January 5, 2026 01:50 AM GMT Crude Oil | Global M Update Venezuela's Oil Sector in 10 Charts The charts below provide an overview of key stats related to Venezuela's oil production. Much remains uncertain for now. If there is short-term disruption, the global market is currently well placed to absorb this. Over the medium term, risks to Venezuela's production skew higher. Venezuela famously holds one of the largest oil reserves in the world. Definitions vary but focusing on crude oil only, the country indee ...

U.S. supermajor ExxonMobil plans to permanently shut down one of two steam crackers at its huge Singaporean refining and petrochemical complex, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing anonymous sources with knowledge of the plans. Exxon owns and operates a 592,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) refinery in Jurong, which is fully integrated with the Singapore Chemical Plant (SCP). The petrochemical complex was first commissioned in 2001 and was further expanded to more than double its capacity in 2013. The chemical pla ...

Summary of China Oil Data Digest Industry Overview - The report focuses on the oil industry in China, summarizing supply, demand, and trade data for August and September 2025 - Apparent oil demand in China grew by +5% year-over-year (YoY) during this period, driven by strong demand for petrochemicals, diesel, and jet fuel [2][3][6] Key Points Demand Dynamics - **Apparent Demand Growth**: - Apparent oil demand increased by 1.18 million barrels per day (mb/d) YoY in August and 840 thousand barrels per day (kb/d) YoY in September, both reflecting a +5% growth [6] - Diesel demand rose by 55 kb/d month-over-month (MoM) in August, marking the strongest annual growth for any month since early 2024, at +5% YoY [12][14] - Jet fuel demand reached a record high of 960 kb/d in August, up 70 kb/d YoY, supported by strong summer travel [31][38] Supply and Refinery Operations - **Refinery Runs**: - Chinese refinery runs hit a 17-month high in September, with a 310 kb/d increase MoM, driven by higher utilization rates from independent refineries [5][61] - State-owned refinery utilization reached a 24-month high in August, incentivized by healthy domestic margins and expectations of peak summer demand [130] - Independent refinery utilization also increased to a 7-month high in August, reaching 47.9% [135] Import and Export Trends - **Crude Imports**: - Chinese crude imports rose by 540 kb/d MoM in August, driven by record imports from Brazil at 1.23 mb/d [4][55] - However, imports dropped by 150 kb/d MoM in September due to lower volumes from Brazil and Iran [58][60] - **Product Exports**: - Diesel exports increased by +21% MoM due to improved export margins, while gasoline and jet fuel exports fell by ~9% MoM combined [6][72] - Overall refined product exports were up +100 kb/d YoY in August, supported by stronger refinery runs [72] Market Challenges - **Gasoline Demand**: - Apparent gasoline demand was down 80 kb/d YoY (-2%) in August, although it showed signs of recovery with an increase of 80 kb/d MoM [23][17] - The rollout of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) continues to impact gasoline demand negatively, with NEV penetration reaching ~55% in the domestic market [18][20] - **Trade Tensions**: - Resurgence in trade tensions between the US and China may raise uncertainty and increase costs for Chinese LPG importers, potentially softening LPG demand towards year-end [42][43] Future Outlook - **Refinery Capacity and Policy Changes**: - Anti-involution measures may threaten the existence of smaller independent refineries, potentially eliminating ~3 mb/d of capacity [140] - The government has set a goal to limit refining capacity at 1 billion tonnes per year from 2025, indicating limited room for growth post-2025 [141] Additional Insights - **Naphtha and LPG Demand**: - Naphtha demand rose to an all-time high of 2.36 mb/d in August, driven by new steam cracking capacity coming online [45] - LPG demand moderated by 50 kb/d MoM but remained at a record high for August of 2.86 mb/d [42] This summary encapsulates the key findings and trends in the Chinese oil market as reported in the recent data digest, highlighting both opportunities and challenges within the industry.

