London -- Angolan crude oil for export in December had almost cleared as preliminary programmes for sale in January emerged on Monday. ANGOLA * State oil company Sonangol's preliminary export programme for January listed 43 cargoes for the month, down slightly from the 47 for December's final programme. * The initial number is roughly in line with volumes from previous months, with December exports set originally at 44. * Around five cargoes or fewer remain from the December programme, in a smaller glut than normal for this point in the trading cycle as Asian demand for middle distillates like gasoil remains robust. NIGERIA * Light sweet Nigerian crudes like Bonny Light continued to be offered at at least a premium of $3.50 above dated Brent, with one cargo of Qua Iboe even selling recently for $4.00. * The offers mark five-year highs and come as prices for comparable grades in the North Sea and Mediterranean spiked at the beginning of this month. * The price hikes were even benefiting certain heavier, sweet grades like Escravos Nigerian crude, traders said. * Still, a slowdown for European gasoline cracks over the course of last week appears to have cooled the pace of sales and buyers expected prices for suitable crudes to fall. * Between 20-25 Nigerian cargoes are available for sale in December, a relatively low number reflecting the faster pace of purchases recently despite higher prices. RELATED NEWS * India's Nayara Energy Ltd, part-owned by Russian oil major Rosneft, imported 12% less oil in October from the same month a year earlier, according to data from the shipping industry and sources. * Sustained economic sabotage by vandals on Nigeria's oil-exporting Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) has led to significant losses in production, operator Aiteo said on Sunday.
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