Urals crude differentials were unchanged on Friday, while premiums for Azeri BTC crude oil firmed slightly to dated Brent after a bid during an afternoon trading session, traders said.

Prices for Azeri BTC oil cargoes loading in December firmed amid stronger demand fuelled by pre-winter buying as refineries seek to increase output after autumn maintenance, traders said.

PLATTS WINDOW
BP bid for 650,000 barrels of Azeri BTC oil loading from Ceyhan on Dec. 11-15 at dated Brent plus $2.05 per barrel, slightly above recent estimates for the grade, but failed to find a seller.

No bids or offers were shown for Urals or CPC Blend in the Platts window on Friday.

At least three Russian refineries had to halt processing or cut runs due to heavy losses amid export curbs, rising crude prices and high borrowing costs, according to five industry sources.

China’s refinery throughput in October fell 4.6% from last year, down from year earlier for a seventh month, as plant closures offset the ramp-up of a newly started complex and demand from holiday travel, official data showed on Friday.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Reuters; editing by Jonathan Oatis)