Oil set for sweet-sour rebalancing
The unusual premiums sour grades have enjoyed over sweet may be coming to an end
An imbalance in sweet-sour crude supply has been a key feature of the oil market since 2017. But fundamentals and price spreads suggest the historically elevated value sour grades have held relative to sweet may finally get eroded. The altered sweet-sour dynamic over the last three years or more has been driven not only by Opec+ cuts and US sanctions on Iran and Venezuela, reducing the availability of sour grades, but also the growth of US shale, boosting supply of sweeter barrels—and transforming the quality of the marginal barrel entering the market. This imbalance has impacted trade flows, with growing US exports to Europe and Asia. And it has also disrupted price differentials, including
Also in this section
3 May 2024
Upcoming elections are likely to deliver a win for the party of president Andres Lopez Obrador, but analysts differ over to what degree his successor will stick to his energy policies
2 May 2024
Faster-than-expected economic growth fails to mask macro imbalances and shifting structural oil product trends
1 May 2024
Energean CEO Mathios Rigas looks to results of critical Anchois appraisal well
30 April 2024
While its regional neighbours reap the rewards of oil and gas success, Iraq’s hydrocarbons sector is lagging behind