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Heavy sweet oil is being chased by refiners and marine fuel blenders amid the Iran war disruptions

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 21, 2026

Sources in the industry said that marine?fuel suppliers are facing a shortage of high-density low-sulphur crude, also known as heavy sweet oil, to blend because of the competition between refiners. The Iran war has disrupted Middle?East imports.

As US-Iran negotiations begin, tankers leave the Gulf via Strait of Hormuz.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 11, 2026

Three supertankers sailed through the Strait of Hormuz Saturday, according to shipping data. These vessels were 'apparently' the?first vessels?to leave the Gulf after the U.S. Iran ceasefire agreement and just as the peace talks in Pakistan began.

First time in 2020, the cost of oil tankers between Asia and the Middle East exceeds $200 per day

Posted to Maritime Reporter on February 26, 2026

LSEG data revealed that the cost of hiring a'very large crude carrier' to transport a?2,000,000 barrels a day from the?Middle East into?China on Thursday exceeded $200,000 a daily for the first since 2020. On the Worldscale industry measurement used to calculate freight rates…

CORRECTED - Southeast Asian refineries reduce output due to tightened crude supplies

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 10, 2026

Sources say that a growing number of refineries in Southeast Asia, who are dependent on Middle East oil for their production, have reduced output due to the U.S./Israeli war against Iran. Sources say that the conflict has halted all shipments across the Strait of Hormuz.

Sources say that Prefchem Malaysia has reduced its refinery production after closing the gasoline unit.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on February 24, 2026

Sources familiar with the matter say that Pengerang Refining Company in Malaysia (Prefchem), has reduced 'output' at its refinery after it closed one of two units for repairs - until April. They added that this has resulted in a decrease in exports of refined goods for the month.

China describes the Panama court's ruling on CK Hutchison Port contracts as'shameful and pathetic'

Posted to Maritime Reporter on February 4, 2026

China has called the Panama court's decision to annul CK Hutchison’s contracts to operate a pair of Panama Canal ports as "absurd, shameful and pathetic" and vowed that it would defend Chinese interests. Panama's Supreme Court annulled last…

The Asian fuel market is affected by the record January fuel oil exports of Kuwait's Al-Zour refinery.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on February 2, 2026

Ship-tracking data showed that Kuwait's Al-Zour refinery increased fuel oil exports to record levels in January after recovering from an outage. Most of the cargoes were bound for Southeast Asia. Analysts and traders said that the surge in Kuwaiti supply…

Singapore's RoRo terminal joint venture will be formed by Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. and PSA Singapore

Posted to Maritime Reporter on January 29, 2026

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Japan’s second largest shipping?company said on Thursday that it had agreed with PSA Singapore to form a joint venture for the development of a RoRo terminal in Singapore. The joint venture agreement will allow 'Mitsui to…

Shipping data shows that a tanker carrying Venezuelan heavy crude oil is heading to Louisiana.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on January 25, 2026

A crude tanker chartered Trafigura?departed from Venezuela's Jose Port?to Louisiana Offshore Oil Port?documents and LSEG data showed. This was the first cargo to go directly to the U.S. under a 50 million barrel supply agreement agreed between Caracas this month and Washington.

Sources: Former Sinopec veteran executive will lead Singapore firm's crude trading

Posted to Maritime Reporter on January 23, 2026

Two industry sources familiar with the hiring said that a former Sinopec trading executive has joined Singapore commodities firm Sino Crown International to help build and lead its crude oil trading. Simon Chen or Chen Bo who was the president…

The traders claim that the rebranded Iranian crude is responsible for the surge in Chinese imports.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on November 21, 2025

China imports unusually large amounts of crude oil, traders claim. This is to hide shipments of Iranian crude that are being transshipped off the coast of Malaysia. Market participants claim that traders have been using the tactic to sell Iranian crude as Malaysian oil for years…

The traders claim that the rebranded Iranian crude is responsible for the surge in Chinese imports.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on November 21, 2025

China imports unusually large amounts of crude oil, traders claim. This is to hide shipments of Iranian crude that are sanctioned and trans-shipped off the coast of Malaysia. Market participants claim that traders have been using the tactic to sell Iranian crude as Malaysian oil for years…

India ships first jet fuel cargo to US West Coast, traders say

Posted to Maritime Reporter on November 17, 2025

According to shipping and trade data, India exported its first ever jet fuel cargo for energy giant Chevron to the U.S. West Coast, taking advantage of a rare opportunity to fill shortages in Los Angeles. Since October, U.S. West Coast Jet Fuel…

China and Malaysia to hold joint military exercise in October

Posted to Maritime Reporter on October 8, 2025

The Chinese Ministry of Defence and a media outlet affiliated with it announced that China and Malaysia would hold a joint exercise in Malaysia and the surrounding waters this month. The exercise will focus on disaster relief measures and fighting piracy.

Exxon Singapore expects to reduce its staff by 10 to 15 percent by the end of 2027

Posted to Maritime Reporter on October 1, 2025

Exxon Mobil Corp said that it expects to reduce the number of employees in Singapore from 10 to 15 percent and relocate its office to its Jurong facility by the end 2027 as part of global restructuring efforts. Exxon announced plans to expand its Singapore operations after the U.S.

HD Hyundai Heavy, a South Korean shipbuilder, merges with HD Hyundai Mipo

Posted to Maritime Reporter on August 27, 2025

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries of South Korea, the largest shipbuilder in the world, announced on Wednesday its intention to merge with HD Hyundai Mipo, as it aims for a larger share of the U.S. market. The company stated that it hopes to lead U.S.

Source: Cathay Petroleum and Brazil's Prio in a marketing agreement

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 26, 2025

A trading executive who has direct knowledge of this deal confirmed that the Asian trading firm Cathay Petroleum had agreed to an annual marketing deal for Brazilian crude oil throughout the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of independent producer Prio.

Singapore's Temasek has undergone many changes in the last two decades

Posted to Maritime Reporter on August 28, 2025

Singapore's Temasek, the state-owned investment company in Singapore, announced a major restructuring of its operations on Thursday. This is one of the biggest structural changes it has seen in its 51 year history. STRUCTURAL CHANGES In 2011…

Singapore's Keppel claims $53 million from Seatrium in a corruption case involving Brazil

Posted to Maritime Reporter on August 26, 2025

Singapore's Keppel initiated arbitration proceedings on Tuesday against the local shipbuilder Seatrium over a S$68.4million ($53.33million) claim relating to a Brazilian corruption crackdown. Seatrium made a provision of S$82.4m in 2022 to pay Keppel for claims relating to Operation Car Wash…

Mitsui OSK Lines MISC and Petronas establish joint venture for shipping liquefied CO2.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on June 17, 2025

Mitsui O.S.K., Japan's second-largest shipping company. Lines (MOL), Malaysia's Misc Bhd, and Petroliam Nasional Bhd(Petronas), have formed a joint-venture. It said Tuesday that it will operate Liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) carriers. MOL announced that the joint company Jules Nautica Sdn.