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


Areion vessel. Dorian LPG takes delivery of dual-fuel VLGC capable of carrying ammonia  

The 93,000-cbm Areion can run on LPG or fuel oil and transport ammonia cargoes.

FSRU Toscana alongside Green Zeebrugge vessel. RINA awards ISCC EU certification to OLT Offshore LNG Toscana for bio-LNG supply  

Certification enables bio-LNG use in the EU as a renewable fuel under RED II and RED III directives.

World Shipping Council at IMO meeting. WSC calls for safe maritime corridor as 20,000 seafarers remain trapped in the Persian Gulf  

Industry body urges IMO member states to establish safe passage and supply access.

Graphic promoting Auramarine webinar titled 'Sustainable Fueling Part 3: Ammonia - next alternative fuel in marine'. Auramarine to host webinar on ammonia as marine fuel in April  

Finnish firm will explore ammonia’s role in maritime decarbonisation at its third spring webinar.

Front cover of study by WinGD and Envision Energy titled 'Renewable Fuel Economics: An OPEX illustration based on current costs'. Green ammonia could reach cost parity with VLSFO and LNG by 2050, study finds  

WinGD and Envision Energy study projects green ammonia operational costs competitive with conventional marine fuels.

Elenger Marine's LNG bunkering vessel Optimus alongside Brittany Ferries’ Saint-Malo. Bureau Veritas verifies methane emissions on Brittany Ferries’ LNG vessels  

Verification enables ferry operator to report measured methane slip instead of regulatory default values.

Map showing existing and planned Emission Control Areas (ECAs). Alliance calls for urgent black carbon action as new Arctic emission control areas take effect  

Canadian Arctic and Norwegian Sea ECAs now in force, with compliance deadline set for March 2027.

Artistic impression of battery-electric ferry for operation on Perth’s Swan River. Lloyd’s Register to class Western Australia’s first electric ferry fleet  

Echo Marine Group partners with Lloyd’s Register on five battery-electric ferries for Perth’s Swan River.

Thomas Kazakos, secretary general of The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). ICS condemns Middle East shipping attacks as 20,000 seafarers remain trapped  

Industry body calls for urgent state action to resupply vessels and enable crew changes.

Molslinjen ferry illustration. Molslinjen order propels Australia to top of battery vessel production rankings  

Danish ferry operator’s three-catamaran order at Incat Tasmania shifts global manufacturing landscape, analysis shows.