Category: ARA stocks

Independently-held oil product stocks at the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) trading hub shrunk in the week to 17 May, according to consultancy Insights Global. A near decline in fuel oil inventories drove the downturn, with levels dropping.

Tankers carrying fuel oil arrived at the hub from the US, Brazil, Finland and France, and departed the Mediterranean region and Norway.

Stocks could drop further next week with the eastbound arbitrage route opening after Singapore margins soared, according to market participants. European fuel oil supply then could dip further if these economics remain workable.

At the lighter end of the barrel, gasoline stocks fell. Demand for product up the Rhine river into Germany rose owing to refinery outages in the country.

Transatlantic arbitrage economics remain less workable, weighing on US-export demand. Gasoline arrived at ARA from Italy, Spain, Portugal and the UK, and larger amounts departed for west Africa, the US, Germany and France.

Naphtha stocks rose on the week. Less gasoline blending activity at the hub may have allowed inventories to build, while demand from the petrochemical sector remains relatively lax as propane remains the more economic feedstock for crackers, according to Insights Global. Naphtha arrived at ARA from Algeria, Germany, Saudi Arabia and the US, and cargoes left for France.

Reporter: Georgina McCartney

Independently-held oil product stocks at the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) oil trading hub rose in the week to 10 May, according to consultancy Insights Global.

A rise in gasoil stocks drove the increase, with inventories reaching their highest since 9 March.

Diesel stocks rose on the week, probably in response to weakened gasoil values, according to Insights Global.

Gasoil inventories grew despite firm demand up the Rhine, with outages continuing to weigh on German supply and export opportunities on this flow facilitated by high water levels and low barge freight rates.

Cargoes carrying gasoil arrived at the hub from India, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Italy, while volumes departed for Germany, France, Spain and west Africa.

Gasoline stocks at ARA also rose on the week, probably increased as a result of limited export opportunities to the US, with the transatlantic arbitrage route seemingly unworkable, according to Insights Global.

Demand up the Rhine also weakened on the week, also allowing stocks to build. Gasoline arrived at the hub from France, Portugal the UK and Scandinavia, while smaller cargoes departed for the US, west Africa, Puerto Rico and Germany.

At the lighter end of the barrel, naphtha inventories also rose. Demand from the petrochemical sector up the Rhine was weak, according to Insights Global, as cheaper propane continues to displace naphtha for crackers.

Demand for naphtha into the gasoline blending pool remains firm, according to Insights Global, with stocks ample on weak petrochemical demand.

Georgina McCartney

Independently-held oil product stocks at the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) trading hub gained in the week to 3 May, according to consultancy Insights Global. An uptick in fuel oil inventories drove the increase, with stocks growing on the week.

Fuel oil stocks at the hub have increased because of a lack of export opportunities, according to Insights Global. Cargoes arrived at the hub from France, Germany, Greece and Poland, while smaller volumes departed for Denmark.

Gasoil stocks rose on the week. Inventories may have grown on reduced French demand, as the country brings its refineries back online after strike-related closures.

If the contango on the gasoil futures forward curve steepen, market participants may opt to store product at ARA, potentially pushing stocks up higher in the coming weeks, but at the moment this is not a profitable option, traders said.

Gasoil imports into ARA were firm this week, according to Insights Global, with product arriving from India, Portugal, the US, Qatar and Spain, while volumes left for Argentina, France, Germany and the UK.

Gasoline inventories grew on the week, despite firm demand for product up the Rhine into Germany with local refineries currently offline for maintenance. There was also reports of demand for gasoline by barge into Berlin, according to Insights Global.

Vessels discharged product at the hub originating from Finland, Spain, Sweden Turkey and the UK while volumes departed for France, Germany Spain the US and west Africa.

Meanwhile, naphtha stocks shrunk on the week. Inventories at the hub decreased on strong blending demand for gasoline production.

And while naphtha demand from the petro-chemical sector in Germany was relatively firm, refiners are seemingly turning more to propane as a cheaper alternative, according to Insights Global.

