Fri 2 Feb 2018, 09:22 GMT

Oil and fuel oil hedging market update


By the Oil Desk at Freight Investor Services.



Commentary

Brent closed last night up 0.76 to $69.65, WTI closed up 1.07 to $65.80. I've woken up this morning with that same fear you have when you have had a heavy night with your mates and you haven't yet spoken to your partner to figure out if you're in trouble or if you did anything wrong. Why do I have that fear? Well as soon as I mentioned my bet yesterday re crude hitting $85 per bbl, Goldman Sachs seemed to immediately then publish their forecast saying that it could very well get up to those kind of numbers. The more eagle-eyed of you were quick to point this fact out to me, so I very much appreciate that. I'm sure people are just waiting for the market to realize what it has done, correct by gapping down quite a few bucks and then people will see the wood for the trees. Brent and WTI are up over 50pct since June 2017 - 50 percent! The US dollar is at a three-year low and I'm pretty sure OPEC will come out soon saying they are happy with the cuts and both of these things will give Brent another boost.

Fuel Oil Market (February 1)

The front crack opened at -10.00, weakening to -10.65, -10.50, before weakening to -10.70. The Cal 19 was valued at -15.50.

Lower supplier offers for physical fuel oil cargoes boosted trade activity in the Singapore window on Thursday to its highest levels in more than a week, but weighed on fuel cash differentials. Cash premiums of 380 cSt fuel oil slipped for a second straight session to its lowest in more than one week on Thursday, while cash differentials of 180 cSt fuel oil flipped to a narrow discount after trading at a premium for more than a week.

Singapore weekly onshore fuel oil inventories rose 1% to a four-week high of 22.516 million barrels (about 3.36 million tonnes) in the week ended Jan. 31 despite fewer net imports. Net fuel oil imports into Singapore fell to 626,000 tonnes in the week to Jan. 31, down 41% from the week before, weighed down by higher fuel oil exports from the city-state which climbed to 681,000 tonnes, up 135% from a nine-week low seen in the week before.

Economic Data and Events

* 1:30pm: U.S. Change in non-Farm Payrolls, Jan.

* 1:30pm: U.S. Avg Hourly Earnings, Jan.

* 6pm: Baker Hughes rig count

* ~6pm: ICE weekly commitments of traders report for Brent, gasoil

* 8:30pm: Commodity Futures Trading Commission weekly scheduled report on futures and options positions

* 3pm: University of Michigan Sentiment, Jan. (final)

* Today, no exact timing:

** Bloomberg New Energy Finance Future of Mobility Summit in Palo Alto, final day

** Exxon Mobil 4Q earnings

** Platts Middle Distillates Conference in Antwerp, final day

** China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Association releases report on nation's 2017 & 2018 oil and petrochemical markets

Singapore 380 cSt

Mar18 - 383.75 / 385.75

Apr18 - 383.75 / 385.75

May18 - 383.50 / 385.50

Jun18 - 383.00 / 385.00

Jul18 - 382.00 / 384.00

Aug18 - 380.50 / 382.50

Q2-18 - 383.25 / 385.25

Q3-18 - 380.50 / 382.50

Q4-18 - 375.50 / 378.00

Q1-19 - 367.00 / 369.50

CAL19 - 329.75 / 332.75

CAL20 - 262.00 / 267.00

Singapore 180 cSt

Mar18 - 389.25 / 391.25

Apr18 - 389.50 / 391.50

May18 - 389.25 / 391.25

Jun18 - 389.00 / 391.00

Jul18 - 388.25 / 390.25

Aug18 - 386.75 / 388.75

Q2-18 - 389.25 / 391.25

Q3-18 - 387.00 / 389.00

Q4-18 - 382.25 / 384.75

Q1-19 - 375.25 / 377.75

CAL19 - 338.75 / 341.75

CAL20 - 272.75 / 277.75

Rotterdam Barges

Mar18 371.25 / 373.25

Apr18 371.25 / 373.25

May18 370.75 / 372.75

Jun18 370.00 / 372.00

Jul18 368.75 / 370.75

Aug18 - 366.75 / 368.75

Q2-18 370.50 / 372.50

Q3-18 365.50 / 367.50

Q4-18 356.25 / 358.75

Q1-19 345.75 / 348.25

CAL19 306.75 / 309.75

CAL20 241.75 / 246.75


Sotiris Raptis, ECSA. European shipowners call for ETS revenue investment and fuel supplier mandate  

ECSA urges the EU to invest €9bn in annual ETS revenues in fuel production and infrastructure.

Sheen Mao Choong, SSA. Singapore marine fuels industry urged to prioritise resilience and collaboration  

SSA committee vice chair highlights energy security and crisis readiness at Marine Fuels Forum 2026.

Chia How Khee, TFG Marine and David Foo, MPA. TFG Marine receives bunker safety award from Singapore maritime authority  

Marine fuel supplier recognised for safety standards and operational performance at MPA Marine Fuel Forum.

Rotterdam skyline at night. Bunker surveyor sought in Rotterdam to meet increased demand  

Dutch firm MCE Marine Surveyors is recruiting for a quantitative fuel inspection role.

Emma Roberts, BHP. GCMD highlights BHP biofuel trials to address scaling challenges in maritime decarbonisation  

Mining company discusses need for traceability and coordinated progress across supply, cost and operational readiness.

Levante LNG vessel. Peninsula implements energy efficiency measures across bunker supply fleet  

Marine fuel supplier focusing on data-driven upgrades and operational measures to cut consumption.

Aerial view of a biogas plant. Centrica Energy gains ISCC certification to trade certified bio-LNG  

The energy trading arm of Centrica plc can now trade certified bio-LNG with customers.

TSS Cruiser vessel. Damen delivers first CSOV 9020 to Taiwan joint venture for offshore wind support  

TSS Cruiser handed over to TSSM in Vietnam following sea trials in Ha Long Bay.

United LNG I bunker vessel alongside Blue Aspire vessel. Titan charters 8,000-cbm LNG bunker vessel for ZARA region operations  

United LNG I to deliver LNG and bio-LNG across Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Zeebrugge ports.

Flag of Mauritania. Peninsula begins physical bunker supply operations in Mauritania  

Marine fuel supplier operating two barges following licence award from the Mauritanian National Hydrocarbons Commission.