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Sluggish need and oversupply sap European diesel markets

European diesel futures spreads are flashing signs of oversupply and slow demand with the threemonth contango << LGOc1LGOc4 > trading on Monday at its largest because August 2021.

Contango is a market structure in which an existing contract trades at a discount rate to a contract for a later date and normally gives traders a signal to store the fuel to maximise profit.

On Monday, the May low-sulphur gasoil futures contract traded at $6.25 a metric ton below the August contract and more than $3.50 below the June contract The May agreement. turned from backwardation into contango late last week.

Europe is one of the world's greatest consumers of diesel, a. fuel utilized in transportation, farming and industry, and depends on. imports from the United States, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. to supplement local production.

The diesel paper market had been selling backwardation. for most of the time in the past 3 years as two major international. occasions - the loss of imports from Russia due to the fact that of Western. sanctions and Red Sea interruptions - led to supply tightness.

Diesel market looks weak with not much need and rather. some oil on offer, stated a trading source who is active in the. Mediterranean market.

He added that increasing circulations into the region from Asia. Pacific, the United States and the Middle East were likewise. weighing on values.

U.S. diesel futures have also turned to contango in recent. sessions, with the three-month contango << HOc1-HOc4 > at its. widest on Thursday because June last year.

Sluggishness in the U.S. market has actually likely been because of. weak demand and worldwide refining capacity additions, stated Alex. Hodes, oil expert at brokerage company StoneX. There has actually been a. substantial quantity of diesel capability added internationally which has. slammed cracks lower.

Benchmark European diesel barge refining margins ended last. week at an 11-month low of about $16.60 a barrel.

A second trader stated that mild winter season weather in Europe,. which weighs on need for heating oil, is weighing on rates.

Supply is now frustrating, he added.

Imports of diesel and gasoil into the European Union and. Fantastic Britain reached 1.07 million barrels per day

(source: Reuters)