In early October Saudi Aramco stopped its open credit line to Egypt's EGPC halting the supply of refined products, according to traders. What led to this decision, and how does this fit into the political context in the Middle East? Ned Molloy, managing editor European fuel oil, George Shaw, editor...

There are no longer doubts about the technical feasibility of scrubbers, but the low oil price environment has made the financial case for investing in scrubbers less obvious. However with the upcoming IMO decision later in October in London, on whether to implement a global sulfur cap of 0.50% on...

This year Russian refinery upgrades have well and truly kicked in, after some delays, leading to a significant fall in fuel oil exports to Europe, and a shift towards higher-sulfur Vacuum Gasoil. S&P Global Platts' Ned Molloy, managing editor of fuel oil, interviews Jelena Grigorjeva,...

Sweeping changes to marine fuel regulation are affecting cruise liners more than most segments of the global shipping industry. Ned Molloy, managing editor, fuel oil at S&P Global Platts, speaks to Bud Darr, senior vice president of technical and regulatory affairs at Cruise Lines International...

Russia's privatization story has taken more twists and turns. The authorities have delayed the privatization of the country's fastest growing oil producer Bashneft, Lukoil has got cold feet over the potential purchase and Rosneft's interest has been muddied by the fact that it too is state owned....

Following numerous Russia-Asia economic events this spring, S&P Global Platts managing editor for oil news in Moscow Nadia Rodova and her Moscow-based colleague Nastassia Astrasheuskaya assess the prospects of oil and gas cooperation with investors from several Asian countries, with CNPC's...

As the European Union is to debate the extension of oil sanctions on Russia in June, Platts managing editor for oil news in Moscow Nadia Rodova and her Moscow-based colleague Rosemary Griffin discuss the impact of the sanctions on the country's oil sector and the implications for the future for...

Joel Hanley, editorial director for EMEA oil, talks with two Platts experts on Russia, Elza Turner and Nadia Rodova, about the changing profile of Russian refineries and exports, as lower crude oil prices, tax reforms, refinery upgrades and financing difficulties create a mixed outlook.We welcome...

Wildfires are still raging across northern Alberta, and the oil industry is grappling with shut-ins, forces majeures and price effects rippling through markets. Allen Reed, associate editor of Canadian crude oil, talks with Luciano Battistini, managing editor of crude oil, about the status of oil...

The US jet fuel industry is facing more problems with off-spec product, leading to lots of discussion around how jet fuel is stored, mixed, shipped on pipelines and tested. Kent Carlson, US jet fuel reporter, talks with Amanda Rayborn, managing editor for middle distillates, about some theories...

The premium of Mediterranean low sulfur fuel oil prices over Northwest Europe tumbled to its narrowest level in 20-months on the back of plummeting freight rates between the two regions.Platts oil and shipping editors, Beatrice Bedeschi and John Morley discuss the reasons behind the bearish...

Following a fourth-quarter earnings season in which oil companies took another severe hit from low oil and gas prices, Platts senior writer for EMEA oil news Robert Perkins and senior editor for EMEA oil news Nick Coleman discuss how the industry is adapting, some of the more surprising outcomes of...

The recent change in gasoil flows from Russia is the main driver of the shortage which has pushed Northwest European gasoil physical premiums to their highest in over three years. Platts oil products editors Olivier Lejeune, Elza Turner and George Shaw discuss recent market dynamics.We welcome any...

With a tumultuous year for oil prices now in the rear-view mirror, Platts middle distillates team leader Olivier Lejeune sits down with Phil Casey to discuss the structural shift observed on the European jet market in 2015 and the outlook for 2016. Despite robust demand, the region struggled to...

Memorial Day weekend in the US is expected to have the highest travel volume for the holiday in 10 years, according to AAA Travel, right at a time when refiners are cranking up capacity to churn out more gasoline. Jeff Bair, light ends team leader in the Americas, talks with Amanda Rayborn, who...

Is it the end of an era in Saudi Arabia? Platts associate editorial director for oil news Mriganka Jaipuriyar and senior editor Tamsin Carlisle look at how recent political developments in Saudi and the separation of Saudi Aramco from the Ministry of Petroleum could affect international oil...

