This is a legacy page. Please click here to view the latest version.
Wed 30 May 2018, 07:41 GMT

Yesterday saw some volatility, but Brent ended slightly lower


By A/S Global Risk Management.


Michael Poulson, Global Risk Management.
Image credit: Global Risk Management
Yesterday saw some volatility in oil prices, but at the end of the day, Brent oil price ended slightly lower - and is currently trading around $75.4

Oil market participants continue to focus on a potential OPEC/non-OPEC production increase along with steady increase in U.S. crude oil production.

Tonight, the weekly oil stocks data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) will be followed closely. The data is one day delayed due to Monday's U.S. holiday and the same goes for the EIA oil inventory report which is published tomorrow. Consensus is a build of around 2.2. mio. barrels of crude - last week surprised with a 5.7 mio. build in crude, smaller builds in gasoline and distillates stocks.

A potential 1 mio. barrels' OPEC/non-OPEC production increase will likely not be decided until the official meeting 22 June,. However, likely next week, Saudi Arabia will publish its official selling price (OSP) for July to Asia. Last month, the huge oil producer hiked its June OSP to the highest since 2014 with a premium of $1.9/barrel to the Oman/Dubai average. If the Saudis lower the July OSP, this could be a sign of a potential output boost. Recently, the U.S. has increased its crude exports to Asia, from 260,000 barrels per day in the first five months of 2017 to around 620,000 barrels per day this year.

On the economic data front, a row of European data is coming up, from French GDP, German employment data to Italian 10-year BTP bonds. Later today, U.S. ADP nonfarm payrolls is published ahead of Friday's closely followed non-farm payroll data. Overnight, Chinese Manufacturing PMI is released.


Chart showing Singapore TTM bunker sales, November 2025. Singapore bunker sales break new ground as TTM volumes surpass 56m tonnes  

Trailing 12-month bunker sales rise to new all-time record at Asian port.

Bow Leopard vessel. Odfjell launches operational green corridor between Brazil and Europe using biofuel  

Chemical tanker operator establishes route using B24 sustainable biofuel without subsidies or government support.

United LNG I vessel. Somtrans christens 8,000-cbm LNG bunker barge for Belgian and Dutch ports  

United LNG I designed for inland waterways and coastal operations up to Zeebrugge.

Photograph of a red container vessel. BIMCO adopts FuelEU Maritime and ETS clauses for ship sales, advances biofuel charter work  

Documentary Committee approves regulatory clauses for vessel transactions, progresses work on decarbonisation and emerging cargo contracts.

ABS, Eneos, NYK Line and Seacor Holdings logos side by side. Four companies launch study for US methanol bunkering network  

ABS, Eneos, NYK Line, and Seacor to develop ship-to-ship methanol supply operations on Gulf Coast.

CMA CGM Antigone naming ceremony. CMA CGM names dual-fuel methanol vessel for Phoenician Express service  

CMA CGM Antigone to operate on BEX2 route connecting Asia, the Middle East and Mediterranean.

Capt. Kevin Wong, Golden Island. Golden Island appoints Capt Kevin Wong as chief operating officer  

Wong to oversee ship management and low-carbon fuel development at Singapore-based marine fuels company.

LPC and Gram Marine launch operations in Argentina graphic. LPC launches Argentine marine lubricants hub with Gram Marine  

Motor Oil Hellas subsidiary partners with maritime services provider to supply products to regional ports.

Chicago Express vessel. Hapag-Lloyd orders eight methanol-powered container ships worth over $500m  

German carrier signs deal with CIMC Raffles for 4,500-teu vessels for 2028-29 delivery.

Global Ethanol Association (GEA) and Vale logo side by side. Vale joins Global Ethanol Association as founding member  

Brazilian mining company becomes founding member of association focused on ethanol use in maritime sector.


↑  Back to Top