Category: ARA stocks

June 17, 2021 – Independently-held inventories of oil products in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) trading and storage hub rose over the past week, according to the latest data from consultancy Insights Global.

Total stocks rose, supported by an increase in gasoil and fuel oil inventories. Stocks of jet fuel and naphtha fell, as did stocks of gasoline which reached their lowest since December 2019. Outflows of gasoline to the US from the ARA area rose during the week to 16 June, meeting demand created by the onset of the summer driving season in the US. Demand for European gasoline from the US has eased in recent trading days. Tankers also departed for the ARA area for Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, west Africa and the Mediterranean, and arrived from France, Norway, Russia, Spain and the UK.

Naphtha inventories fell, despite no tankers departing the area during the week to 16 June. Cargoes arrived from France, Russia, Spain and the US, and demand from petrochemical end-users in the region was robust. Naphtha has maintained its place as a favoured petrochemical feedstock so far this summer despite trading higher than lighter alternatives such as propane, owing to firm demand for the petrochemical co-products that naphtha generates in the cracking process.

Jet stocks also fell by, with no tankers arriving into the region. Cargoes departed for the UK, where demand from the commercial aviation sector is increasing. And rising demand from airports in the European hinterland prompted a week on week rise in the volume of jet fuel departing the ARA for destinations along the river Rhine.

Gasoil inventories rose, reaching their highest since March, supported by the arrival of cargoes from Canada, Norway and key supplier Russia. Barge flows of gasoil from the ARA to destinations inland were steady on the week, and tankers departed for France and the UK.

Fuel oil stocks rose to seven-week highs, supported by the arrival of cargoes from Estonia, Poland, Russia and the UK. Tankers departed for the Mediterranean and west Africa.

Reporter: Thomas Warner

10 June, 2021 — Independently-held inventories of oil products in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) trading and storage hub have fallen over the past week, according to the latest data from consultancy Insights Global.

Total stocks fell, weighed down by falls in inventories of all surveyed products except naphtha. Naphtha inventories rebounded from the 16-month lows recorded a week earlier, climbing owing to the arrival of tankers from Algeria, Norway, Portugal and several from Russia. Naphtha stocks in ARA rose partly because of a slowdown in demand along the river Rhine, where unplanned issues have affected production at one inland petrochemical site at least.

Gasoil inventories fell, weighed down by a seasonal rise in diesel demand in northwest Europe and a fall in imports from Russia.

Gasoline inventories fell. Fresh bookings on the route to the US dwindled during the week to 9 June, but earlier bookings loaded in ARA in the past week. The congestion that had affected the trade in finished-grade gasoline and components around Amsterdam eased, as blending activity slowed. Tankers departed for Canada, the US, Mexico, East Africa and West Africa. Tankers arrived from France, Germany, Russia, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

Jet stocks dropped, but stayed close to six-month highs, with a single part-cargo arriving from India. The cargo discharged partly in the ARA area and partly in Le Havre, France. Tankers departed for the UK.

Fuel oil stocks fell back from four-week highs, weighed down by the departure of cargoes for the US, west Africa and Skagen, Denmark for orders. Tankers arrived from France, Russia and the UK.

Reporter: Thomas Warner

June 3, 2021 – Independently-held inventories of oil products in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) trading and storage hub have risen over the past week, according to the latest data from consultancy Insights Global.

Total stocks stand, rising for the second consecutive week having reached 13-month lows two weeks ago. Stocks of all surveyed products rose with the exception of naphtha, which fell on the week to its lowest level since February 2020. The heavy fall in naphtha inventories a week earlier was the result of higher demand from gasoline blenders in the Amsterdam and Antwerp areas, for gasoline for export mostly to the US, where summer driving season has started.

Gasoline inventories ticked up, but relative stability in overall stock levels masked high levels of in and outflows. Gasoline tankers departed for the US, the Caribbean, Canada, the Mediterranean and west Africa. Tankers carrying finished grade gasoline and blending components arrived from Denmark, France, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Sweden and the UK.

Gasoil stocks rose on the week, supported by the arrival of the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Hunter from east of Suez, as well as smaller cargoes from Poland, Russia and the US. The volume of gasoil departing for terminals along the river Rhine rose on the week, bolstered by firm demand from key market Germany as well as relatively low barge freight costs. Ample water in the river Rhine as well as low demand barges relative to the pre-Covid era mean that there are currently more than enough barges available for any cargoes that need to be moved inland.

