Asia Naphtha/Gasoline-Cracks hurt by higher oil prices

• Asia's gasoline crack was near a 1-1/2 week low of $4.38 a barrel as ample supplies persisted.
• China's overall gasoline exports this year are expected to be high due to added new refining capacities in the country.

SINGAPORE: Asia's naphtha crack fell to a one-week low of $87.85 per tonne as higher oil prices weighed but spot premiums stayed firm due to tighter supplies caused by refinery maintenance in the Middle East.

South Korea's YNCC bought four cargoes of naphtha for first-half March delivery to Yeosu at premiums of about $22 a tonne to Japan quotes on a cost-and-freight (C&F) basis.

That was higher compared with the $18.50 a tonne premium YNCC had paid on Jan. 7.

KPIC also came forward to buy naphtha for first-half March delivery to Onsan at premiums of $13 to $14 a tonne to Japan quotes on a C&F basis, but tied to a 45-day pricing formula instead of the usual 30 days, industry sources said.

GASOLINE: Asia's gasoline crack was near a 1-1/2 week low of $4.38 a barrel as ample supplies persisted.

China's January gasoline exports are seen below 1.5 million tonnes, lowest since August, data from Refinitiv showed.

But the lower monthly volumes are seen as temporary as market activities slowed ahead of the Lunar New Year on Jan. 25, Charles Ong, senior analyst with Refinitiv's oil research team, said in a weekly note.

China's overall gasoline exports this year are expected to be high due to added new refining capacities in the country, he added.