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Asia's regrade spread strikes 6-year high up on stronger jet fuel principles

Asia's frontmonth regrade spread, the difference in between jet fuel and gasoil swaps, leapt to a sixyear high, prices data from LSEG showed on Monday, with traders associating the relocate to strength in timely market fundamentals for jet fuel.

The spread has been expanding for the past four-trading session to strike $2.50 a barrel - its largest given that Nov. 26, 2018, when levels were around $2.55 a barrel, the information revealed.

Jet fuel markets have been rallying considering that a week earlier, as increased purchasing interest - with regional buyers seeking to cover their immediate November requirements - stimulated higher money premiums in the market, 2 Singapore-based trade sources said.

Cash conversations are still at premiums of $1 a barrel for November freights, one of the sources included, with window offers at premiums of $1.70 a barrel on Monday.

Some local import markets such as Hong Kong and China are somewhat brief on prompt products now, buoying jet fuel markets further, a 3rd source stated.

China's crucial jet fuel importer, China Aviation Oil, was out in the spot market seeking to purchase up to 55,000 metric lots of November jet fuel shipments into Shanghai and Huangpu - though traders were hesitant if any purchase will be made ultimately. The company has actually not obtained jet fuel for shipment into China for a number of years.

Meanwhile, on the export front, China-origin barrels are set to drop to 1-1.2 million lots for November, compared to 1.7-1.8 million lots approximated for October, a China-based trade source said.

This comes versus a backdrop of an opened arbitrage window in between Asia and the U.S. west coast, and reduced local production from refinery maintenances and unplanned system blackouts.

A minimum of one trader has actually been looking to ship South Korea-origin freights to the U.S. west coast markets, a. Singapore-based ship broking source said.

Traders however cautioned that current market gains could be. tempered by the development of more selling interest, specifically. from swing providers in the Middle East and India which. generally send their freights west due to better revenues.

Already, a handful of traders are trying to offer their. November cargoes loading from the Middle East because late last. week, and even one southeast Asia refiner who has been on a. hiatus the past couple of months is seeking to sell, one regional. buyer said.

The possibility of more jet fuel production from refineries. quickly, offered the much better success compared to producing. gasoil, might also help reduce the tight supply circumstance, a. fourth source said.

(source: Reuters)