Platts Robert Beaman, managing editor for EMEA crude oil, analyzes recent trends in Brent crude oil prices with North Sea crude editor Ned Molloy and futures specialist George Shaw. The team discusses a perceived disconnect between the rally in futures and the weak physical crude market, as...

Platts Olivier Lejeune, managing editor for European and African middle distillates, and Philippe Casey, European jet fuel editor, discuss the recent change in the European jet fuel specification and the serious implications for oil traders and pipeline operators across the continent. We welcome...

Platts Olivier Lejeune, managing editor, Europe and Africa middle distillates and Eline Potie, Europe and Africa gasoil editor, discuss the changing face of the European gasoil market after Russian refinery upgrade projects led to lower sulfur gasoil exports. We welcome any feedback or suggestions...

In this podcast, Vandana Hari, Platts editorial director in Asia, and Pradeep Rajan, Platts senior managing editor for freight markets, assess the oil volumes stockpiled by Iran and how much of it could flood the global market, as well as how the insurance landscape could evolve once oil sanctions...

Platts Benno Spencer, senior managing editor, Europe and Africa Oil and Erduan Reid, Europe and Africa fuel oil editor, discuss the surprising resurgence in Northwest European low sulfur fuel oil barge demand seen in the first half of April. The discussion focuses on Vitol's recent buying spree in...

China recently released criteria for refiners that do not have crude import quotas or licenses to start applying for new import quotas. Platts senior oil news writer Song Yen Ling explains this policy change, the current status of application for rights to import crude, and how it may affect the...

On March 28-29, Nigeria elected Muhammadu Buhari as the country's new president, defeating incumbent Goodluck Jonathan. Robert Beaman, Managing Editor for European and African crude oil, discusses the impact of the election on the oil industry and on the physical oil markets with editors Eklavya...

Gasoline accounts for roughly 30% of Japan's domestic oil demand. Platts Asian oil news associate director Mriganka Jaipuriyar and senior editor Takeo Kumagai analyze Japan's improved refining margins, the changes that helped refiners in the fiscal year 2014-2015, and the industry's outlook for...

Sophie Byron, managing editor of Europe and Africa light ends, and Iain Stevenson, associate editor for LPG, analyze what is causing the tightness in propane supply in Europe, its impact on prices, and the steps being taken by the region's producers to meet their propane requirements. We welcome...

Sophie Byron, managing editor for European and African light ends, discusses with editor Virginie Malicier, the gasoline seasonality switch from winter to summer specification and blending demand; and analyze Where US gasoline strength after strike action, refinery issues and maintenance has...

Robert Beaman, managing editor for European and African crude oil, discusses the impact on the WAF crude market of the recent changes in Suezmax and VLCC freight rates, with freight editor John Morley and price assessments specialist Dimitrios Moraitelis. With Brent crude contango having narrowed...

Platts Christopher Vowden, managing editor of fuel oil and feedstocks, and Marko Trtica, fuel oil editor, discuss the recent change in shipping emission regulations that has led to increased demand for European marine gasoil and the growing interest in other alternative fuels and technologies. We...

Several Asian governments have taken advantage of low oil prices to carry out retail pricing reforms in their respective countries. In this podcast, Platts senior editor Mriganka Jaipuriyar, editorial director in China Sebastian Lewis, and senior analyst Oceana Zhou discuss the potentially big...

Brian Pearce, IATA’s chief economist, talks to Ilana Djelal, associate editorial director for European clean products and Philippe Casey, European jet fuel editor on the impact of lower energy complex on downstream airline markets. We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics. Contact...

In this podcast, Platts senior oil news writer Yen Ling Song looks at the pattern of China's crude imports over the past years and discusses the factors that may affect the country's buying decision in 2015, as well as its current and upcoming capacity for commercial storage and strategic petroleum...

Sophie Byron, managing editor of Europe and Africa light ends, and and Iain Stevenson, associate editor for LPG discuss structural changes in the LPG market, focusing on increased propane exports from the US and the impact on the European market. Also examined is the lack of seasonal strength in...