Core Viewpoint - Blue Dolphin Energy Company has experienced a significant decline in stock performance following its third-quarter 2025 earnings report, with shares dropping 35.9% compared to a 3.9% decrease in the S&P 500 [1] Earnings & Revenue Performance - Revenue from operations decreased to $70.4 million from $82.1 million year-over-year, reflecting a 14% decline due to softened product sales [2] - The company reported a net loss of $4.7 million, an improvement from a $5 million loss in the prior-year period, with loss per share narrowing to 31 cents from 34 cents [2] - Gross profit improved from a deficit of $3.3 million to a marginal profit of $32,000, aided by favorable refining margins, although cost pressures and an impairment charge continued to impact results [2] Other Key Business Metrics - Total cost of goods sold decreased to $70.3 million from $85.4 million, primarily due to lower crude and chemical costs, which fell by over $17 million year-over-year [3] - General and administrative expenses rose to $1.6 million from $1 million in the prior-year quarter, reflecting increased personnel-related and administrative costs [3] Refinery Operations - Refinery operations contributed $69.6 million to total segment revenue, with loss before income taxes in the refinery segment narrowing to $2 million from $5.7 million a year earlier, indicating improved operating efficiency [4] - Tolling and terminaling revenue slightly declined to $1.5 million from $1.8 million, but the segment remained profitable, generating $0.5 million in income before taxes [4] Management Commentary - Management highlighted incremental operational gains despite challenges in crude pricing, demand variability, and working-capital constraints, with full-year consolidated EBITDA increasing to $0.8 million from $0.5 million year-over-year [5] - The company acknowledged margin pressures in jet fuel and naphtha markets, periods of low refining margins, and limitations on customer exports to Mexico [5] Factors Influencing Results - A $3 million impairment recorded in the quarter was due to revised estimates of decommissioning obligations for pipeline and offshore platform assets, leading to an increase in the Asset Retirement Obligation (ARO) liability [6] - Inventory levels remained elevated at $33.9 million, down modestly from year-end but still high due to unfavorable product pricing and reduced export opportunities, contributing to a working-capital deficit of $23.1 million [7] Debt-related Pressures - Multiple loan facilities were in default at quarter-end, with management acknowledging the risk of potential forced repayment and the need for additional waivers or restructuring [8] - Interest expense totaled $0.8 million for the quarter, down from $1.5 million a year earlier, partly due to reduced balances and lower related-party interest charges [8] Future Outlook - Key variables expected to influence future results include commodity pricing for light crude, jet fuel, and naphtha, as well as macroeconomic uncertainties involving inflation, tariffs, and interest rates [10] - Future performance remains difficult to project due to margin volatility and ongoing working-capital challenges [10] Regulatory Developments - Blue Dolphin's BDPL subsidiary faces ongoing civil penalties from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) related to offshore platform and pipeline decommissioning obligations, with $2.7 million accrued for two open civil penalty cases [11] - The company may also be subject to potential supplemental pipeline bond requirements from BOEM, which could materially affect liquidity if enforced [11] Overall Assessment - While Blue Dolphin has made progress in narrowing quarterly losses and improving refining margins, significant structural challenges, including regulatory liabilities, debt defaults, and working-capital deficits, remain central to the company's risk profile [12]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - **Industry**: Oil, Gas, and Chemical Sector in China - **Outlook Period**: 2026-2028 Oil Market Insights - **Brent Crude Price Forecast**: UBS projects average prices of US$64, US$70, and US$75 per barrel for 2026, 2027, and 2028 respectively [7][10][12] - **OPEC+ Production Cuts**: The second tranche of OPEC+'s voluntary cuts of 1.65 million barrels per day (Mb/d) may conclude in December 2026, with effective production increases expected to be only 40% of the headline numbers [2][24] - **China's Oil Demand**: Anticipated declines in gasoline and diesel demand by 4.4% and 3.7% year-over-year (YoY) in 2025 and 2026 respectively, driven by the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) [2][53] Natural Gas Market Insights - **Asia LNG Price Forecast**: Expected prices of US$12.8 and US$11.5 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) for 2025 and 2026 respectively, with long-term prices approaching US$7-8/MMBtu [2][41][47] - **China's Natural Gas Demand Growth**: Projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3-4% from 2025 to 2030, despite a 1% YoY decline in H1 2025 due to various economic factors [48][52] Chemical Sector Insights - **Earnings Recovery**: The petrochemical industry is expected to rebound due to overseas capacity exits and China's anti-involution policies [3] - **Preferred Sectors**: Recommendations include PTA, silicone, and glyphosate sectors, focusing on industries with low profitability and potential for improved utilization rates [3] New Materials Insights - **Lithium Hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6)**: Prices expected to remain strong in 2026, with demand growth outpacing effective capacity growth [4] - **Memory Chip Cycle Recovery**: Anticipated support for earnings rebound for electronic gas and wet chemical producers [4] Stock Recommendations - **Oil Companies**: Favorable outlook for PetroChina A/H, CNOOC A/H, and Sinopec A/H due to expected recovery in oil prices and attractive dividend yields [5] - **Chemical Companies**: Recommendations include Wanhua Chemical, Baofeng Energy, and Hengli Petrochemical [5] - **New Materials**: Positive outlook for Capchem, Sinocera, and Jiemei as beneficiaries of the electrolyte and MLCC cycle recoveries [5] Risks and Considerations - **Oil Price Risks**: Potential upside risks include firmer global economic growth and geopolitical tensions, while downside risks involve a global economic slowdown and weaker compliance from OPEC+ [9][10] - **Natural Gas Market Volatility**: Expected tightness in the global LNG market until 2030, with potential disruptions leading to elevated prices [41][47] Additional Insights - **EV Penetration**: Domestic EV penetration in China has exceeded 50% since April, with expectations to reach 76% by 2030 [54][55] - **China's Crude Imports**: A 3% YoY increase in crude imports in 9M25, attributed to lower oil prices and inventory scaling [60]