Finally, jet stocks at ARA rose. Demand is expected to grow in the coming months as summer holidays begin.

Independently-held oil product stocks at the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) trading hub fell fractionally in the week to 26 April, according to consultancy Insights Global. Gasoil stocks fell for a third consecutive week to their lowest since 26 January, driving the downturn.

Gasoil inventories at the hub were down on the week. Shipments of gasoil departed ARA for Argentina, northwest Europe, the US and west Africa while cargoes arrived from Saudi Arabia, Italy and the US. French demand for diesel remains relatively firm, according to Insights Global, reducing European diesel supply.

French gasoil demand has also risen seasonally with agricultural consumption, according to Insights Global.

Gasoline inventories at ARA also fell on the week.

The drawdown was partly because of an increase in German demand with refinery turnarounds reducing domestic road fuel supply.

Ongoing maintenance has hampered production of gasoline and gasoil at BP’s Lingen refinery in Emsland, Shell’s Godorf refinery, and PCK’s Schwedt refinery.

Gasoline arrived at ARA from Estonia, France, Romania and the UK, while volumes left for France, the US and west Africa.

Lower freight rates may have facilitated exports to the US, with clean rates from the UK continent to the US Atlantic coast falling on 27 April, a week earlier.

Naphtha stocks at the hub grew, gaining almost a third.

Imports were firm on the week, with cargoes arriving at ARA from Algeria, the US and Norway while none were exported. Gasoline blending activity at the hub is low, according to Insights Global, allowing stocks to build.

At the heavier end of the barrel, fuel oil inventories at ARA also fell on the week. Bunkering demand has assisted some flows, according to Insights Global.

The Singapore arbitrage route for low-sulphur fuel oil was open last week, according to Insights Global, resulting in a surge of fixtures.

Bucking the trend, jet fuel stocks rose on the week.

Cargoes arrived from Kuwait, while smaller volumes departed for the UK and Finland.

Reporter: Georgina McCartney

Independently-held oil product stocks at the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) oil trading hub remained unchanged in the week to 19 April, according to consultancy Insights Global.

Gasoline stocks declined, mostly offset by a rise in fuel oil stocks. Demand appeared mixed during the week.

Gasoline inventories declined in the week to 19 April, as more export demand emerged, according to Insights Global.

Stocks declined on the week, the lowest reading since 4 January when inventories amounted. This comes as the summer driving season is fast-approaching, and this will probably support blending feedstocks in the following weeks.

There has also been more demand up the Rhine river this week as refineries went offline in southern Germany, dragging more stock from ARA.

Gasoline cargoes arrived from Finland, Germany, France and Italy and departed to Canada and Finland.

On the lighter side of the barrel, naphtha’s inventories made up for last week’s decline in the week to 19 April, but still lower on the year.

Demand appears to be lackluster in April, with gasoline blending proving most of the support.

Gasoline blending demand was higher on the week, according to Insights Global, although not enough to reduce stocks. Petrochemical demand up the Rhine appeared lower on the week. Naphtha cargoes arrived from Algeria, Norway, Portugal and Spain, and departed to Spain and the US.

Jet fuel stocks rose on the week, according to Insights Global. Market demand is rising, as is usual for this time of the year, but this appears to be not enough to go through supply.

Jet cargoes came from Kuwait and departed for Norway.

Gasoil stocks were lower in the week to 19 April, remaining virtually unchanged.

The total is still higher on the year.

Demand for gasoil appeared strong up the Rhine river as German refineries were offline, dragging more from ARA.

Gasoil cargoes arrived from Finland, India, Italy and Saudi Arabia, and departed for France and Germany.

At the heavier end of the barrel, there was a lack of export demand for fuel oil in northwest Europe, according to Insights Global.

Fuel oil stocks rose on the week. Cargoes arrived from Colombia, Denmark, Estonia and Lithuania and departed to the Mediterranean and the UK.

Reporter: Mykyta Hryshchuk

Independently-held oil product stocks at the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) oil trading hub grew in the week to 5 April, according to Insights Global. Stocks at the hub have not been at this level since July 2021.

