Russian Push on Espo Crude Dents Urals Export Blend Quality

摘要

Russia's push to increase eastbound deliveries of its new Espo crude oil grade is starting to affect the quality of the standard Urals export blend shipped via the Transneft national pipeline system. Traders tell International Oil Daily that Russia's key focus now is to stabilize the quality of Espo, which it sees as a future benchmark for the Asia-Pacific region. Market players say Transneft has been successful so far -Espo has a maximum sulfur content of 0.7%, density of 843 kg per cubic meters and an API gravity of at least 31°, both on shipments to the Pacific port of Kozmino and via a spur line to China.