Demand from Indian refiners will draw more west African crude cargoes east in April, but Chinese demand is slipping. Asia-Pacific buyers will load 1.87mn b/d of west African crude next month, 60,000 b/d more than in March, but still below February’s year high of 1.95mn b/d (see graph, below). Indian refiners are taking 575,000 b/d in April, the most this year. IOC is buying sweet crude for test runs at its new 300,000 b/d Paradip refinery before the start of commercial production in June. Demand for west African crude is likely to rise as spring maintenance comes to an end in India. But other Indian buyers are taking the same or less crude. BPCL cut purchases because of planned maintenance in April and May.
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