Malaysia has scrapped fuel subsidies and Indonesia has reduced them. Platts editors James Bourne, Mriganka Jaipuriyar, and Jonathan Nonis discuss the subsidy policy shifts, the impact on oil imports, and the domestic appetite for fuel in both countries. This is the latest in a series of weekly...

Benno Spencer, senior managing editor, Europe and Africa oil, Elza Turner, senior editor for Russian crude and products, and Paula VanLaningham, editor for Mediterranean and Urals crude, discuss the upcoming changes to the Russian oil export tax scheme and their impact on both crude and product...

Sophie Byron, managing editor of EMEA light ends and Virginie Malicier, editor for EMEA naphtha discuss the recent weakness in the European naphtha market with oversupply in Europe and low demand in Asia. Also examined is the ongoing competition from LPG for petrochemical cracking in Europe as...

Benno Spencer, senior managing editor, Europe and Africa oil, and Marko Trtica, fuel oil editor, discuss the recent OW Bunker bankruptcy and the consequences for the global bunker fuel market; focusing on price, competition, finance, losses and other ramifications.This is the latest in a series of...

Aleksandrs Juhnevics, managing editor, global shipping and freight, and Eklavya Gupte and John Morley, associate editors for West African crude and shipping, discuss the impact on the oil and shipping markets of the recent Ebola outbreak in WAF; and examine the steps taken by the shipping industry...

Cheong Su Yeen, Platts senior editor for jet fuel in Asia, and Song Yen Ling, Platts senior writer for oil, discuss the growth prospect of jet fuel demand in China amid the rapid development of high-speed railway network; the product balance for jet fuel in China; and the factors that will likely...

Elza Turner, senior editor for the Russian domestic oil market and Alex Pearce, editor for Northwest Europe distillates, discuss the temporary drop of Russian October diesel exports against the overall picture of steady flows to Europe and expected increase of volumes next year.This is the latest...

Sophie Byron, managing editor for EMEA light ends and Virginie Malicier, editor for EMEA naphtha, discuss the recent weakness in the European naphtha market, where cheaper propane remains in the petrochemical cracking pool and good availability of naphtha creates an overhang in the market. In...

A glut in ultra low sulfur diesel and gasoline looms in Asia. Jonathan Nonis, Platts senior managing editor for the Asian oil markets, discusses the factors behind the impending oversupply, Australia's potential demand growth, and the possibility of other markets as destinations of the surplus...

Sophie Byron, managing editor for EMEA light ends and Francesco Di Salvo, editor for EMEA gasoline, discuss the recent strength in the Northwest European gasoline market, where refinery maintenance has exerted upwards pressure on prices. This is despite the transition to cheaper winter-grade...

Andrew Bonnington, editorial director for European and African oil and Eklavya Gupte, associate editor covering the West African crude oil markets, discuss the unique challenges and opportunities facing the African continent. Booming US crude oil production has meant that Nigeria in particular has...

Benno Spencer, senior managing editor for EMEA oil and Paula VanLaningham, editor for Mediterranean and Urals crude, discuss the recent weakness in the Mediterranean Urals market, where differentials have dropped relative to the Northwest European market as incoming arbitrage barrels from the...

Mexico's energy reforms present potentially huge oil and gas exploration and investment opportunities to foreigners. James Bourne, Platts associate director of oil news in Asia, and Takeo Kumagai, Platts senior editor for Asia oil news, discuss the sets of investment opportunities for foreign...

Platts Stuart Elliott, associate editorial director, Europe and Africa oil news and Rosemary Griffin, associate editor, discuss the likely impact of new EU sanctions against Russian oil companies, and how the likes of Rosneft, Transneft and Gazprom Neft might combat the measures. This is the latest...

Platts Stuart Elliott, associate editorial director, Europe and Africa oil news and Nick Coleman, senior editor, discuss the run-up to the vote on Scottish independence, how the future of North Sea oil and gas is at the center of the debate and what an independent Scotland would look to do with its...

Platts Peter Norfolk, editorial director, global shipping and freight, and John Morley and Nigel Davies, West of Suez freight editors, discuss the impact on tanker markets of the restart of crude oil loading from the Libyan ports of Ras Lanuf and Es Sider, as well as the latest developments...