ARA: hopes of a soft landing
Economic troubles might trim the demand for oil storage, but terminal operators hope their growing logistical business will ease the pain
OPERATORS of independent oil storage terminals in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) area are hoping to ride out the economic storm, and their optimism is not just professional. In recent years, their business has grown in response to structural changes in the market for oil products. Speculative trade might dry-up in difficult times, but logistical demand continues. The big ARA operators base their optimism on the growth in world trade for refined products. Regional product imbalances have been increasing, and price arbitrages have opened up to pay for long-distance movements. Examples are the large-scale exports of fuel oil from ARA (mainly Rotterdam) to Singapore and Asia; exports of g
Also in this section
23 April 2026
The addition of an oil pipeline to the Power of Siberia 2 gas project could ensure deliveries of Russian oil to China, materially shorten logistics lines between West Siberia and final customers, and—amid disruption in the Strait of Hormuz—offer a land-based export route that reduces exposure to maritime chokepoints
23 April 2026
There is a clear push to bolster exports to Asia amid uncertainty around its North American neighbour, but there are limits to the benefits from the energy crisis
23 April 2026
Shell made the play-opening discovery in Namibia’s Orange basin back in 2022, but its next well could decide whether the project can actually be commercialised
22 April 2026
The failure of OMV Petrom’s keenly watched exploration campaign at Bulgaria’s Han Asparuh block highlights the Black Sea’s uneven track record, despite major successes like Neptun Deep and Sakarya