Fuel oil stocks rose to reach four-week highs, bolstered by the arrival of cargoes from Estonia, Russia, Sweden and the UK. The Mediterranean was the only export region to receive any fuel oil cargoes from ARA.

Reporter: Thomas Warner

May 27, 2021 — Independently-held inventories of oil products in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) trading and storage hub have risen over the past week, according to the latest data from consultancy Insights Global.

Total stocks stand, rising for the second consecutive week having reached 13-month lows two weeks ago. Stocks of all surveyed products rose with the exception of naphtha, which fell on the week to its lowest level since February 2020. The heavy fall in naphtha inventories a week earlier was the result of higher demand from gasoline blenders in the Amsterdam and Antwerp areas, for gasoline for export mostly to the US, where summer driving season has started.

Gasoline inventories ticked up, but relative stability in overall stock levels masked high levels of in and outflows. Gasoline tankers departed for the US, the Caribbean, Canada, the Mediterranean and west Africa. Tankers carrying finished grade gasoline and blending components arrived from Denmark, France, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Sweden and the UK.

Gasoil stocks rose on the week, supported by the arrival of the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Hunter from east of Suez, as well as smaller cargoes from Poland, Russia and the US. The volume of gasoil departing for terminals along the river Rhine rose on the week, bolstered by firm demand from key market Germany as well as relatively low barge freight costs. Ample water in the river Rhine as well as low demand barges relative to the pre-Covid era mean that there are currently more than enough barges available for any cargoes that need to be moved inland.

Fuel oil stocks rose to reach four-week highs, bolstered by the arrival of cargoes from Estonia, Russia, Sweden and the UK. The Mediterranean was the only export region to receive any fuel oil cargoes from ARA.

Reporter: Thomas Warner

May 20, 2021 — Independently-held inventories of oil products in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) trading and storage hub fell during the week to 19 May, according to the latest data from consultancy Insights Global.

Total stocks fell over the past week, their lowest since April 2020. Inventories typically fall during the spring refinery maintenance season, as producers draw down stocks to meet their supply agreements.

Inventories are now broadly in line with the level recorded in the same week of 2019, in a further sign of the gradual return of more typical trading conditions in the European refined products markets.

Inventories of all surveyed products fell on the week except jet fuel which rose, supported by the arrival of cargoes from Kuwait and India. Several tankers departed for the UK, where demand is ramping up ahead of the summer.

And the volume of jet fuel moving around the ARA area on barges rose on the week for the same reason, as regional airports in northwest Europe begin preparations for the summer.

Gasoline inventories dropped on the week, as tankers continued to depart for destinations across the Atlantic. The volume departing on the westbound transatlantic route rose on the week, and tankers also departed for South Africa and west Africa. Tankers arrived in the ARA area from France, Italy, Norway, Russia and Sweden.

Gasoil stocks fell on the week, despite a week on week fall in flows of middle distillates to inland Rhine destinations. Inventories inland are high owing to an influx of barges in recent weeks, after a drop in freight costs from the ARA area.

Freight costs fell in response to a seasonal rise in Rhine water levels, but recovered quickly as market participants moved middle distillates inland. Tankers arrived in the ARA area from Germany, Poland and the UK and departed for Norway, Russia and the US.

Naphtha inventories fell, weighed down by an increase in demand from gasoline blenders and petrochemical companies along the Rhine. Tankers arrived in the area from Algeria, the Mediterranean, Poland, Russia, Spain and the UK.

Fuel oil stocks fell to four-month lows, mostly a result of a drop in imports from Russia. A single Aframax tanker arrived from Russia during the week, while smaller cargoes arrived from Estonia and Germany. Fuel oil departed the region for Port Said and west Africa.

Reporter: Thomas Warner

May 13, 2021 — Independently-held inventories of oil products in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) trading and storage hub fell during the week to 12 May, according to the latest data from consultancy Insights Global.

Total stocks fell over the past week, dropping to their lowest since April 2020. Inventories typically fall during the spring refinery maintenance season, as producers draw down stocks to meet their supply agreements. The massive drop in demand caused by Covid-19 over the past year means that inventories are higher than in the same week in 2019.

Inventories of all surveyed products were lower on the week. Fuel oil stocks fell more than any other product for the second consecutive week.

Outflows from the ARA to the Mediterranean and west Africa rose, and local bunkering demand was also higher. The arrival of a Suezmax and various smaller tankers from Estonia, Germany, Poland, Russia and the UK partially offset the rise in outflows.

