Wed 3 Jan 2018, 09:00 GMT

Mixed news keeps oil in tight range


By A/S Global Risk Management.



Oil prices remained in a tight trading range on mixed news. The huge Forties pipeline as well as a Libyan pipeline have both restarted, but the geopolitical risk premium in Iran has increased heavily.

Along with the current unrest in Iran, the U.S. president has refused to certify the international accord on the nuclear deal. The president also continues to spur fears of an escalation of the ongoing nuclear dispute between the U.S. and North Korea.

The Forties Pipeline transports around 450,000 barrels per day of North Sea Brent oil and was closed due to a leak in mid-December. Now the force majeure has been lifted and is "fully operational", according to the operator.

Tonight the weekly oil stocks data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) is published; consensus is draw in crude oil stocks, builds in gasoline and distillates stocks. Tomorrow, the more-closely-followed report from the EIA is published.

Turning to economic data, today will see the U.S. central bank meeting minutes as well as ISM Manufacturing PMI from the U.S. published. Chinese Caixin Services PMI is released overnight. .


210,000-tonne tri-fuel ore vessel render. CSSC units sign contract for four tri-fuel ore carriers  

Ships feature a tri-fuel propulsion system combining ethanol, methanol and fuel oil.

Houston skyline. Bunker One seeks oil derivatives trader for Houston desk  

New hire to work alongside trading and sales, providing hedging solutions for physical exposure.

Lyla Pathfinder vessel. Kawasaki delivers 13th LPG-fuelled LPG/ammonia carrier  

86,700-cbm vessel is shipbuilder's 20th delivery featuring LPG-fuel propulsion.

Mein Schiff Relax ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering operation. TUI Cruises puts both InTUItion-class ships on bio-LNG as fleet targets 50,000-tonne CO₂e saving in 2026  

German cruise operator says bio-LNG use across two newbuilds has already cut 26,000 tonnes of CO₂e.

MCE Marine Surveyors logo. MCE Marine Surveyors seeks bunker surveyor in Rotterdam amid growing demand  

Liquid bulk surveyor certificate listed as a preference, as is prior experience in a bunker surveyor role.

Athinagoras vessel. LNG dual-fuel tanker delivered to Capital Ship Management  

Vessel one of two handed over to Greek operators on the same day.

Auramarine quality specialist hiring announcement. Auramarine seeks quality specialist to unify European and Asian management systems  

Finnish fuel supply system maker is recruiting a quality specialist to harmonise its global operations.

Nave Orbit vessel. Navios Maritime Partners takes delivery of LNG- and methanol-ready Aframax tanker  

117,012-dwt Nave Orbit features alternative-fuel readiness and energy-efficiency technology.

PetroChina Petroineos Trading logo. PetroChina International seeks bunker sales manager to drive European growth  

Chinese state-owned energy trader targets ARA expansion with new commercial hire.

CF Anja vessel. Damen delivers HVO-ready CF 3850 to Lithuania’s Juru Agentura Forsa  

CF Anja marks the first newbuild vessel in Forsa’s dry cargo fleet.