Wed 1 Nov 2017 09:05

Oil and fuel oil hedging market update


By the Oil Desk at Freight Investor Services.



Brent closed up $0.35 last night to $60.94 and WTI closed at $54.38, up $0.23. Who would have thought we'd be up to these dizzying heights? There just seems to be something uneasy about it all though; it doesn't feel comfortable. As quick as this market is to rally, it is also extremely capable of collapsing, and it doesn't take much to really cause a collapse. If the funds have bought in to this rally, then what's to stop them cashing out and selling their long positions? As Paul Daniels would say, "not a lot". However, I think it will be a while yet before we see any kind of price correction. EIA data is out later and, according to API, we can expect to see some pretty chunky drawdowns on crude and products.

Fuel Oil Market (October 31)

The front crack opened at -7.80, strengthening to -7.30 across the day. The Cal 18 was valued at -8.10.

Aggressive offers continued to weigh on the break-bulk ex-wharf premiums of Asia's 380-cst fuel, with some suppliers seeking to stimulate demand.

Demand for spot 380-cst ex-wharf fuel oil has been sluggish in recent weeks amid rising outright prices of 380-cst bunker fuel which has climbed to its highest level since June 2015, keeping some buyers at bay, sources said.

China said it would stop domestic sales of diesel with sulphur content higher than 10 parts ppm, typically used by tractors and ships, from Nov. 1, in its latest effort to clean up the nation's air.

The challenge will be in the execution of the ban, which follows a move earlier this year to stop sales of diesel with more than 50 ppm of sulphur and a 10-ppm cap on diesel used by cars.

Economic Data/Events: (UK times)

* 11am: U.S. MBA mortgage applications for week ended Oct. 27 (prior -4.6%)

* 12:15pm: U.S. ADP employment change for Oct., est. 200k (prior 135k)

* 1:45pm: U.S. Markit manufacturing PMI for Oct., final, est. 54.5 (prior 54.5)

* 2:30pm: U.S. EIA oil inventory report; TOPLive blog coverage begins 2:25pm

* 6pm: U.S. FOMC rate decision, est. 1.25% (prior 1.25%)

** Genscape weekly ARA crude stockpiles report

** International Energy Forum hosts 7th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable, Bangkok, Nov. 1-3. Speakers include Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih, U.A.E. Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei

** International Emissions Trading Association event in London, ahead of the COP23 climate talks that will take place in Bonn starting Nov. 6

** Bloomberg will publish October monthly tanker-tracking assessments for several oil exporting nations, starting Wednesday

** Bloomberg will publish OPEC production survey for October on this day, or Thursday. Data may be the last entire-month set available before OPEC's next ministerial conference on Nov. 30

** International Petroleum Tax Conference, Oslo. Speakers include Norway Ministry of Finance's Tax-Law Director Stig Sollund

** Earnings: Occidental Petroleum

Singapore 380 cSt

Dec17 - 359.25 / 361.25

Jan18 - 357.00 / 359.00

Feb18 - 355.25 / 357.25

Mar18 - 353.25 / 355.25

Apr18 - 351.00 / 353.00

May18 - 349.75 / 351.75

Q1-18 - 353.00 / 355.00

Q2-18 - 348.50 / 350.50

Q3-18 - 343.25 / 345.75

Q4-18 - 338.25 / 340.75

CAL18 - 344.75 / 347.75

CAL19 - 328.25 / 333.25

CAL20 - 301.75 / 308.75

Singapore 180 cSt

Dec17 - 364.25 / 366.25

Jan18 - 353.50 / 355.50

Feb18 -360.75 / 362.75

Mar18 - 359.25 / 361.25

Apr18 - 357.50 / 359.50

May18 - 356.50 / 358.50

Q1-18 - 359.00 / 361.00

Q2-18 - 355.00 / 357.00

Q3-18 - 349.75 / 352.25

Q4-18 - 345.75 / 348.25

CAL18 - 351.50 / 354.50

CAL19 - 337.25 / 342.25

CAL20 - 311.25 / 318.25

Rotterdam 380 cSt

Dec17 338.75 / 340.75

Jan18 337.00 / 339.00

Feb18 336.00 / 338.00

Mar18 335.25 / 337.25

Apr18 334.50 / 336.50

May18 333.50 / 335.50

Q1-18 335.25 / 337.25

Q2-18 333.00 / 335.00

Q3-18 328.75 / 331.25

Q4-18 321.25 / 323.75

CAL18 328.00 / 331.00

CAL19 289.00 / 294.00

CAL20 246.00 / 253.00


Product tanker Artizen, owned by Hong Lam Marine. Hong Lam Marine takes delivery of Artizen tanker in Japan  

Singapore-based firm receives new vessel from Kegoya Shipyard.

Birdseye view of containership. Panama Canal launches NetZero Slot to incentivize low-emission transits  

New reservation category prioritizes dual-fuel vessels capable of using alternative fuels from November.

Van Oord's Vox Apolonia. Van Oord deploys bio-LNG dredger for Dutch coastal project  

First bio-LNG powered trailing suction hopper dredger operation begins in the Netherlands.

Model testing for Green Handy methanol-powered vessel. Methanol-fuelled Green Handy ships pass model tests ahead of 2026 construction  

Baltic carrier reports model testing exceeded performance targets for 17,000 dwt methanol-powered vessels.

Miguel Hernandez and Olivier Icyk at AiP for FPSO. SBM Offshore's floating ammonia production design gets ABS approval  

Design converts offshore gas to ammonia while capturing CO2 for maritime and power sectors.

Philippe Berterottière and Matthieu de Tugny. GTT unveils cubic LNG fuel tank design for boxships with BV approval  

New GTT CUBIQ design claims to reduce construction time and boost cargo capacity.

Wilhelmshaven Express, Hapag-Lloyd. Hapag-Lloyd secures multi-year liquefied biomethane supply deal with Shell  

Agreement supports container line's decarbonisation strategy and net-zero fleet operations target by 2045.

Dual-fuel ship. Dual-fuel vessels will dominate next decade, says Columbia Group  

Ship manager predicts LNG-powered vessels will bridge gap until zero-carbon alternatives emerge.

Stril Poseidon vessel. VPS campaign claims 12,000 tonnes of CO2 savings across 300 vessels  

Three-month efficiency drive involved 12 shipping companies testing operational strategies through software platform.

Birdseye view of a ship. Gard warns of widespread cat fines surge in marine fuel  

Insurer reports elevated contamination levels, echoing VPS circular in early September.





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