Russia has unseated the US as Venezuela’s primary source of naphtha, a petroleum product it needs to dilute its extra-heavy crude, as Washington’s trade policies push the two sanctioned countries into deeper economic cooperation https://t.co/1FNNV6WLZG ...

Group 1 - Oil markets are experiencing a disconnect between geopolitical influences and fundamental physical signals, leading to a situation where Brent spreads and gasoil cracks appear strong on paper, while North Sea grades struggle for premiums and US crude arrives at a discount in Europe [1] - The market is characterized by a split screen, with futures indicating some tightness, while the physical market shows marked weakness, evidenced by the solidified backwardation in paper structure and traders adding security cushions due to strikes on Russian refineries [1][2] - Despite robust summer runs and increased crude processing in countries like Saudi Arabia and Brazil, margins have not collapsed, suggesting that operable capacity is nearing its ceiling [2][3] Group 2 - Refining flexibility is identified as the critical pinch point rather than crude availability, with global conversion units operating near practical limits and reliability being uneven [3] - The current disconnect between paper and physical markets is not sustainable, as North Sea physical weakness contrasts with backwardated Brent spreads, indicating that either physical premiums must rebuild or paper structure should cool [4] - Global crude exports are at multi-year highs, and the market anticipates a better-supplied period in Q4, raising questions about timing and the management of geopolitical risks in the paper market [4]

Supply and Production - Russian petroleum product exports decreased in early September [1] - Drone attacks are curbing refining output [1] Export Trends - Diesel shipments experienced steep declines [1] - Naphtha shipments experienced steep declines [1]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference call focuses on the oil industry in China, specifically analyzing July supply, apparent demand, and trade data for the country. Core Insights and Arguments 1. **Apparent Oil Demand Growth** - Chinese apparent oil demand grew by +5% YoY in July, averaging 16.4 million barrels per day (mb/d) [2][5][159] - Demand was driven by strong performance in the petrochemical sector, fuel oil, and jet fuel, with jet fuel consumption increasing by +15% YoY due to robust summer travel [2][26][159] 2. **Crude Imports and Refinery Runs** - Crude imports decreased by 1.0 mb/d MoM to 11.2 mb/d, influenced by higher prices from major suppliers like Saudi Arabia and the Atlantic basin [3][50] - Refinery runs declined by 300 thousand barrels per day (kb/d) MoM to 14.9 mb/d, although this figure is still up 7% YoY [4][56][118] 3. **Refined Product Exports** - Exports of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel increased by 190 kb/d MoM, supported by strong refinery output and improving export margins [5][65] - Gasoline exports reached 250 kb/d in July, marking a 15% MoM increase [65] 4. **Diesel Demand Trends** - Apparent diesel demand showed a +2% YoY increase, but declined by 5% MoM due to seasonal factors and adverse weather conditions impacting construction activity [11][12][16] - The manufacturing PMI index fell to 49.3 in July, indicating weaker demand [8][12] 5. **Impact of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs)** - NEVs are displacing gasoline demand, with a penetration rate of ~55% in the domestic market [17] - The growth of NEVs is expected to slow down in 2026 due to potential cuts in subsidies and anti-involution measures [20][18] 6. **Jet Fuel Demand and Travel Activity** - Jet fuel demand reached a record high of 930 kb/d in July, driven by strong summer travel, with the number of trips expected to exceed pre-COVID levels [26][27] - Government policies, such as reduced fuel surcharges, are expected to further boost air travel demand [28] 7. **Fuel Oil and LPG Demand** - Apparent fuel oil demand rose by 195 kb/d MoM, supported by improved tax rebates for independent refiners [33][34] - LPG demand increased by 9% MoM, with imports rebounding as prices became more competitive [37][38] 8. **Crude Production Trends** - Chinese crude production fell by 170 kb/d MoM but showed a +1% YoY growth due to new field startups [48][50] 9. **Inventory and Stock Trends** - Crude stocks built by 21.8 million barrels in July, marking the fifth consecutive month of builds [148][150] - Observable product inventories increased by 9.0 million barrels, driven by strong refinery output [149][150] 10. **Future Outlook** - The outlook for diesel demand is expected to remain weak in August due to slowing export momentum [14] - Refinery runs are anticipated to increase in August as more capacity comes online and refining margins improve [115][126] Additional Important Insights - The manufacturing sector's slowdown is impacting diesel demand, with construction activity also affected by adverse weather [12][13] - The Chinese government is implementing measures to curb overcapacity in the refining sector, which may lead to the closure of smaller, less efficient refineries [127][128] - The overall refining capacity is expected to remain limited, with new projects needing to offset closures of older facilities [128] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed in the conference call, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state and future outlook of the oil industry in China.

