The cracking margin on Bakken in the Midcontinent posted the sharpest increase from Dec. to Jan. among the grades and blends covered in the charts below, having gained $2.31/bbl, but the coking margin on a 70/30 blend of Bakken and WCS retained the top spot at $10.30/bbl.
May 24, 2021
From early Oct. to early Nov., futures closing prices for European benchmark ICE Brent and US benchmark NYMEX WTI declined by nearly 5% and Middle Eastern benchmark DME Oman lost just over 11%.
February 01, 2021
Saudi Arabia increased the Official Selling Price (OSP) for its heavy grade by 20¢/bbl for buyers in the Far East to 30¢/bbl above the Middle-Eastern benchmark on Jan. 6.
February 01, 2021
Cracking margins at the US Gulf Coast (USGC) for the grades and blends covered in the chart below strengthened by 47-74¢/bbl from June to July.
November 23, 2020
Saudi Arabia left the Official Selling Price (OSPs) for its heavy grade unchanged for buyers in the Far East at 30¢/bbl below the Middle-Eastern benchmark, while Iraq raised its differential by 10¢/bbl to a 95¢/bbl discount, and Iran lowered its differential by 5¢/bbl to a 55¢/bbl discount.
November 18, 2020
After plunging by around 60-66% over 1Q and soaring by 59-92% over 2Q, futures prices for US, European, and Middle Eastern crude benchmarks only shifted by 1-7% over 3Q.
November 15, 2020
Cracking margins at the US Gulf Coast (USGC) for Mars and the Argus Sour Crude Index (ASCI) as well as the coking margin for the ASCI fell to two-month lows in April.
August 27, 2020
As producing nations try to walk the tightrope of meeting (and profiting from) recovering oil demand but not pushing prices high enough to encourage more output from non-OPEC+ countries, announcements regarding Sept.
August 27, 2020
Futures prices for US, European, and Middle Eastern crude benchmarks were extremely volatile in April as the novel coronavirus slashed worldwide oil demand.
July 01, 2020
Saudi Arabia and Iraq raised their Official Selling Price (OSP) differentials for heavy grades to Asian customers by $5.60/bbl, bringing the price on Arab Heavy up to a 10¢/bbl discount to DME/Dubai averages and the price for Basra Heavy to 60¢/bbl below the benchmark.
June 15, 2020
