For a glimpse of the growing disparity in the oil market’s recovery, look at crude sales from West Africa.
Nigeria, the region’s biggest producer, has slashed prices while struggling to attract buyers in Europe, its main export market where demand is faltering. Meanwhile, Angola — closely linked to China — has had little trouble finding refiners to take its crude as the Asian country revives its purchases.
With the pandemic surging again in Europe and Asia seemingly able to tame it, West Africa’s oil giants, both OPEC members, are seeing their fortunes move in opposite directions. The trend highlights both the unevenness in demand and concerns about supply as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies prepare to meet in a few weeks to determine the future of their production cuts.
Heading to Europe
Nigeria relies on Europe for over 40% of its crude sales, for Angola it’s about 10>#/p###
Source: Vessel tracking data monitored by Bloomberg
Much of Angola’s oil is a heavy-to-medium variety favored by China’s refineries, while the majority of Nigeria’s oil is a lighter type that is mostly processed in Europe.
Nigeria’s Slump
Nigeria’s crude loading schedules released for December so far show that planned exports are down by about 10% on a monthly basis. Earlier this month, the country’s crude for November loading was selling at a slower pace than usual, according to traders familiar with the West African market.
Nigeria has been forced to offer its key export grades at deep discounts to Europe’s oil benchmark, lowering the November official selling prices for Bonny Light and Qua Iboe to their weakest levels in five months. Some unsold oil has also been pushed into storage in on-land tanks or tankers out at sea, according to traders.
India, the destination for about 15% of Nigeria’s crude exports in September, may provide some relief. India’s refineries boosted their run rates last month, and the nation’s oil demand is expected to get another jolt due to the ongoing festival season.
“India coming back will be supportive of Nigerian buying, so there should be an outlet there, while you might even see a little more even head to the U.S.” said Christopher Haines, a crude analyst at London-based Energy Aspects Ltd.
Angola’s Gain
For Angola, crude sales for November have gained pace, led by a resurgence in Chinese buying, according to traders.
China’s state-owned oil giants have revived their purchases following a lull in buying during the summer, when stockpiles were at record highs. A further boost is expected from independent “teapot” refiners, who are set to receive new allocations to import more crude next year.
China Bound
Two-thirds of Angola’s crude exports are shipped to China, less than 5% of Nigeria’s follow
Source: Vessel tracking data monitored by Bloomberg
Angola’s crude exports for December are set to rise by 5% from November, according to loading programs seen by Bloomberg. The West African nation typically sells about two-thirds of its oil to China.
The OPEC+ production cuts and U.S. sanctions on Venezuela and Iran have limited the supply of some other medium-heavy crudes that the Chinese market prefers, according to Haines. Angolan oil should continue to fare better in the market than Nigerian crude while those factors continue, he said.
There’s another benefit to Angola’s heavier crude: its high yield of fuel oil.
“Fuel oil markets have held up relatively well in 2020 compared to other refined products,” said Spencer Welch, vice president of oil markets and downstream consulting at IHS Markit. “There is still a significant fuel oil market in Asia, therefore making Angolan crude more popular.”
Libyan Competition
A wild card for both of West Africa’s oil giants is competition from Libya, a fellow OPEC member that is starting to boost crude output again after years of civil war. By mid- to late-November, the country’s production could reach 1 million barrels a day, compared with less than 100,000 daily in early September, according to the country’s National Oil Corp.
Also see: Here’s the Latest on the Resurgence of Libya’s Oil Industry
Libya’s crude is mainly light-sweet and most likely to be shipped to Europe, making it a close competitor to Nigeria’s main grades. Some of it could also go to China, meaning Libya’s return also matters for Angola and the wider crude market as the extra volumes come at a time of uncertain demand.
“European refiners’ demand for crude is likely to remain depressed for the next few months,” said Jonathan Leitch, director of consulting at Turner Mason & Co. “For West African crude producers this is a problem as limited demand from Europe, and growing supplies of Libyan crude mean that sellers will have to look further afield, adding to freight costs and a wider field of competitors.”
– Bloomberg