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Low volumes and revenues herald soft Asia diesel market: Russell

Asia's. exports of diesel slumped to a multiyear low in February, and. while volumes may recover in March on increasing shipments from. China and India, it's likely rates will come under further. down pressure.

A total of 6.6 million metric lots of diesel were exported. from Asia in February, below January's 8.13 million and the. weakest regular monthly figure for a minimum of 2 years, according to information. compiled by LSEG Oil Research Study.

Despite the drop in diesel supply, the profit margin on the. key transport fuel remained weak, suggesting need growth. remains warm at best.

The revenue of making a barrel of gasoil, the foundation. for middle distillate fuels such as diesel and jet kerosene, at. a typical Singapore refinery ended at $22.01 on. Monday, below the previous close of $22.17.

The margin has actually been trending weaker considering that August last year,. when it peaked at $36.13 a barrel on Aug. 28.

The profit on gasoil is most likely to come under even more. pressure this month as greater volumes of diesel are expected to. be shipped in Asia, especially from leading exporters China and. India.

China's exports of diesel were 713,290 lots in February,. below January's 986,200, according to LSEG, as refiners kept. more of the fuel for the domestic market to fulfill any increased. need over the week-long Lunar New Year vacations, when millions. of people travel to see loved ones.

With key domestic sectors like building and. manufacturing staying under pressure, it's most likely that China's. refiners will look for to raise exports in March and April,. particularly because the profit margin on diesel remains attractive. to them, assuming they are able to make the fuel from marked down. crude oils from Russia and Iran.

India's deliveries of diesel were 2.01 million loads in. February, down from 2.02 million in January and some 29% below. the recent peak of 2.84 million in December.

It's expected that more Indian diesel will head to Asia as. cargoes are diverted from Europe, partly since of lower demand. as the Northern Hemisphere winter ends and partially due to the fact that of the. attacks on shipping in the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthi rebels,. which has actually forced vessels to take the longer, and costlier, path. around the Cape of Good Hope.

This trend can currently be seen in the LSEG information, with. India's diesel exports to the West being assessed at 665,960. tons in February and 280,000 in January, a significant drop from. December's 1.28 million and 1.12 million in November.

India's exports to Asia were 700,440 heaps in February and. 716,420 in January, up from 371,320 in December and November's. 393,050.

, if India continues to switch diesel exports to Asia from. . Europe, and China does export more as anticipated, the revenue. margin on diesel is likely to come under further pressure.

The primary factor that might relieve some down pressure is. Asia's refinery maintenance season gets underway in March and. generally lasts through April and May.

FUEL TIGHTNESS

Asia's other primary refined product, fuel, is revealing some. resemblances to diesel, insofar as February export volumes were. weak, with LSEG estimating shipments of 4.51 million loads, down. from 5.64 million in January and December's 6.33 million.

Since exports from China dropped to a. 16-month low of 679,290 tons and those from South Korea hit an, the drop was mostly. 8-month low of 813,350.

However unlike diesel, the lower supply of fuel saw the. profit margin on making a barrel of the light car fuel from. Brent crude at a Singapore refinery << GL92-SIN-CRK > boost.

The margin, or fracture spread, ended at $14.63 a barrel on. Monday, up from the previous close of $14.20, and it has remained in. an uptrend since the recent low of $2.11 a barrel on Oct. 18.

The crack may remain supported in coming weeks as exports. from India, which vies with South Korea as the biggest gas. shipper in Asia on a net basis, are expected to remain. constrained amidst strong domestic need.

The viewpoints expressed here are those of the author, a columnist. .

(source: Reuters)