Gasoil stocks fell on the week, weighed down by a rise in barge flows to inland Rhine destinations. The volume heading up the Rhine from the ARA area reached its highest since November 2020, supported by a collapse in barge freight costs that was itself the result of rising Rhine water levels and ample availability of barges. Gasoil cargoes arrived in the ARA area from Russia and the US, and departed for Argentina, France, the UK, the US and west Africa.

Gasoline inventories fell, also weighed down by high barge flows up the river Rhine. Gasoline production is curtailed at German refiner Miro’s plant because of a defective catalytic reformer, which has been operating below capacity since 30 April.

Traders in the German market have moved gasoline from storage in the ARA into destinations along the Rhine in order to make up for the lower supply from the refinery. Tankers departed the ARA for Mexico, Port Said, west Africa and the US. Outflows to the US rose on the week as a result of firm demand from the US Atlantic Coast.

Tankers arrived in the ARA area from Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Russia, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

Naphtha stocks fell on the week. The volume heading inland on barges was stable at the level seen for the previous few weeks.

Tankers arrived in the region from Algeria, Italy, Norway, Russia and the UK. A single cargo departed for Brazil for use in the petrochemical sector.

Jet fuel stocks fell, despite the arrival of a cargo from Kuwait, while small cargoes departed for the UK. There was no sign of a week on week increase in demand from regional airports.

Reporter: Thomas Warner

May 6, 2021 – Independently-held inventories of oil products in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) trading and storage hub fell by the week, according to the latest data from consultancy Insights Global.

Total stocks fell over the past week, dropping as one of the year-lows recorded a fortnight earlier. Inventories of all surveyed products were lower on the week, with the exception of gasoline.

Gasoline stocks rose, supported by the arrival of cargoes from France, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Finished grade gasoline and components have been drawn into the ARA area in recent weeks, as blenders in the region work to collate cargoes for export.

The barge market around Amsterdam and Antwerp has been congested as a result, and tanker outflows have also risen. Cargoes departed for Argentina, Canada, East Africa, Japan, the Mediterranean, Mexico, west Africa and the US.

Stocks of all other products fell. Fuel oil stocks fell more than any other product. The departure of a Suezmax as well as smaller tankers for the Mediterranean and west Africa weighed on the overall volume in storage, despite the arrival of tankers from France, Germany, Mexico, Russia and the UK.

Naphtha stocks fell on the week. A single small cargo departed for France, while tankers arrived from Algeria, Norway and Russia. The fall in stocks was the result of firmer demand from gasoline blenders in the region absorbing naphtha to make gasoline for export regions.

Gasoil stocks ticked down on the week, following a rise in flows of gasoil barges to destinations along the river Rhine. Diesel demand from European end-users is firming as measures to curb the Covid-19 virus are gradually being relaxed.

Cargoes arrived from Brazil, Russia, the UK and the US Gulf coast. Tankers departed for the US Atlantic coast, France and west Africa.

Jet fuel stocks fell amid firmer regional demand. Demand for jet fuel barges increased during the week to 5 May, as airports in northwest Europe begin preparing for the summer.

A tanker carrying jet arrived from the UAE, and small cargoes departed for the UK and Ireland.

Reporter: Thomas Warner

April 29, 2021 — Independently-held inventories of oil products in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) trading and storage hub rose on the week, after reaching their lowest in a year the previous week.

Total stocks rose over the past week, according to consultancy Insights Global. Inventories of all surveyed products were higher on the week, and jet fuel stocks reached six-week highs as a result of low demand from northwest European airports and the arrival of a cargo from the UAE.

Gasoil stocks rose after reaching their lowest since April 2020 last week, supported by the arrival of tankers from key supplier Russia, as well as the UK and Norway. The volume of middle distillates leaving the ARA area for inland Rhine destinations on barges fell on the week.

Transport fuel demand is below typical levels for the time of year owing to measures put in place to control the spread of Covid-19. And low water levels on the river Rhine meant that barges could only carry to upper-Rhine destinations.

Gasoline stocks rose, supported by the arrival of cargoes from Finland, Ireland, Portugal, Russia and the UK. The volume departing for the US was stable on the week, and tankers also departed for Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the Mediterranean and west Africa.

Firm demand for European gasoline from the US meant that gasoline blending activity continued apace, particularly around Amsterdam and Antwerp.

