Cargoes sold prior to Tasweeq's tender loading in the first half of March were sold at $1.50-$2 a barrel below Dubai quotes versus discounts of $1 in the previous month, traders said.
Discounts for cargoes lifting in the second half of the month were wider than $2 a barrel, they said.
The disparity was due to stronger demand for cargoes that can arrive in Asia in March, before refineries head for maintenance, a trader said.
Taiwanese refiner Formosa Petrochemicals closed on Wednesday a tender to buy sour crude loading in March, traders said.
Bahrain's BAPCO will close on Thursday a tender to sell a cargo of Banoco Arab Medium for March loading, they said.
On the window, Unipec and Shell sold March 11 Dubai partials to Vitol at $42-$42.20 a barrel. Mercuria sold one May partial to Shell at $45.35 a barrel.