Crude oil physical markets in Europe and Africa have weakened in response to peak refinery maintenance and extra supply from the United States and Saudi Arabia, dampening the impact of Red Sea shipping delays, according to traders, flows data and analysts.
India’s inflation and economic growth are at risk from the rise in oil prices caused by disruptions in the Red Sea, the government said, highlighting the need to diversify trade routes.
Prices for North Sea and West African crude grades have increased this month.
The Red Sea shipping crisis and OPEC+ output cuts have tightened oil markets.
U.S. benchmark oil prices are also supported by higher demand for American crude in Europe due to the Red Sea disruption to flows.
Disruptions to shipping in the Red Sea and via the Suez Canal are raising the prices of African and U.S. crude grades.
Brent crude sees stronger backwardation.
Analysts expect drawdowns in global stocks this month and next to support oil prices.
The inertia of oil prices during the Red Sea oil crisis has made oil traders complacent.
Fears of an escalation of the Israel-Hamas war have subsided amid talks about a ceasefire.
The rerouting of oil tankers directly increases oil demand—by around 200,000 bpd so far.
Threat of Houthi attacks is causing exports to Asia to be rerouted via the southern tip of Africa.
Oil prices jumped 1 percent on Monday on fuel supply concerns after a missile struck a Trafigura-operated fuel tanker in the Red Sea and as Russian refined products exports are set to fall as several refineries are under repair after drone attacks.
India, the world’s third-biggest oil importer, gets a bulk of its Russian supplies made up over 35% of India’s total crude imports in 2023, amounting to 1 .7 million barrels per day.
Saudi Arabia is exporting crude oil via the Red Sea as usual despite Houthi attacks on vessels in the region, a senior Aramco official told Bloomberg.
“We’re moving in the Red Sea with our oil and products cargoes,” Mohammed Al Qahtani, head of Aramco’s refining, oil trading and marketing division said, adding that the risks were “manageable”.
Saudis Continue Sending Oil via Tense Red Sea
by Bloomberg|Matthew Martin & Anthony Di Paola|Friday, January 26, 2024
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Saudis Continue Sending Oil via Tense Red Sea
Aramco is bucking threats on Red Sea vessels from Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Image by sandsun via iStock
Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, is continuing to send tanker loads of crude and fuels through the southern Red Sea, where Houthi militants have for months been menacing merchant ships in response to Israel’s war in Gaza.