel is destined for the Canary Islands and can run on biomethane.

TFG Marine and DBS USD 300 million working capital facility graphic. TFG Marine secures $300m DBS facility backed by electronic bunker delivery notices  

Marine fuel supplier’s working capital facility leverages digital documentation to enhance transparency and efficiency.