Middle East
Spike in maintenance expected to boost oil refining margins
ANTWERP (Reuters) -- Increased refinery maintenance in Asia and the Middle East is expected to boost profits for operators in other regions in the first half of this year, market watchers said on Wednesday.
Industry Metrics
European refinery margins weakened due to slower gasoline export opportunities, despite the colder weather.
Global Project Data
According to Hydrocarbon Processing’s Construction Boxscore Database, new project announcements have averaged 11 per month since mid-2016.
Business Trends: Anticipated market and pricing impacts from new marine fuel regulations
In October 2016, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced that it will implement a new regulation that calls for the sulfur content in marine fuels to be reduced from 3.5% to 0.5%. The new regulation will go into effect in January 2020. This action by the IMO will have a profound impact on the maritime and refining industries worldwide, as well as on the environment. This month’s Business Trends section provides an overview on the anticipated impacts of the IMO’s decision on petroleum product markets.
Industry Perspectives: Global desulfurization capacity to skyrocket over the long term
According to OPEC’s World Oil Outlook 2016, desulfurization capacity additions represent the largest capacity increases among all process units to 2040. This trend is due to increased regulations on the amount of sulfur allowed in transportation fuels.
Editorial Comment: The future of refining lies in clean fuels
Each year, <sub>Hydrocarbon Processing</sub> devotes an issue to the topic of clean fuels—and rightly so. As the world continues to welcome more vehicles on the road, and as emerging economies invest in civil, industrial and energy projects, global fuels demand is forecast to increase through the end of the decade.
OPEC achieves 82% of pledged oil output cut in January
LONDON/DUBAI (Reuters) -- OPEC's oil output is set to fall by more than 1 MMbpd this month, a Reuters survey found on Tuesday, pointing to a strong start by the exporter group in implementing its first supply cut deal in eight years.
Algeria to open bids for petrochemical plants for $6 B
ALGIERS (Reuters) -- Algeria's state energy firm Sonatrach on Monday launched invitations for international engineering firms to bid on four major petrochemical plants worth a total of up to $6 billion, a source at state energy firm Sonatrach told Reuters.
AL WAHA Petchem to use Honeywell’s IIoT technology to improve plant performance
DES PLAINES, Ill., -- Honeywell announced that it will provide its IIoT-based Connected Performance Services (CPS) offering to AL WAHA Petrochemicals Company to explore possibilities of maximizing propylene production.
Iran's oil exports to rise slightly in February
TOKYO (Reuters) -- Iran's monthly oil exports are set to climb slightly in February, as Indonesia takes its first shipment since sanctions on Tehran were lifted last year, a person with knowledge of Iran's tanker loading schedule said.
- OCI Global completes $1.9-B sale of OCI Methanol to Methanex Corporation 6/30
- Partnership for sustainability: Pekutherm and POLYVANTIS launch circular economy initiative 6/30
- Univation Technologies and C3 AI collaborate to deliver enterprise AI solutions for advanced predictive maintenance across the global petrochemical industry 6/30
- Lloyd’s Register signs strategic collaboration with DAI Infrastruktur for green ammonia Project Ra 6/30
- Alleima expands product portfolio for the urea industry with SAF™ 2906 6/30
- UK's Lindsey oil refinery insolvent, 420 jobs at risk 6/30
