Japan's kerosene demand to pick up on colder weather

摘要

Tokyo-Japan's kerosene demand is set to pick up, with temperatures in 10 of the country's 12 regions predicted below the 30-year average over November-January, according to the latest weather forecast released Oct. 23 by the Japan Meteorological Agency. “From November onward, we expect an increase in [kerosene] supply from refiners, compared with a level a year ago, because sales volume will increase as the weather gets colder,” a major local trader said Oct. 23. “The demand season has started early this year.” Another Japanese trader said domestic kerosene supply is not yet tightening because of rising imports of the heating oil. Japanese refiners are seeing “favorable” kerosene cargo shipments in October, allowing most domestic production to be stockpiled ahead of the winter demand season, Tsutomu Sugimori, Petroleum Association of Japan president, said Oct. 22.