In Rare Reversal, Brazil Exports Diesel to Europe
05.16.2016 - NEWS

May 16, 2016 [Reuters] - Brazil has joined a list of countries exporting diesel to Europe, reversing a traditional route and underscoring a weakening of the largest South American economy.


At least three 37,000 ton cargoes of diesel, on the tankers Torm Gunhild, High Performance and MT Alexandros, have sailed in recent weeks from Brazil to Europe, according to Reuters ship tracking data and traders.

Torm Gunhild is heading to Venice and is chartered by Italian oil company Eni while MT Alexandros has been chartered by trading house Glencore and is set to discharge in the Canary Islands.

High Performance, chartered by BP BP.L., is currently crossing the Atlantic after sailing from the U.S. Gulf Coast to Brazil in mid-April before being redirected when it was off Brazil’s coast, according to ship tracking data.

Traders linked the rare arbitrage to Brazil’s economy, which has struggled with a deepening recession in recent years. Its economic output fell 3.8 percent in 2015 and is expected to decline by the same amount in 2016, according to the International Monetary Fund.

According to trade sources, one of the cargoes loaded distillates off the coast of Brazil from a vessel that originated at India’s Reliance oil refinery.

Diesel consumption in Brazil, which imports much of its needs from the United States, Asia and, at times, Europe, has also been on a steady decline.

The move could also be linked to the ramping up of Brazil’s refineries, according to Robert Campbell, head of oil products research at consultancy Energy Aspects.

“The Brazilian economy is doing poorly but refinery runs have also been below capacity for a while now so if they push these up they would sharply reduce the requirement for diesel imports,” Campbell said.

Europe is the world’s main hub for diesel due its heavy use. A sharp increase in diesel refining capacity around the world has led over the past year to a sharp increase in supply, in Europe in particular, putting heavy pressure on diesel refining margins.

France’s Total is offering to sell a 270,000 ton cargo of diesel into Europe, which would be the largest cargo ever sold in the region, according to traders.

10-year Treasury yield hovers close to highest level since April as investors await key jobs data
01.10.2025 - NEWS
U.S. Treasury yields hovered close to its highest level since April on Friday, as investo... Read More
Union dockworkers, port employers announce tentative deal at East Coast and Gulf ports
01.09.2025 - NEWS
State of Freight The tentative agreement is on all items for a new six-year mas... Read More
China's property market is expected to stabilize in 2025 — but stay subdued for years
10.30.2024 - NEWS
China’s struggling real estate sector may not start turning around until the sec... Read More
Harris will offer an alternative to Trump-era politics in closing argument speech
10.29.2024 - NEWS
1234534234 Democratic presidential nominee U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris walks to bo... Read More