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Urals diffs stable in quiet trade

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on April 24, 2025

2 min read

· Last updated: January 24, 2026

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Urals diffs stable in quiet trade
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Russian Urals Crude Oil Differentials Remain Stable

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian Urals crude oil differentials to dated Brent were little changed on Thursday in quiet trade.

Three more Russian insurers, including a subsidiary of top lender Sberbank, have asked India for approval to provide marine insurance for oil shipments sent to Indian ports, two sources with knowledge of the matter said, as Moscow looks to maintain deliveries despite Western sanctions.

Sinopec, Asia's top refiner, resumed purchases of Russian oil after a brief pause last month to assess risks from sanctions imposed by the United States on Russian entities, trade sources said on Wednesday.

PLATTS WINDOW

* No bids or offers were shown for Urals, CPC Blend andAzeri BTC in the Platts window on Thursday.

NEWS

* Kazakhstan's public defiance of the OPEC+ oil productionalliance could signal its exit from the group and push SaudiArabia into a painful price war at a precarious moment. * Russia's oil and gas revenue in April is seenfalling by 22% to 0.96 trillion roubles ($11.60 billion) fromthe same month a year ago due to weaker oil prices and astronger rouble, Reuters calculations showed. * The European Commission will in the next two weeks presenta roadmap on how it intends to phase out all imports of Russianfossil fuels, President Ursula von der Leyen said at an energyevent in London on Thursday. * Russian Deputy Prime minister Alexander Novak held ameeting with Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad, the Russiangovernment said on Thursday.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Mark Porter)

Key Takeaways

  • Urals crude oil differentials to Brent remain unchanged.
  • Russian insurers seek approval in India for marine insurance.
  • Sinopec resumes Russian oil purchases after risk assessment.
  • Kazakhstan's stance may affect OPEC+ dynamics.
  • European roadmap to phase out Russian fossil fuels announced.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main topic?
The article discusses the stability of Russian Urals crude oil differentials and related geopolitical and trade developments.
Why are Russian insurers seeking approval in India?
Russian insurers are seeking approval to provide marine insurance for oil shipments to India, aiming to maintain deliveries despite sanctions.
What is Sinopec's role in the article?
Sinopec, Asia's top refiner, has resumed purchasing Russian oil after a brief pause to assess sanctions risks.

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