A dip in gasoline inventories failed to offset gains made across all other products.

Gasoil stocks at the hub grew on the week, ending five consecutive weeks of drawdowns. Cargoes carrying gasoil arrived from northwest Europe, India, Qatar and Turkey, while volumes departed for Scandinavia, France, Spain and the UK.

European companies are probably seeking to replenish stocks accrued in the lead up to the EU’s sanctions on Russian oil products.

Fuel oil stocks also rose, according to Insights Global. Product discharged at ARA from the US, Mexico, Poland and the UK, and cargoes left for Denmark, Morocco, France and the UK.

At the lighter end of the barrel, naphtha inventories grew, gaining on the week, with cargoes arriving at ARA from Italy, the UK and Spain, and volumes departing for the US.

Bucking the trend, gasoline stocks shed on the week, a three-week low.

Gasoline was imported into ARA from Scandinavia, Portugal, the UK and France. Cargoes departed the hub bound for the US, west Africa, Greece and Gibraltar.

Finally jet stocks rose at the hub on the week, according to Insights Global.

Jet fuel arrived at ARA from Singapore, while smaller volumes left for the UK.

Reporter: Georgina McCartney

Independently-held oil product stocks at the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) oil trading hub rose in the week to 22 March, according to consultancy Insights Global.

The rise was mostly driven by a rise in gasoline stocks. High freight rates are constraining exports from the region, pushing up stocks.

Gasoline stocks increased on the week. Transatlantic arbitrage economics remained less attractive, probably adding to European supplies. The market is building up stock in anticipation of higher demand from the US and WAF, according to Insights Global.

US gasoline inventories declined to a ten-week low last week, while demand rose, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Cargoes arrived in ARA from Germany, Ireland and the UK and left for Brazil, France, Germany and Mexico.

Naphtha stocks have also built up as rival feedstock propane became more attractive for petrochemical producers. Naphtha stocks rose in the week to 22 March.

The European propane market was weakened by additional US cargoes to the region and the naphtha to propane premium widened, the widest in 10 months.

Demand from the petrochemical sector remained low in the region, with producers being careful about rising production rates. Cargoes arrived in ARA from Algeria, Libya and Trinidad and Tobago, but none left.

Gasoil stocks were the only stocks that declined on the week, despite the drawdown, stocks remained higher year on year, as Europe is going through stocks built up before 5 February.

French strikes remain a going concern for the market’s supply, as more than half of the country’s refining capacity is shut and their stocks are difficult to reach.

Gasoil cargoes arrived from India and Singapore, and left for Argentina and France. More imports may come in late March from Asia, according to Insights Global.

Fuel oil inventories at ARA increased on the week. Although no additional demand emerged, cargoes arrived from Finland, France and Germany, and left for Canada, the UK and Norway, according to Insights Global.

Jet stocks gained, according to Insights Global. Inventories built as demand in Europe remained subdued throughout the week.

Reporter: Mykyta Hryshchuk

Independently-held oil product stocks at the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) oil trading hub shed almost during the week to 15 March, according to consultancy Insights Global, driven by fuel oil stocks, which contracted with an increase in buying interest as some shipowners look to take advantage of weakened crude prices.

Fuel oil inventories at ARA shrunk owing to a surge in exports this week, with volumes departing for the US, Canada, Spain, Germany and Denmark. Vessels carrying smaller volumes arrived from Saudi Arabia, the US and Germany.

Bunkering demand could have received a boost in recent days as some traders take advantage of tumbling crude prices, according to Insights Global.

Gasoil stocks also fell, losing on the week.

But diesel inventories remain higher on the year as Europe continues to grapple with oversupply. Gasoil arrived at ARA from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the US and the UK, while vessels loaded bound for France, Spain, the UK and Argentina.

Although imports have slowed compared with volumes shipped in December and January as Europe prepared itself for the loss of Russian sources, inbound levels remain higher on the year.

