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Asia most likely to benefit from more affordable Canadian, Mexican oil if Trump imposes tariffs

Oil producers in Canada and Mexico will likely be required to lower rates and divert supply to Asia if U.S. Presidentelect Donald Trump enforces 25% import tariffs on unrefined imports from the two nations, traders and analysts stated.

2 sources knowledgeable about Trump's plan informed Reuters that oil would not be exempted from potential tariff hikes on imports from Canada and Mexico, in spite of the U.S. oil market's cautions that the policy might harm customers, market and national security.

The United States accounts for 61% and 56% of unrefined exports from Canada and Mexico, respectively, ship tracking data from Kpler revealed.

Canadian crude exports have jumped 65% to about 530,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2024, the data showed, after the opening of the broadened Trans-Mountain pipeline increased shipments to the U.S. and Asia.

The Canadian producers, if they face export constraints, if they're unable to re-route their barrels that formerly were exported to U.S. to other markets, might face much deeper discounts and may likewise suffer some earnings losses, Daan Struyven, co-head of global commodities research at Goldman Sachs stated.

Canada and Mexico export mainly heavy high-sulphur crude that is processed by complex refineries in the U.S. and the majority of Asia.

The effect is all on the heavy grades. What are the U.S. refiners going to do? Even Saudi Arabian Heavy crude is minimal, a Singapore-based trader said, including that some U.S. refiners can only receive crude via pipelines, limiting their options for imports.

Either the producer or the refiner will need to absorb the tariffs, he said, including that Canadian manufacturers will have to discount their oil more to attract demand from Asian refiners and cover long-distance shipping expenses.

Refining sources in Asia and experts stated they expect to see more Canadian and Mexican oil heading to Asia if Trump enforces the tariffs.

We are likely to see rather some volume going to China and India, where refiners' configurations have the ability to refine the crude, stated LSEG analyst Anh Pham.

TMX exports to Asia have actually increased in current months as Asian refiners led by Chinese processors check the new grades. Nevertheless, Mexican exports are down 21% to about 860,000 bpd this year.

European refiners are less likely to pounce on less expensive Mexican and Canadian freights, Energy Aspects expert Christopher Haines informed Reuters.

Tariffs on Mexico would potentially free up some crude for Spanish refiners that take Maya, but Asia might quickly absorb any volumes not sold into the U.S. Gulf, so there will be competition, he stated, including that European refiners normally do not import much Canadian crude.

Exports of Mexican crude to Europe have averaged around 191,000 bpd up until now this year, 81% of which was delivered to Spain, according to Kpler. Canadian flows are lower at 85,000 bpd.

Still, some traders and Goldman Sachs experts stay sceptical that Trump would really impose the tariffs, which he has previously utilized as a working out tool, as doing so would drive inflation for U.S. consumers and refiners.

(source: Reuters)