Market Outlook
Analyst brief

Week of 6th-10th April Pricing Analyst Update – Nadia Riaz – AG – Cross Barrel

Published10 APR 26 - 13:30 Reading time  minutes

Price action in the Arab Gulf remained firm and unpredictable, with sharp swings in both directions as shifting headlines kept the market uncertain, caught between diplomatic hopes and physical supply constraints.

– Oil stocks in Fujairah, UAE fell over 5% in the week ending April 6 to a record low of around 12 million barrels. This marks five weeks of continuous declines, with inventories down around 40% since early March. The drop comes as regional conflict, which began on February 28, continues and has included multiple attacks on Fujairah.

– Gasoline prices softened week on week as shipowners avoided regional ports because of security risks and higher insurance costs with fewer cargoes being offered into the market. Earlier this week MRPL offered 35kt of 95R Gasoline for April loading which traded at +1.25/bl.

– Gasoil 10 ppm and 500ppm premiums softened slightly, hovering in the high $20s, as backwardation widened in the wake of significant drone attacks on Kuwait’s power and desalination facilities. Meanwhile, jet fuel prices remained firm despite tighter supply conditions, continuing to trade at around +40/bbl.

– Naphtha market conditions are firming, with Israeli strikes in Lebanon clouding expectations around a Hormuz reopening. The May-June MOPJ time spread recovered to $78/mt, while the lack of physical resupply continues to leave the market structurally short. ‘Prices could see a slight rebound later this week, as underlying fundamentals remain tight,’ a naphtha trader said.

Topics CrudeDistillateFreightFuel OilGasolineNaphtha
Author

Nadia Riaz

Rate this article

Average rating / 5. Vote count:

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Continue reading

  • New
  • Deep dive
  • Naphtha

E/W leads but physical lags, naphtha’s July setup is shaping up bullish

E/W leads but physical lags, naphtha's July setup is shaping up bullish.

15 MAY 26 - 09:22

  • New
  • Analyst brief
  • Cross Barrel

Week 17 Pricing Analyst Update – Nadia Riaz – AG – Cross Barrel

Oil prices steadied after a strong rally as expectations for a swift resolution to the Iran...

15 MAY 26 - 07:51

  • New
  • Press

How the world has avoided an oil catastrophe so far

Expert: Neil Crosby (Head of Research, Sparta) Publication: The Economist Market Focus: Crude Oil,...

14 MAY 26 - 14:10

  • New
  • Deep dive
  • Gasoline

RBOB spreads bullish as Houston re-establishes market share in LATAM on a narrowing TA arb, while prompt E/W spreads rally

Low US inventories, Houston's Latin American Re-engagement, and prompt Chinese supply absence set the stage for a bullish summer.

14 MAY 26 - 13:48

subscribe_cta_image

Real time alerts, set to your specifications