Asia Fuel Oil – Pricing Analyst Update – 18-22 May

• Cash differentials for Asia 380cst HSFO averaged around $21.22/mt over May 18-20, up from the prior week’s average of around $19.26/mt. Asia 180cst HSFO cash differentials averaged around $25.47/mt over the same period, up from the prior week’s average of $23.53/mt.
• Asia 380cst HSFO outright prices averaged around $707.60/mt over May 18-20, while Asia 180cst HSFO outright prices averaged around $724.20/mt over the same period, up from prior week averages of $676/mt and $692/mt respectively.
• Cash differentials for Asia LSFO averaged around $43.70/mt over May 18-20, up from the prior week’s average of $31.70/mt. Outright prices averaged around $794/mt over the same period, up approximately $41/mt from the prior week.
• Stalled US-Iran talks over reopening the Strait of Hormuz pushed fuel oil spreads higher, with supply concerns still being floated around, according to market participants.
• Finished-grade LSFO supplies remained limited across Asia, prompting cash differentials to climb week-on-week. In addition, inventories were heard to be tight in Busan, South Korea until at least end-May, market sources added.
• The 380cst and 500cst ex-wharf prices climbed to averages of around $707/mt and $704/mt respectively over May 18-20, up from prior week averages of $677/mt and $674/mt.

About the Author
Alex Theo is a commodity price reporter and pricing analyst with over a decade of experience covering oil markets across the Asia-Pacific region. His expertise spans the full oil barrel – heavy distillates, middle distillates, and light distillates – as well as iron ore markets across APAC.
Alex now leads the pricing analyst team at Sparta Commodities, working alongside Commodity Owners to deliver independent, unbrokered commodity price assessments across key benchmarks.
Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-theo-397b212b/ 

About Sparta
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