Summary of China Oil Data Digest - July 2025 Industry Overview - The report focuses on the oil industry in China, summarizing supply, demand, and trade data for July 2025. Key Points Apparent Demand - Chinese apparent oil demand grew by +5% YoY in July, averaging 16.4 million barrels per day (mb/d) [2][5] - Demand was driven by strong performance in the petrochemical sector, fuel oil, and jet fuel, with jet fuel consumption increasing by +15% YoY due to robust summer travel [2][23] Crude Imports and Refinery Runs - Crude imports decreased by 1.0 mb/d MoM to 11.2 mb/d, influenced by higher prices from major suppliers like Saudi Arabia and the Atlantic basin [3][48] - Refinery runs declined by 300 thousand barrels per day (kb/d) MoM to 14.9 mb/d, but remained 7% higher YoY due to elevated run rates at state-owned refineries [4][54] Exports - Exports of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel increased by 190 kb/d MoM, supported by strong refinery output and improving export margins [5][63] - Gasoline exports reached 250 kb/d in July, up 15% MoM, while diesel and jet fuel exports also saw significant increases [63][75] Diesel Demand - Apparent diesel demand softened MoM but showed YoY growth of +2%, marking the first time there were two consecutive months of positive YoY growth since March 2024 [10][15] - The decline in MoM demand was attributed to seasonal factors and adverse weather conditions impacting construction activity [11][12] LPG and Naphtha - Apparent LPG demand rose by +9% MoM, driven by improved demand from the petrochemical sector [35] - Apparent naphtha demand fell sharply by 14% MoM, reversing gains from June due to competitive pricing from LPG and ethane [38][43] Crude Production - Chinese crude production fell by 170 kb/d MoM but showed a steady YoY growth of +1% due to new field startups [46][48] Inventory Trends - Crude stocks built by 21.8 million barrels in July, marking the fifth consecutive month of crude builds, likely for strategic reasons [144] - Observable product inventories increased by 9.0 million barrels, driven by strong refinery output and soft domestic demand [145] Future Outlook - Jet fuel demand is expected to remain strong in August due to continued summer travel [29] - Diesel demand may face pressure from slowing export momentum and seasonal construction activity [13] - The independent refining sector is likely to see improved utilization rates due to better margins and increased capacity [121][122] Regulatory Environment - China has released two batches of clean product export quotas for 2025, totaling 34.2 million tonnes, with state-owned companies receiving the majority [87][88] Market Dynamics - The report highlights the impact of geopolitical factors, such as US sanctions on Iranian oil, affecting Chinese imports and refining strategies [49][50][52] Conclusion - The July 2025 oil data indicates a mixed outlook for the Chinese oil market, with strong demand in certain sectors like jet fuel and LPG, while facing challenges in diesel and naphtha. The regulatory environment and geopolitical factors will continue to shape market dynamics moving forward.