--Middle East

　In trade for July-loading Abu Dhabi grades, Japanese players advanced spot purchase. These players moved on buying July-loading Murban amid a sense that the value was attractive relative to US light grades such as WTI Midland.

　In the early May market, ENEOS bought 200,000 barrels of July-loading Murban and Idemitsu Kosan purchased one cargo of July-loading Murban. One trader in Singapore reckoned that several refineries would finish maintenance soon and July-loading Murban was likely to be traded for delivery to Japan.

--Africa/Europe/Russia/America

　In the trade of Nigerian grades, Dangote Group with its largest 650,000 barrels per day (b/d) refinery in Africa was expected to take a total of six cargoes for June-loading to its own refinery. They would take two cargoes of Escravos, one cargo each of Bonny Light, Brass River, Okwuibome, Yoho. The overall running rate at Dangote refinery was not raised to high levels as one residual fluid catalytic cracker (RFCC) had been halted due to a glitch. Under the circumstances, volumes of cargoes into the refinery were limited and Dangote group recently skipped buying of US crudes such as WTI via tender. But market sources said that the group aimed to restart operations at the RFCC by the end of May, which may boost the refinery running rates from now on.

--Asia Pacific

　Indonesia's state-owned Pertamina cancelled a condensate buy tender for July arrival to the country's petrochemical firm TPPI. Through the tender that had been closed on May 7 at 10:00 Jakarta time with offers valid until May 9 at 20:00, Pertamina was trying to buy 300,000barrels of one cargo for July 15-17 arrival. One trader in Singapore reckoned that Pertamina gave up buying a cargo via the tender since there had been few sellers that had held 300,000barrels for July arrival. Some players held 500,000-650,000barrels of Australian or African condensates but these players were not keen on selling 300,000barrels, according to sources. Meanwhile, Pertamina apparently considered whether to reissue a buy tender.