At the lighter end of the barrel, naphtha stocks fell on the week. Inventories fell on firm gasoline blending activity at the hub, according to Insights Global

A naphtha cargo departed ARA for Germany, which has traditionally been an uncommon flow according to Insights Global, but could become a norm in the absence of Russian supplies.

Gasoline stocks also dropped, on the week. More workable economics on the transatlantic arbitrage route have probably reduced European supplies.

Gasoline stocks on the US Atlantic coast dropped last week, a six-week low, data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) show.

Vessels carrying gasoline loaded at ARA for the US, west Africa, Brazil and France, while volumes arrived from the UK, Italy, Denmark and Germany.

Jet stocks gained, according to Insights Global.

Inventories built as no product left ARA but large volumes arrived from the UAE.

Reporter: Georgina McCartney

Independently-held oil products stocks at the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) gained during the week to 8 March, according to consultancy Insights Global, driven by a sharp rise in fuel oil receipts.

Fuel oil inventories at the hub also gained on the week, reaching their highest since July 2021.

Cargoes carrying fuel oil arrived from northwest Europe, Poland and Saudi Arabia, with comparatively smaller volumes departing for Germany and the UK.

Less workable economics on the Singapore arbitrage route may have allowed stocks to build, along with weak bunkering demand.

Gasoil stocks were down on the week. Volumes arrived at the hub from China, Kuwait, Qatar and Singapore while cargoes departed for France, Spain and the UK.

Although diesel inventories fell on the week, they remain more than 50pc higher on the year. But if French strikes go on for a prolonged period as they did last autumn, then a drawdown on diesel stocks could accelerate.

Jet inventories also fell on the week. No volumes arrived or departed the hub, and so a drop in levels could be caused by product moving out via pipeline, according to Insights Global.

The drop may also be a result of companies opting to blend jet fuel into diesel, as diesel is currently pricing at a premium to jet.

At the lighter end of the barrel, gasoline stocks decreased on the week. Clean freight rates have come off recently, potentially opening up export opportunities and encouraging flows out of the hub.

Clean tanker rates from the UK continent to the US Atlantic coast have been in continual decline since 10 February. Freight costs have since fallen.

Naphtha stocks grew on the week. Volumes arrived at ARA from Algeria, northwest Europe and the Mediterranean and no volumes loaded to depart.

Demand from the petrochemical sector is low, and ample supply in the Mediterranean has left refiners seeking an outlet to offload product, with many of those volumes ending up at ARA.

Reporter: Georgina McCartney

Independently-held oil product stocks at the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) oil trading hub declined in the week to 1 March, their lowest since 2 February, according to consultancy Insights Global.

Stocks of all the major products fell, with jet fuel down most sharply in percentage terms, while gasoil stocks dropped on the week.

At the lighter end of the barrel, gasoline inventories at the hub inched lower.

Cargoes departed the hub for Argentina, Brazil and Canada. The economics of moving gasoline across the Atlantic were subdued in February by rising freight rates, according to Insights Global.

Although gasoline blending at the hub slowed on the week, demand still stems from companies preparing for higher demand, in advance of the US summer driving season.

Naphtha stocks declined on the week, reaching the lowest since December as the market struggles to replace banned Russian supply.

More naphtha is bound to arrive from the Mediterranean into ARA, although there may be a quality mismatch. The Mediterranean region mainly produces heavy naphtha, while light naphtha is preferred in gasoline blending.

This may force blenders to use more heavy naphtha in gasoline blending. Petrochemical demand up the Rhine river remained subdued as downstream demand remained lacklustre.

Gasoil inventories declined the most in nominal value.

Demand up the Rhine river has been higher, according to Insights Global, since mid-January. Supplies are still ample as the region was flooded with Russian barrels ahead of the ban and fresh cargoes arrived from Italy, Kuwait and Norway.

Further, the Front Tyne VLCC departed the Adnoc refinery in Ruwais, UAE on 17 February for Rotterdam, Netherlands. The tanker is to deliver diesel on April, according to Vortexa.

Reporter: Mykyta Hryshchuk