Crude oil loadings across the U.S. Gulf Coast dropped from the previous week — 3.4 MMb/d last week compared to 5 MMb/d a week earlier. Exports were down in all areas except Beaumont. This second week this month of reduced loadings has dropped the 4-week moving average (blue line in chart below) to 4.1 MMb/d.  Exports destined for Asia were up for the second week in a row as 16 vessels departed carrying a total of 13.8 MMbbl. The number of vessels headed to Europe last week dropped dramatically to five from 18 in the prior week. In Europe, physical crude prices are declining as the region heads into peak refinery maintenance season with about 2.1 MMb/d of U.S. crude imports already set to arrive in March. 

Create a FREE Account to Read Full Article