Continental storage divide
European oil storage struggles as new facilities aid further growth in Asia
In this article, PE looks at the evolution of storage trends in the industry. Part II of II. European oil storage activity this year has been heavily affected by the market backwardation. By late September, Brent crude futures prices were backwardated by 20-50 cents per barrel for all delivery months, while gasoil futures prices were showing monthly backwardation of up to $3.25 a tonne along the forward price curve. Such structures removed most incentives for speculative product storage. According to the IEA, European commercial oil inventories declined to 959m barrels at the end of June from 999m barrels at the end-June 2017. The trend towards lower inventories appears to have been consiste

Also in this section
24 July 2025
Despite significant crude projections over the next five years, Latin America’s largest economy could be forced to start importing unless action is taken
23 July 2025
The country’s energy minister explains in an exclusive interview how the country is taking a pragmatic and far-sighted approach to energy security and why he has great confidence in its oil sector
23 July 2025
Gas is unlikely to assume a major role in Albania’s energy mix for years to come, but two priority projects are making headway and helping to establish the sector
22 July 2025
The gas-hungry sector is set for rapid growth, and oil majors and some of the world’s largest LNG firms are investing in ammonia production and export facilities, though much depends on regulatory support