Asia/Pacific
Rising diesel demand in South Korea cuts exports, could enhance margins
Growing sales of diesel cars and increased use by the freight sector have stoked appetite for the fuel in the country, while subsidies to encourage diesel taxis may provide a further boost this year.
Japan embarks on wave of refining consolidation
With four of its five largest refinery companies set to merge, Japan could be left with only 3.2 million bpd of refining capacity by 2020 and as little as 2.3 million bpd by 2030.
Thai refinery to use Axens’ reforming technology
For this specific project, detailed studies demonstrated that Axens’ technology solution was the most economically attractive option for a given reformate RON target.
Russia’s Rosneft in advanced stage to buy stake in Indian refiner Essar Oil
"Rosneft is in advanced stage to conclude the due diligence process and it will still take some time before the deal is finally closed," Essar Oil Managing Director L.K. Gupta said.
China exports more diesel as local demand slows
Diesel exports in the first quarter of 2016 may high a record high for that period, flooding Asia with supply at a time when profit margins are close to six-year lows, industry sources have said.
Axens to supply technology on China’s first plant for crude-to-paraxylene
The complex includes a final-conversion refinery oriented towards the production of naphtha and an aromatic complex to maximize high-purity paraxylene production.
India’s reduced refined product exports contrast with Chinese boom
It seems clear that the trends are firmly established for now, and longer term it's likely that India may become a net importer of fuel, as domestic demand growth tops refinery construction.
China launches discipline investigation into top Sinochem executive
Cai, a 30-year oil industry veteran, was named to lead Sinochem in 2014, after a long career at China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. (Sinopec).
China’s private refiners eat into oil glut, but Asian fuel surplus looms
State refiners have already been exporting fuels at record amounts, but a lack of export infrastructure is hampering teapots' efforts despite winning government export permits.
Commodity slump pressures Japanese oil refiners
Oil refiners including JX Holdings and Idemitsu Kosan are expected to post over 500 billion yen in inventory losses in the year to March, according to Reuters calculations.

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