Middle East Crude

　In trade for June-loading Abu Dhabi grades, Murban and Upper Zakum changed hands. INPEX sold two cargoes each of Murban and Upper Zakum at the prices linked to the OSPs. The buyers for Murban were European Glencore and Gunvor while the buyers for Upper Zakum were France's Total Energies and Brition's BP. The prices for Murban were at premiums of 15-17cts to the OSP and the price for Upper Zakum was at a premium of 8cts to OSp. INPEX usually sells cargoes of Abu Dhabi grades at prices linked to the OSPs by the end of the month before spot talks start in early month.

African/European/Russian/American Crude

The CFR Northeast Asia market of US Mars for June arrival surged to premiums of 6.75-6.85 to Dubai quotes. Mexico slashed crude exports especially for medium/heavy grades for Maya and Isthmus, which enhanced evaluations for similar-quality Mars. A few market sources said that the evaluations for June arrival Mars were at least about 80cts above US light crude WTI. Mexican crudes are mainly sold to Asia such as China and South Korea and US, so that some grades like Mars attracted alternative demand. For July arrival Mars, UNIPEC in China procured 2.0 mil bbls.

Asia Pacific Crude

In trade for May-loading Malaysian grades, US Conoco Philipps had sold Kikeh at premiums in the $7's to Dated Brent. It later turned out that the buyer was Thailand's Bangchack and the price was at premiums of $7.4 to Dated Brent. In other trade for May-loading Malaysian grades, Malaysia's state-owned Petronas had sold Miri. It later transpired that Petronas supplied Miri to one end-user in India as a term cargo.