Latest News

Montfort in talks with Sinopec for UAE fuel oil center sale, sources say

Genevabased trading house Montfort Group remains in conversation to offer part or all of its refining center in the United Arab Emirates to the fuel oil arm of Chinese state huge Sinopec Corp, at least five market sources informed .

If reached, an offer would provide Sinopec, the world's most significant refiner by capability, a stronger foothold in the UAE's Fujairah market, which it got in 2015 amidst plans to broaden its worldwide presence in the marine fuel market.

Sinopec is thinking about investment in the refining facility as it looks for to broaden its sales at the world's third-largest bunker fuel center, the sources included.

Sinopec did not respond to a request for remark.

A Montfort spokesperson stated the company and its partner in the refinery, Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, remain fully dedicated to the business.

Naturally, if we are approached by celebrations who wish to be involved in our refinery business, we are always ready to discuss such chances if we believe that it would boost and grow our organization, the spokesperson stated.

Found in the port of Fujairah, the facility can process 65,000 barrels per day of crude, with capability to sell over 30 million barrels of low-sulphur fuel oil to the shipping industry annually, according to Montfort.

Montfort obtained the petroleum processing and marine fuel trading business last year from Germany's Uniper Energy in a. offer valued around $80 million. Montfort holds a Fujairah bunker. supplier licence under Montfort Trading FZE.

Sinopec opened an office in Dubai in 2015 for marine fuel. trading in Fujairah, though it does not have a bunker licence. there.

Sinopec Fuel Oil, the greatest marine bunker provider at. Chinese bunker center Zhoushan, ended up being the third-largest marine. fuel supplier at the world's leading bunker center Singapore in 2023,. while broadening its storage capability in Asia.

The Chinese company has actually been wanting to expand globally as. slowing economic growth and quick adoption of electrical automobiles. on the planet's leading auto market damages domestic demand.

(source: Reuters)