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Kuwait fuel oil exports increase for second month as Al Zour increases

Kuwait's fuel oil exports increased for a 2nd month in February, according to shiptracking data from Kpler and LSEG, as the Al Zour refinery powered towards complete capacity.

Since bringing Al Zour online in late 2022, Kuwait has end up being a major exporter of refined items, specifically extremely low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) utilized in shipping.

Consultancy FGE said Al Zour runs reached complete capacity of 615,000 barrels each day for the very first time in February, although even more testing could see this ease once again.

We anticipate Al Zour's typical runs in 2024 will be around 415,000 bpd (67%), with a sweet spot varying from 400,000 to 450,000 bpd, said Palash Jain, FGE's Middle East oil analyst.

Kuwait's oil exports hit a record high of about 720,000 metric heaps (158,000 barrels each day) in February, information from analytics firm Kpler revealed.

Really low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) represented about 60% of the volume and high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) for 40%, computations based upon Kpler's data showed.

Roslan Khasawneh, senior oil expert at Kpler, said the OPEC producer's VLSFO exports are most likely to be stable to higher in March provided firm regional prices and spare refining capability.

Peak power need in the summertime might press VLSFO exports from present levels but not dramatically provided Al Zour's. ample production capacity, he included.

LSEG data put total February exports at about 516,000 loads,. the greatest considering that March 2016.

Kuwait Petroleum Corp did not respond to an ask for. comment.

HSFO exports from Kuwait's Mina Al Ahmadi (MAA) refinery. also rose for a 2nd month.

VLSFO exports are recuperating from a slowdown in the fourth. quarter when materials were diverted for domestic power. generation.

KPC increased the variety of spot VLSFO tenders from Al Zour. to three in February, trade sources said. A single tender in. January was the first after a gap of more than three months.

The rise has pushed cash differentials for VLSFO in Asia. down almost 8% because the start of February << MFO05-SIN-DIF >.

Because Al-Zour started operations, more than 50% of Kuwait's. VLSFO exports have actually gone to Singapore, the world's top bunkering. port, while more than 40% remained in the Middle East, with. Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates a primary location, based. on trade sources and Kpler.