Wed 25 Oct 2017, 08:47 GMT

Oil and fuel oil hedging market update


By the Oil Desk at Freight Investor Services.



Commentary

Brent closed up $0.96 last night to $58.33 and WTI closed at $52.47, up $0.57. Well, quite a rally we have on our hands, don't we? The question of course on everyone's lips is whether we can break through that magical $60 per bbl in time for every US oil producer to order a specially selected, organic, free range, bronze turkey with extra truffles for Thanksgiving. What am I talking about "order"? Probably buy a turkey farm, then use the cooked carcass to light up a Monte Cristo. I'm going to say this until I'm blue in the face, but with sustained rallies, the only real people who are benefitting are the US producers. I read yesterday that Utah seems to be the next state where the oil rush will gravitate towards, and the regulators of Utah are trying to streamline the issuance of licences. Wednesday is here, so another set of API data last night caused the market to celebrate, then commiserate at the same time. I think this week could be the last week where the last effects of hurricane season could perhaps skew numbers so I would err on the side of caution as always when stats are published. We had another "do whatever it takes" plea last night from the Saudi Oil minister yesterday, and I have to take my hat off to him. Since last year, the Saudi-led production cut has yielded a 25pct price increase. I don't care whether you live under a bridge and don't know how to spell - 25% is a good return. I don't see him giving up either, but as with anything, change is round the corner so keep your eyes on every OPEC minister over the coming weeks.

Fuel Oil Market (October 24)

The front crack opened at -7.65, strengthening to -7.60, before weakening to -7.80. The Cal 18 was valued at -8.25

Cash premiums of Asia's 180-cst high-sulphur fuel oil rose for a fifth straight session on Tuesday to a one-month high boosted by a surge in buying interest for the lower viscosity fuel oil that is typically characterised by low trade volumes.

The strong buying interest for 180-cst cargoes lifted cash premiums of the fuel to 97 cents a tonne, its highest since Sept. 21

The volume of 180-cst fuel oil changing hands on Tuesday is the highest daily traded volume for the lower viscosity fuel since at least the start of the year.

Economic Data/Events: (UK times)

* 12pm: U.S. MBA mortgage applications for week ended Oct. 20 (prior 3.6%)

* 1:30pm: U.S. durable goods orders for Sept., prelim., est. 1% (prior 2%)

* 3pm: U.S. new home sales for Sept., est. 554k (prior 560k)

* 3:30pm: EIA weekly oil inventory report

* Today:

** Singapore International Energy Week, 3rd day of 5, including Asia Clean Energy Summit

** Africa Oil Week, 3rd day of 5

** OPEC-EU dialogue meeting in Brussels

** Genscape weekly ARA crude stockpiles report

** Africa Oil Week, 2nd day of 5

** Genscape weekly ARA crude stockpiles report

** Russia Urals full month loading program for November

Singapore 380 cSt

Nov17 - 338.25 / 340.25

Dec17 - 336.75 / 338.75

Jan18 - 335.00 / 337.00

Feb18 - 333.50 / 335.50

Mar18 - 332.25 / 334.25

Apr18 - 331.00 / 333.00

Q1-18 - 333.50 / 335.50

Q2-18 - 330.00 / 332.00

Q3-18 - 326.00 / 328.50

Q4-18 - 322.00 / 324.50

CAL18 - 327.00 / 330.00

CAL19 - 296.00 / 301.00

CAL20 - 266.00 / 273.00

Singapore 180 cSt

Nov17 - 343.25 / 345.25

Dec17 - 342.00 / 344.00

Jan18 - 341.00 / 343.00

Feb18 - 339.75 / 341.75

Mar18 - 338.75 / 340.75

Apr18 - 337.75 / 339.75

Q1-18 - 339.75 / 341.75

Q2-18 - 336.75 / 338.75

Q3-18 - 332.50 / 335.00

Q4-18 - 329.50 / 332.00

CAL18 - 333.75 / 336.75

CAL19 - 304.75 / 309.75

CAL20 - 275.75 / 282.75

Rotterdam 380 cSt

Nov17 319.25 / 321.25

Dec17 315.00 / 317.00

Jan18 314.50 / 316.50

Feb18 314.25 / 316.25

Mar18 314.00 / 316.00

Apr18 313.50 / 315.50

Q1-18 314.25 / 316.25

Q2-18 312.75 / 314.75

Q3-18 308.75 / 311.25

Q4-18 302.00 / 304.50

CAL18 308.75 / 311.75

CAL19 276.75 / 281.75

CAL20 246.00 / 253.00


Uni-Fuels Logo. Uni-Fuels appoints general manager for new Houston operation  

Experienced professional Robert Love aiming to expand the company’s presence in the United States

Two people shaking hands with 'Join our team' text overlay. Sing Fuels hiring junior supply trader for Singapore operations  

Role aimed at candidates with one to two years of experience in marine fuels or the wider maritime industry.

Simaisma vessel. Exmar takes delivery of LNG carrier to serve the bunkering market  

Vessel to be convered into a floating transshipment unit for specialised LNG bunkering vessels to load fuel.

Svitzer Nobbys vessel render. Svitzer signs contract with India’s SDHI for four biofuel-ready TRAnsverse tugs  

Four 32-metre TRAnsverse 3200 tugs ordered from Gujarat-based shipbuilder.

Petrobras logo. Petrobras launches barge supply operations at the Port of Suape  

Supplier has begun VLSFO and LSMGO barge deliveries at the Brazilian port following receipt of final operational licences.

Forty-Two G vessel. Hagland Shipping takes B100-capable Damen CF 3850 on time charter from Reederei Gerdes  

Norwegian dry bulk operator adds short-sea vessel with the ability to operate on B100 biodiesel.

MSC Stella M X naming and delivery ceremony. Chinese shipyard delivers LNG dual-fuel container ship to MSC 301 days ahead of schedule  

Zhoushan Changhong sets new early-delivery record for its series of LNG dual-fuel boxships.

Valiant Lady connected to the shore power system. Portsmouth International Port makes first commercial shore power connection with cruise ship  

Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady plugs into Portsmouth International Port’s shore power system, with two ships connected simultaneously.

Philippos Ioulianou, EmissionLink. EmissionLink calls for fairer EU ETS expansion and greater reinvestment in maritime decarbonisation  

Emissions compliance specialist warns that broader coverage alone will not deliver practical decarbonisation.

Peninsula and Evos logo. Peninsula and Evos sign MoU to develop biofuel storage at Algeciras terminal  

Partnership aims to develop up to 60,000 cbm of dedicated biofuel storage capacity at the Strait of Gibraltar.