The International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 sulphur cap which requires vessels to use 0.50% sulphur limit marine fuel will create increased demand for crude and drive the price of brent crude to as much as $90 per barrel by 2020, believes Morgan Stanley analysts.
“We foresee a scramble for middle distillates that will drive crack spreads higher and drag oil prices with it,” writes Martijn Rats in a report as quoted by Bloomberg.
The system configurations of certain refiners such favour middle distillate production and minimal high-sulphur fuel oil output, such as Repsol SA, Reliance Industries Ltd., Valero Energy Corp. and Tupras Turkiye Petrol Rafinerileri AS, will be among those which will see “the most advantageous combination after 2019,” he suggests.
The increased use of distillate fuels by vessels to meet the IMO 0.50% sulphur cap is expected to boost demand by an additional 1.5 million barrels a day by 2020.
However, current refining capacity will not be enough to meet the world’s total demand of 5.7 million barrels a day by 2020.
“The last period of severe middle distillate tightness occurred in late-2007/early-2008 and arguably was the critical factor that drove up Brent prices in that period,” Rats wrote; he referred to the period when crude oil approached levels close to $150 a barrel.
“We expect the crude oil market to remain under-supplied and inventories to continue to draw,” the bank said. “This will likely underpin prices.”
Published: 18 May, 2018
‘To further strengthen our presence in the UAE market, I will be expanding and growing the team even further in the next few months,’ says Satnam Singh.
Global Provider will be used to deliver fuel and lube oil to ship operators in the Pacific Northwest.
New investment marks ‘clear demonstration’ of Fremman Capital’s commitment to a more sustainable world, says VPS spokesman.
Green vessels are high-risk due to maintenance expenses and rising shipping rates, but present great benefit.
FOBAS will continue to assist its clients throughout Lunar New Year, however the company anticipates its usual services to be affected during this period, it said.
With 1 March just weeks away, the shipping industry is cautioned to pay heed to ways they can comply with the carriage ban and ensure a smooth transition.
‘The JMs have failed to discharge their duties by blindly helping the Banks mount a false case against the Defendant,’ wrote defence lawyers representing former IPP Director Dr Goh Jian Hian in court statement.
Lead prosecutor Andreas Myllerup Laursen aims for a fine and a prison sentence in the so-called Syria case scheduled to commence in Odense, Denmark on 26 October, writes the Danish publication.
In a modern re-telling of the story of David versus Goliath, local bunker barge owners/charterers successfully resisted claims brought in the Singapore courts by Phillips 66 for misdelivery of bunkers.
Bunker barge owners and operators; traders and suppliers; banks, including players in other countries, will have to re-examine respective operations, advises Helmsman Associate Director Jonathan Tan.
Vopak BL was a non-essential document with no contractual force and had no effect as a contract of carriage or as a document of title, states written Judgement issued by Singapore Court of Appeal.
Dwivedi Vivek Kumar ended his tenure as Global Head – Bitumen & Shipping & Regional Head – APAC at GP Global APAC on 10 November 2020 due to internal structuring of the GP Global Group.
