--Middle East

　Tradable levels for September-loading Murban were at premium of $1.50-1.60 to Dubai quotes, which was higher than those for August-loading by 60-80cts. Crack spread for gasoil improved by $2-3 from one month ago in Singapore and the market for US light grades such as WTI Midland, rival grades, was firm. As a result, many market players lifted the evaluation for Murban. Some cargoes for August-loading Murban had changed hands end June, which also contributed to a firmness in the market for September-loading Murban. France's Tota Energies had apparently bought Murban and Upper Zakum and delivered them in VLCC to its refinery in Europe end June.

--Africa/Europe/Russia/America

　In the trade of October arrival US grades bound for Asia, US ExxonMobil purchased 2.0 mil bbls of WTI from US Occidental on Thursday. The deal was seen done at DTD Brent linked prices. Offers for October arrival WTI Midlands were raised this week to premiums between $4.50 and close to $5.00 to Dubai quotes on a CFR basis. Demand in US was increasing, which raised the offer levels. Meanwhile, offers for October arrival Mars were raised to premiums of mid $3.00s to Dubai quotes on a CFR basis.

--Asia Pacific

　In trade for September-loading Malaysian grade, a supply program of Kimanis would be released early July, it was believed that supply of September-loading Kimanis would be less than a usual month and the supply volumes might remain at the same level as August-loading. This was because Malaysia's state-owned Petronas would continue conducting maintenance at the Kimanis offshore oil field by end-August. Supply of August-loading Kimanis had totaled four cargoes although six to seven cargoes were usually supplied in a month.