Commodities
Russia and India will switch to a new oil trade business model
India keeps buying Russian oil in large quantities and carries on the oil trade business. However, it seems that by the end of the year it will have to adapt to the new trading system – through small independent traders, which will save Indian business from the pressure of the U.S. and the EU.
The probability that India will expand the channels to import Russian oil by involving small foreign traders in the process is quite high. Firstly, Indian companies will not have to wait for approval of long-term contracts with Russian suppliers. Secondly, India will be able to remove its own large companies from possible pressure.
Russia will win in any case, because there will be a steady buyer for its oil, and the absence of economic stiffness with Western sanctions will make it possible to increase exports. Now the oil trade chart is extremely unstable, so it is important for traders to keep abreast of all developments.
What oil trade brokers need to know: the time for small traders is coming
The Economic Times recently reported that India’s biggest oil refiners are considering involving small foreign firms in supplying discounted oil from Russia which “was abandoned by the Western importers”. At the moment in the turnover of Russian hydrocarbons are involved such new players as Wellbred, Manfort Capital Energy, and others, who filled the niche of suppliers after the departure of big traders. The edition stressed that Indian oil refiners are ready to take risks, as the new companies guarantee cheap raw material supplies to India.
India could switch to working with small traders to cover current needs. If we are talking about long-term contracts, then it is more reliable for the state to enter into an agreement with a supplier directly. But there is a probability that Russian oil producers do not currently have free volumes to guarantee their delivery to the Indian market. Therefore, it is easier for India to buy individual batches with the help of traders. Now is not the best time for crude oil trading, so market participants have to take such steps.
When Indian companies started to actively buy crude oil in Russia and make new contracts with Russian companies, they started to come under pressure. The U.S. indirectly urged the Indian government not to let Russia bypass sanctions. Although U.S. rhetoric has changed somewhat recently, the risks for large Indian businesses remain.
Crude oil trade today: Buying volumes may even rise
It makes sense for both Russia and India to look for options for crude oil trade today that would be safer than the usual models involving using dollar financial infrastructure and its variations. Western insurers, freight and so on.
There are large companies in India that are under the scrutiny of the Western public, the media. It is better for these big players to step back somewhat so that all transactions with Russia are handled by second-tier companies. The same thing is happening in China: there are first-tier companies; they want to stay in the market of Western countries. But there is a mass of companies, maybe even related to the first-tier business, that actively interact with Russia.
The transition to trading through small traders may require adaptation, but on the whole, this scheme is working. This is confirmed by the growth in oil supplies from Russia to India to almost one million barrels per day.
Depending on what happens next, India may also increase its oil purchases. Compared to the June peaks, supply has slightly decreased. There will be a lot of Russian oil on the Indian market, and the new trading mechanisms will soon replace the old ones. At the same time, the U.S. will no longer be able to influence the mentioned second-tier companies from India.
(Reuters) – Citi on Wednesday raised its oil price outlook for 2025 due to geopolitical risks centred on Russia and Iran, but noted prices were likely to ease through the second half of the year.
“The oil outlook could see heightened, sustained geopolitical risks in Iran/Russia-Ukraine potentially wipe out the 2025 oil balance surplus, but the Trump administration appears intent on dealmaking,” the bank said in a note.
Citi expects to average $67 a barrel in 2025, up from a previous forecast of $62. It also said it was lifting its average WTI crude forecast to $63/bbl, without giving its former view.
It added that it was revising up its quarterly Brent forecasts to $75/bbl in the first quarter, $68/bbl in the second, $63/bbl in the third, and $60/bbl in the fourth, also without specifying its previous expectations.
The Biden administration on Jan. 10 sanctioned more than 100 tankers and two Russian oil producers, leading to a scramble by top buyers China and India for prompt oil cargoes and a global rush for ship supply as dealers of Russian and Iranian oil sought unsanctioned tankers.
