Mediterranean-Asia naphtha arbitrage window opens to keen interest

摘要

Naphtha shipments from the Mediterranean to Asia have become economically viable due to higher prices in Asia,resulting in renewed interest among Asian naphtha traders to import barrels from the West,industry sources said November 24,but logistics constraints were a challenge.C+F Japan cargoes for HI January and H2 January have risen about 10/mt since November 1 to 532.25-533.50/mt on November 23.With FOB Med prices on November 23 valued at 480.75/mt,a premium of around l-2/mt and freight rate for 55,000mt parcels at around 30-32/mt,arbitrage economics were viable,sources said.Some 100,000-150,000mt was heard to have been fixed on two to three vessels,slated to arrive in Asia in the first and second half of January.