Column: Asia crude oil imports recover in October, China stays weak - Reuters

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Oil tanks are seen at an oil warehouse at Yangshan port in Shanghai, China March 14, 2018. REUTERS/Aly Song

LAUNCESTON, Australia, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Crude oil demand in Asia, the world's top importing region, is showing renewed signs of life, with October imports expected to be the highest in seven months and back to pre-pandemic levels.

The region's crude imports this month are estimated at 24.98 million barrels per day (bpd) by Refinitiv Oil Research, which will be the most since March and also exceed the pre-coronavirus level of 24.53 million bpd from October 2019, as well as the pandemic-affected 23.45 million bpd from October 2020.

October's arrivals are up a strong 1.81 million bpd from September's 23.17 million bpd.

But the robust gain in Asia's imports this month masks a continuing weak picture for China, the world's top oil buyer.

China's imports are estimated at 9.79 million bpd for October, down a touch from official customs figures for September of 10.03 million bpd and below the 10.53 million bpd for August.

China's crude oil demand continues to be affected by a broader energy shortage, which has seen the world's second-biggest economy implement production cuts and power rationing in energy-intensive industries such as steel and aluminium.

Oil refining has also suffered, with daily throughput dropping to 13.64 million bpd in September, the lowest since May 2020, with independent refiners unable to source crude as import quotas became exhausted and product demand affected by weakness in downstream users. read more

While more import quotas were issued on Oct. 15, the total for 2021 for independent refiners will be below those for last year, the first time quotas have been lowered on an annual basis since the system was implemented in 2015.

It's also worth noting that there is now a narrow window for refiners to arrange cargoes for delivery prior to the end of December, which has seen an upsurge of interest in buying Russian ESPO crude, given its considerably shorter transit time from the eastern port of Kozmino to China compared to shipping times from the Middle East.

Graphic: Asia crude oil imports vs Brent price

INDIA REBOUND

The revival in Asia's crude demand has been led by India, Japan and South Korea, with the three biggest importers in the region after China all recording solid gains in October imports.

India is expected to land 4.19 million bpd in October, up from September's 3.88 million, as the South Asian nation starts to revive its economy after ongoing coronavirus outbreaks had led to lockdowns.

Japan's October imports are forecast at 3.01 million bpd, which would be the highest this year as the country builds up products ahead of the northern winter demand peak.

South Korea presents a similar picture to Japan, with its October arrivals estimated at 2.99 million bpd, as it also ensures sufficient winter supplies, and as its economy starts to move to a full re-opening from the coronavirus pandemic.

The strength in Asia's October imports will go some way to reversing the recent trend of weak outcomes, which had put the region at odds with the prevailing global oil market narrative of a tightening supply-demand balance.

However, it's worth noting that some of Asia's revival is seasonal and this will ease once winter passes.

Another potential factor has been the incentive for utilities, especially in Japan and South Korea, to undertake switching from coal for power generation to oil, given thermal coal's massive price spike has eroded the polluting fuel's price advantage over crude.

Again, any increased demand for power generation is likely temporary, and will last only as long as coal prices remain elevated, and they are likely to ease by the first quarter of next year as winter demand ends.

The current high crude prices may also act as a disincentive for imports, especially in price-sensitive buyers such as India, and increasingly China where the authorities in Beijing have signalled they will auction oil from the strategic reserve in order to dampen prices and cut imports.

Global benchmark Brent futures were at $85.70 a barrel in early Asian trade on Monday, and are up about 33% since the most recent low point of $64.60 in late August.

Coincidentally, many of the October-arriving cargoes in Asia would have been arranged in August at prices that are well below those currently prevailing.

Whether the present higher prices crimp crude demand for delivery early next year remains to be seen, but certainly the message from physical traders is that Asian refiners are well supplied and not having to compete to secure cargoes.

The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters.

Editing by Christian Schmollinger

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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