Middle East crude benchmarks mixed on Thursday, with Oman and Dubai dropping while Murban drifting higher.

Several Chinese traders said demand from world’s top crude importer remain resilient this month despite headwinds from macroeconomic sectors.

Appetite for Iranian crude is growing in China, the world’s biggest oil importer, after the extension of supply cuts by Saudi Arabia and Russia boosted global prices LCOc1, while Tehran is stepping up output and exports despite U.S. sanctions.

ASIAN REFINERIES

Taiwan’s CPC Corp will shut one of its crude distillation units (CDU) and several downstream units including an alkylation unit for maintenance and a steam cracker for repairs in the next few days, a company spokesperson said on Thursday.

SINGAPORE CASH DEALS

Cash Dubai’s premium to swaps fell 15 cents to $2.15 a barrel.

NEWS

The U.S. Energy Department has talked to oil producers and refiners to ensure stable fuel supplies at a time of rising gasoline prices, Jared Bernstein, head of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, said on Wednesday.

The sustainable mobility unit of Italy’s Eni ENI.MI and petrochemicals maker LG Chem 051910.KS have teamed up to explore the potential development of a biorefinery in South Korea, the two companies said in a statement on Thursday.

Guyana on Wednesday received bids for eight of 14 offshore oil and gas exploration blocks offered in its first auction, including from groups formed by Exxon Mobil XOM.N and TotalEnergies TTEF.PA, according to the government and documents seen by Reuters.

Residual fuel oil stocks at key trading hub Singapore recovered to three-week highs in the week to Sept. 13, official data showed on Thursday, even as net imports slipped.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Muyu Xu; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)