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S. Korea's March diesel shipments to Singapore set to strike 2-1/2- yr high

South Korean diesel deliveries to Singapore for March are on track to hit 21/2year highs, with cargoes most likely to be stored temporarily or blended in Asia's oil center in an uncommon move as traders struggle to find endusers for the fuel, experts and traders said.

Increasing supplies from the area's top diesel exporter will contribute to inventories in Singapore, which hit a 2-1/2- year high recently, capping rates and refiners' margins in Asia, they stated, in spite of expectations of lower exports from Russia following Ukrainian drone attacks on its refineries.

South Korean diesel deliveries to Singapore are anticipated to hit 403,000-417,000 metric heaps (3 million to 3.11 million barrels) for March packing, the highest given that September 2021, extending gains given that the start of the year, Kpler and LSEG data revealed.

The wave of exports is led by French oil major TotalEnergies and international traders Trafigura and Vitol, shiptracking information revealed.

It comes as South Korea's exports to other key destinations such as Australia dipped around 25% month on month, tracking a. consistent decline considering that January, Kpler and LSEG shiptracking data. showed. South Korea's oil majors generally can sell to direct. end-users without traders in between.

Asia's demand (is) not fantastic to begin with, so diesel. barrels have limited outlets, LSEG Oil Research experts stated. in an email, including that high freight costs are also deterring. traders from sending out freights beyond Asia.

South Korean diesel shipments to the Americas in. February and March likewise dipped after hitting multi-year highs in. January, Kpler and LSEG shiptracking data showed.

In Australia, South Korea's diesel market share shrank after. Taiwan's exports to Australia likely rose by 25% month-on-month. in March, Kpler information revealed, led by deliveries from significant traders. Glencore and Vitol.

Most of our spot sales in the previous couple of months have actually been. heading to Australia, a crucial Taiwanese refiner source stated.

A variety of Taiwan-origin area freights were earlier available. for both February and March provided fewer term deliveries this. year compared to 2023 and higher refinery follow the. maintenance season, and this could have resulted in the. competitors with South Korean barrels, one source said.

The downturn in need for South Korean diesel has actually widened. area discount rates to above $1.50 a barrel for freights filling in. April, traders stated.

Costs for shipping 40,000 tons of diesel from South Korea to. Singapore onboard an MR-sized tanker have dipped to a two-month. low of around $875,000, information from shipbroker SSY revealed,. motivating traders to move the discounted barrels to keep at. the Asia oil center.

On the other hand, Asian refiners' gasoil margins have actually balanced $24. a barrel in the very first quarter, down from $24.80 in the previous. quarter.

(source: Reuters)