Mexico is facing regional gasoline shortages as its refining system struggles to meet demand, deepening reliance on U.S. imports. With the Dos Bocas refinery not expected to reach full capacity until 2026, questions loom over the role of private importers in supplying the country with gasoline. In this episode of the Oil Markets podcast by S&P Global Commodity Insights, host Jeff Mower is joined by Sarah Hernandez and Sheky Espejo to break down the numbers, the policy shifts, and what’s next for Mexico’s fuel supply.

The proposed 2025 Section 301 actions by the US Trade Representative (USTR) against China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors could reshape merchant shipping trade. These historic measures include significant port fees and operational restrictions based on vessel ownership and cargo type. This unprecedented approach not only targets Chinese interests but also influences global shipping flows.

Pradeep Rajan, associate editorial director for Asia freight markets at S&P Global Commodity Insights, discusses the implications of these proposals on the shipping sector and tanker rates with Sameer Mohindru, lead specialist for price reporting in Asia shipping & freight, and Fotios Katsoulas, director of tanker freight and alternative fuels.

In this episode of the Oil Markets podcast, host Joel Hanley is joined by front-line North Sea reporters Natasha Tan and Joey Daly to mark the second anniversary of US crude WTI Midland's inclusion in the Dated Brent benchmark and the current dynamics underpinning the North Sea markets.

How has the addition of WTI Midland improved the robustness of the benchmark amid shifting dynamics in the Atlantic basin, and what are the latest developments between the regional North Sea grades and their American counterpart?

Guyana's latest crude stream is due to reach the market in the third quarter, adding 250,000 b/d to the South American country's production capacity. Output has climbed rapidly since Guyana's Liza grade made its debut in late 2019. This time, however, the new Yellowtail development will be bringing more light sweet crude to the market, which will compete with exports from Argentina and the US. How can Guyana compete at current oil prices, with WTI currently trading below $60/b? What does Yellowtail mean for the US production outlook? Who are the likely buyers for this Guyanese crude?

Join Jeff Mower, director of Americas Oil News, as he discusses these issues and more with Platts crude price editor Jada Johnson and Felipe Perez, S&P Global Commodity Insights head of Latin America Fuels & Refining Research and Strategy.

Related links:

ALIZA00

AUNIA00

AYARA00

When the US began announcing tariffs a month ago and China hit back with reciprocal tariffs, the whole oil market complex tumbled. Despite a relative recovery in line with crude oil four weeks later, the lighter end products of the barrel are still feeling the sting from an uncertain macroeconomic environment, as outlook in the global petrochemical industry flounders. With recession fears looming, what will a world of lower demand and tighter margins mean for the consumption of the two main petrochemical feedstocks, naphtha and LPG?

In this episode of the Oil Markets podcast, Joel Hanley leads a discussion with market experts Dias Kazym and Barbara Fernandez-Pita to explore the short and long-term outlook of these two products. Related: MPGC

The sweeping reciprocal tariffs announced by the United States in early April, followed by China's retaliatory levies on US imports, along with OPEC+'s decision to significantly increase output in May, have driven Platts Dated Brent to its lowest level since April 2021. As one of the largest oil-importing regions, Asia is poised to face substantial implications from these developments.

In this episode of the Platts Oil Markets Podcast, Asia Energy Editor Sambit Mohanty discusses key themes that are likely to keep Asian oil markets on edge in the foreseeable future with Calvin Lee, head of Asia content, and Premasish Das, executive director at S&P Global Commodity Insights.

Following the swathe of protectionist tariff measures announced by US President Donald Trump April 2nd, the crude oil complex was sent into a frenzy, with market outlook rapidly souring. But interesting patterns in both the paper and physical markets have been materializing.

In this episode of the Oil Markets podcast, Joey Daly leads an in-depth discussion with market experts David Neef and Joseph Jaffe to discuss the reaction of both the paper and physical markets in the middle distillates and fuel oil segments. While the crude oil market's negative reaction has captured immediate attention, what can these other segments reveal about the deeper impact of tariff conflicts?

“O Petróleo é Nosso,” or “The Oil is Ours,” was a popular slogan central to the founding of Brazil’s state-owned oil company, Petrobras, in 1953. The slogan can also be interpreted more broadly, as Brazil’s refined products markets have opened to more participants, leading to a surge in spot market activity and price transparency. As a result, Platts has launched new price assessments for Brazilian gasoline and diesel. How did those spot markets evolve? Why is the Northeast so reliant on imports? How are renewable fuels playing out in gasoline and diesel?

Jeff Mower discusses these topics and more with Renato Rostas, manager of the Platts Brazil refined products team, and Brazil gasoline and diesel price reporters Isabela Rocha and Kauanna Navarro.

Links: Gasoline FCA Suape BRL/CBM GASCA00 Gasoline FCA Itaqui BRL/CBM GASCC00 ULSD S10 FCA Paulinia BRL/CBM ULFCI00 ULSD S10 FCA Araucaria BRL/CBM ULFCK00

With the May 1st deadline for Mediterranean Emissions Control Area fast approaching, marine fuel suppliers and shipowners are bracing for impact. In this episode of the Oil Markets podcast, Rowan Staden-Coats is joined by Jan Kedzior and Tommy Petrou to discuss the different fuel options vessels have to comply with the upcoming sulfur emission regulations. What opportunity does this pose for compliant fuels like DMA marine gasoil and 0.1% ULSFO, and how will the demand for conventional fuel oil grades be impacted?

Related stories:

VLSFO cracks tumble to multi-month lows amid Med ECA zone shakeup

Mediterranean Hi-5 spreads narrow to near four-month lows on thin VLSFO demand

Tight supply pushes high-sulfur gasoil above ULSD in NWE

European 0.1%S gasoil tightens on Med demand, limited prompt NWE supply

Assessments:

0.1% CIF Med gasoil - AAVJJ00

CIF Mediterranean Marine Fuel 0.5% Cargo - MFCMM00

FO 3.5%S CIF Med Cargo - PUAAY00

Russia's temporary halt on attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure has raised hopes of the two countries eventually moving towards a peace deal, followed by the potential lifting of sanctions. This has also prompted a debate on whether any normalization of Russian oil flows could lead to an immediate reduction in flows from Russia to Asia—mainly India and China. O oil diplomacy will be at play and Russia will do all it can to ensure that it keeps its two top buyers on its side to ensure rock-steady outlets for its oil in the future?

In this episode of Platts Oil Markets Podcast, Asia energy editor Sambit Mohanty discusses with Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, former chairman of Indian Oil Corp., and Kang Wu, head of global macro and oil demand research at S&P Global Commodity Insights some of the key market developments that could influence oil trade flows to Asia.