Naphtha stocks rose to reach eight-week highs. Tankers arrived from Algeria, France, Portugal and Norway. Naphtha is being drawn into the ARA area by gasoline blenders producing cargoes for export.

Fuel oil stocks rose, despite the arrival of cargoes from Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia and the UK. The departure of a tanker for west Africa and a rise in local bunkering demand helped balance out the influx.

Reporter: Thomas Warner

April 22, 2021 – Independently-held inventories of oil products in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) trading and storage hub have fallen to their lowest since April 2020.

Total stocks fell over the past week, according to consultancy Insights Global. Inventories of all surveyed products except jet fuel were lower on the week. Jet fuel stocks rose on the week, supported by the arrival of a partial cargo from India and a cargo from Russia. Jet demand from the northwest European aviation sector remains under heavy pressure from the measures to restrict travel.

Fuel oil stocks fell by more than any other product, dropping by the week owing to a rise in outflows to the Mediterranean. Tankers also departed for west Africa, and bunkering demand within the ARA area rose as ships continued to arrive after being stuck behind the Ever Given in late March. Fuel oil cargoes arrived in the ARA area from Italy, France, the UK and Germany.

Gasoil stocks fell to their lowest in a year. Outflows to the UK and west Africa rose on the week, while inflows fell. Gasoil inventories are unlikely to fall much lower as several laden tankers are on their way to the region, and others are waiting in the harbour area. The volume of gasoil heading up the river Rhine on barges was broadly stable on the week, and the trade in gasoil barges around the ARA was quiet owing to the lack of consumer demand in the area.

Gasoline stocks fell to reach their lowest since November. The volume departing for the US rose on the week, and tankers also departed for Canada, Puerto Rico, South Africa and west Africa. Congestion in the gasoline and component barge markets prompted by the high degree of export blending eased, with most barges loading and discharging within one or two days of the scheduled time. Tankers arrived from France, Russia, Spain and the UK.

Naphtha stocks fell and rise during the previous week. Tankers arrived from Italy and Russia, and departed for the US. The unusual departure of a naphtha cargo from the ARA area to the US was prompted by unusually high supply in Europe, that has brought refining margins to their lowest since early December this week.

Reporter: Thomas Warner

April 15, 2021 — Independently-held inventories of oil products in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) trading and storage hub have risen after reaching four-month lows the previous week.

Total stocks rose over the past week, according to consultancy Insights Global. Inventories of fuel oil, gasoline and naphtha all rose, while jet and gasoil both fell to multi-month lows.

Gasoil inventories fell to their lowest since April 2020, dropping by on the week. Tankers departed the ARA area for France, the Mediterranean and the UK amid low local demand, while relatively little arrived from key supply area Russia over the week. The fall in stocks came despite a week on week fall in barge flows to destinations inland.

Jet stocks also fell, reaching their lowest since late August. Demand around the ARA area and its surroundings were low as a result of restrictions on commercial aviation. But tankers continued to depart for the UK, where demand is firmer. Large cargoes of both jet and diesel are on their way from east of Suez, which is likely to increase inventories in the coming weeks.

Stocks of all other surveyed products rose. Gasoline and component cargoes arrived in the ARA area from Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and the UK during the week to yesterday, supporting inventories. But demand for blending components from gasoline producers appeared firmer, and the volume of gasoline moving around the ARA area rose on the week. Outflows of finished-grade gasoline to the US also rose on the week, and tankers departed for Argentina, Canada and the Caribbean as well.

Naphtha stocks rose, after reaching 14-month lows the previous week. Tankers arrived from France, Poland, Portugal and Russia, attracted by keen interest from gasoline blenders. The volume of naphtha heading inland on barges fell, as lighter rival products began to displace naphtha as a petrochemical feedstock at some sites inland. Naphtha typically becomes less attractive as a petrochemical feedstock during the summer, as prices of rival feedstocks fall during warmer months. Both propane and butane are used as domestic heating fuel in winter, bolstering demand and prices during cooler weather.

Fuel oil stocks rose, supported by the arrival of cargoes from the Caribbean, Estonia, Poland and the UK. A single Suezmax tanker departed for South Africa. BP has also chartered a tanker to carry fuel oil to South Africa in the coming weeks. The company operates the country’s Durban refinery as part of a joint-venture with Shell. The Durban refinery suffered an unplanned shutdown earlier this month and is expected to be taken offline entirely for scheduled maintenance for six weeks starting on 1 May.

Reporter: Thomas Warner