U.S. President Donald Trump has since laid out a sweeping plan to maximise oil and gas production, including declaring a national energy emergency to speed up permitting, rolling back environmental protections, and withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate pact.
Citi said the timing and nature of President Trump’s actions regarding Iran and Russia could be defining features of the oil market and pricing during 2025. It forecast a surplus of 0.8 million barrels per day for the year.
By Arunima Kumar
(Reuters) -Oil prices held steady on Wednesday, with traders closely watching President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs and the potential impact of the national energy emergency he declared on his first day in office.
futures inched 4 cents higher, or 0.05%, to $79.33 per barrel at 1246 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures edged 2 cents lower, or 0.03%, to $75.81.
“As more details emerge regarding energy production and trade agreements, traders will assess the balance between economic growth, energy security, and policy risks,” said Dilin Wu, research strategist at Pepperstone.
Trump said late on Tuesday that his administration was discussing imposing a 10% tariff on goods imported from China on Feb. 1, the same day that he previously said Mexico and Canada could face levies of around 25%.
He also vowed duties on European imports, without providing further detail.
“The oil market’s attention is slowly turning away from U.S. sanctions against Russia towards President Trump’s potential trade policy,” said ING analysts, adding that the energy complex has come under pressure with the growing threat of tariffs.
The U.S. president had said his administration would “probably” stop buying oil from Venezuela, among the top suppliers of oil to the country.
Trump laid out a sweeping plan to maximise domestic oil and gas production, including declaring a national energy emergency to speed permitting, rolling back environmental protections, and withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate pact.
Trump’s policy is unlikely to spur near-term energy investment or change U.S. production growth, analysts at Morgan Stanley (NYSE:) wrote in a note, adding that it could, however, moderate potential erosion of refined product demand.
Meanwhile, a rare winter storm churned across the U.S. Gulf Coast on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, North Dakota’s oil production was estimated to be down by between 130,000 and 160,000 barrels per day (bpd) due to extreme cold weather and related operational challenges, the state’s pipeline authority said on Tuesday.
By Enes Tunagur
LONDON (Reuters) – Oil prices fell on Tuesday as investors assessed U.S. President Donald Trump’s plans to apply new tariffs later than expected while boosting oil and gas production in the United States.
futures were down $1.42, or 1.77%, to $78.73 per barrel at 1116 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down by $1.97, or 2.53%, at $75.91. There was no settlement in the U.S. market on Monday due to a public holiday.
Pressuring prices on Tuesday was a stronger U.S. dollar, as its strengthening makes oil more expensive for holders of other currencies.
“The current weakness is most probably Trump and dollar-related,” said PVM analyst Tamas Varga.
The dollar rebounded after Trump’s comments on imposing tariffs against Mexico and Canada, Varga added, noting that the dollar’s strength is negatively impacting oil prices.
Trump said he was thinking of imposing 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico from Feb. 1, rather than on his first day in office as previously promised.
“The initial sense of relief that trade measures weren’t an immediate focus on Trump’s ‘Day 1’ was quickly offset by reports of 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada as early as February, which saw risk sentiments turn,” said Yeap Jun Rong, market strategist at IG.
Trump did not impose any sweeping new trade measures right after his inauguration on Monday, but told federal agencies to investigate unfair trade practices by other countries.
The U.S. president also said his administration would “probably” stop buying oil from Venezuela. The U.S. is the second-biggest buyer of Venezuelan oil after China.
Trump also promised to refill strategic reserves, a move that could be bullish for oil prices by boosting demand for oil.
Also weighing on prices on Tuesday was the potential end to the shipping disruption in the Red Sea. Yemen’s Houthis on Monday said they will limit their attacks on commercial vessels to Israel-linked ships provided the Gaza ceasefire is fully implemented.
“Reopening of the Suez Canal will create a short-term abundance of supply given the shorter journey times, and that may also weigh on prices in the short term,” said Saxo Bank analyst Ole Hansen.
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