French Oil Product Imports Rise On Strike Ending

Oil product shipments into France have been rising as the Fos and Lavera oil ports resumed operations after strike action over the government's pension reform, allowing domestic stocks to be replenished according to S&P Global Commodity Insights.

• Gasoline exports from the ARA hub to France rose to 104,000 mt in the week starting April 3, versus a prior four-week average of 55,000 mt according to Kpler shipping data
• "There are some cargoes leaving which were fixed in advance. But with strikes over, refineries should fill all demand," a market source said.
• French ports and refineries have been gradually resuming operations over the past ten days.
• During strike action at the country’s oil ports, some 73 vessels were waiting to discharge oil and petrochemical products and crude at the Fos and Lavera terminals in Marseilles.
• Delays were also reported at CIM oil terminal at Le Havre.
• With ports open, product flows into France saw stocks at the ARA refining hub fall slightly in the week to April 13, according to market sources.