Middle East Crude

Qatar Energy (QE) awarded a Al Shaheen sell tender. Glencore won all three cargoes for Apr 1-2 loading, Apr 14-15 loading and Apr 24-25 loading at premiums in the mid $3.00's to Dubai quotes. Through the tender closed on Wednesday, QE was trying to sell these three cargoes. QE awarded an April-loading Qatar Marine sell tender. PTT Public Co. won the tender at the Dubai-linked price. Through the tender closed on Wednesday, QE was trying to sell 500,000barrels. Meanwhile, QE apparently awarded an April-loading Qatar Land sell tender to European Vitol although the awarded price was unknown.

African/European/Russian/American Crude

　In the trade of Mediterranean Sea grades, a large chunk of Kazakhstan's CPC Blend was sold to end-users in Asia for May arrival amid a sense that the prices were attractive, relative to rival Middle Eastern light grades. Supplies for CPC Blend increased with an end of field maintenance. In addition, a few refineries in the Mediterranean Sea that take CPC Blend had some refinery outages, which created surplus avails. Sellers apparently reduced offers for Asia to clear surplus avails of CPC Blend. South Korea's GS Caltex on Wednesday purchased 1.0 mil bbls of CPC Blend for arrival in Yosu, South Korea on May 13-20. The seller was Tengizchevroil (TCO) and the price was at a premium of the $1.40s level to March DTD Brend on a CFR basis. Prior to the deal, a large volume of CPC Blend was sold for Asia for May arrival. India's Reliance, South Korea's SK Energy, China International United Petroleum & Chemicals Co (UNIPEC) and end-users in Thailand were said to have procured May arrival CPC Blend so far. "For May arrival, at least 10 cargoes of CPC Blend were concluded for Asia," said a trader in Singapore.

Asia Pacific Crude

A tropical cyclone was approaching to the Northwest Australia, which generated concerns that loading dates of Cossack and Ichthys condensate might be considerably delayed.

Indonesia's state-owned Pertamina had bought Cossack for Mar 3-7 loading from Cossack via a tender as reported. One trader in Singapore reckoned that Woodside might have to supply other cargo to Pertamina if supply of Cossack was considerably delayed.