Fuel prices and developments affect the entire supply chain, and can place a lot of pressure on carriers. Check back here for news and information related to fuel prices and the gas sector, plus insights and analysis on trends and issues impacting the industry.
Recent reports out of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas paint a gloomy picture regarding prospects in the U.S. oil industry. Even as U.S. crude and total petroleum production continue to set records, that is happening while surrounded by cutbacks in operations that are leading to less spending and fewer jobs. That’s obvious in the […]
All the numbers at your fingertips to help you navigate figuring out what’s going on at OPEC this coming week.
Darren Prokop writes about the need for a solution to repair and improve the nation’s highways and bridges. What are the options and is there the political will to develop a solution?
Will California’s steps against parts of drilling technology cost some drivers their jobs?
Environmental opposition and a glut of LNG are among the challenges facing a proposed Oregon natural gas pipeline and export terminal project.
CEO Andy Marsh talks clean hydrogen, a new push into on-road vehicles – and why China does not figure into the five-year revenue plan.
Kayla Matthews writes about the changes coming to the shipping and logistics industry as IMO 2020 takes effect in less than six weeks.
Brian Aoaeh writes about changes in the energy/fuel mix over the next 30 years in developed and developing economies.
Pilot Flying J is targeting small trucking fleets with a new fueling network aligned with brands like Marathon Oil’s Speedway commercial fueling locations. It expects to have 250 outlets by the end of 2020.
The pilot project aims to replace one of two delivery trucks serving a university neighborhood in Portland, Oregon.
There are parts of the oil market reacting to the new rule but it isnt down on the level of the diesel pump.
The broader issue for Carbo is the weak oil and gas market that has impacted the oil patch.
John Lewis will now use carbon-neutral renewable biomethane to power hundreds of its delivery trucks by 2021.
The plant, one of the world’s largest, is designed to support the automaker’s hydrogen truck and passenger vehicle fleets.
The annual report by OPEC that reviews and forecasts every corner of the world’s oil producing and consuming sectors should be read with happiness by anybody who needs to buy fuel… including truckers. OPEC’s World Oil Outlook is one of several 100-plus page reports that are published every year by a variety of leading energy […]
Ardmore Shipping execs predict the initial IMO 2020 phase will favor more expensive 0.1% MGO.
Shipping liquified natural gas by rail is a controversial topic. Read what Jim Blaze thinks about the idea in his latest commentary.
The impact of IMO 2020 on oil markets is going to be less than projected, at least according to a newly published forecast by OPEC. The cartel, in its voluminous World Oil Outlook report, said it has seen several shifts in oil markets that have led it to believe the transition to lower-sulfur marine fuels […]
Asia-Europe and Asia-U.S. spot freight rates jumped 12-30% last week, but can carriers hold on to the gains?
The rule would require half of all new medium- and heavy duty truck sales sold in California by 2030 to be zero-emissions vehicles.
With diesel fuel powering 97% of all heavy-duty trucks, it seems silly to predict its industry dominance will end. But don’t tell that to California where the good can be the enemy of the great.
Saudi Aramco, believed to be the world’s largest integrated oil and gas company, has announced it will undergo an IPO on the Saudi Arabian stock exchange.
Debt loads are high, prices are stuck and new capital is reluctant to move into the space.
Donaldson hopes to release this solution in 2020 for commercial trucks, which will increase visibility for fleet managers and ultimately save money.
GM, Toyota clash with rivals Ford, BMW that are siding with California.
The news this week that Hyundai Motor Company is planning a hydrogen-powered tractor for global markets, including the U.S., could be the beginning of a larger presence for the company into North America.
World’s largest shipping line teams up with major customers in test of carbon-neutral fuel.
Hyundai has unveiled a fuel-cell powered Class 8 truck, the HDC-6 Neptune, that it plans to launch at an undisclosed time in the future. It will be a global truck for multiple markets, including the U.S.
Truckers and trucking companies worried about IMO 2020’s impact on diesel prices would have received no comfort from what executives said.
The impact of IMO 2020 on diesel prices will be the subject of the lead interview this weekend on FreightWaves Radio. Co-host John Kingston attended the Argus Fuel Oil conference in Miami during the past week and sat down with two of the company’s leading analysts, Stephen Jones and Ed Arnold. Jones is the senior […]
Shippers will shun container lines that lack transparency or overcharge for low-sulfur fuels.
Diesel is a sideshow at the Argus Media conference but the impact on it is always in the background.
Independent trucking group calls the rule “unrealistic”; environmental coalition says it doesn’t go far enough.
Hyundai Motor Co. is expanding its fuel cell ambitions to heavy-duty trucks and trailers with a pair of concepts for next week’s North American Commercial Vehicle show in Atlanta.
The signal that IMO 2020 is here isn’t going to be one big moment. There are other signs to watch for.
French calls for mandatory slow steaming continue, but the introduction of low-sulfur bunkers could see container lines accelerate services as fuel markets are played for competitive advantage.
The explosion and fire were near a refinery, but initial reports that they were at a refinery were incorrect.
Market Voice Ben Thrower writes about electric vehicles – and their potential impact on the U.S. energy grid.
European shippers have joined with leading container line analyst Drewry to bring order to the “who pays what” implementation of IMO low-sulfur fuels.
A report released the same day as the tanker incident shows why it’s hard to envision higher prices.
An influx of new container ships has hiked the average size of vessels deployed on the trans-Pacific and Asia-Europe trades, reports Alphaliner.
The first news led to a spike that pulled back. But prices were higher as the U.S. trading day began.
European logistics giant could bring its famed, eco-friendly distribution centers to North America as its global expansion continues
UPS will add 6,000 natural gas vehicles over the next three years as part of an agreement with Agility Fuel Solutions, which will supply the natural gas systems and infrastructure. The vehicles will include heavy-duty trucks, terminal tractors and package cars.
New pipelines are proving bad news for truckers, according to this RBN Energy report.
Maersk expects ample supplies of low-sulfur fuels to be available in most ports, but warns shippers to expect higher costs.
Drewry expects service levels to be cut by lines if shippers prove unwilling to foot the bill for mandatory low-sulfur fuels.
If oil prices are going to start moving in reaction to IMO 2020, the last two weeks may have been the time with the first signs of that occurring. There were enough movements in the market – except for the overall outright price – that could at least lead market observers to speculate that something […]
File this one under the category of “be careful what you wish for.” In a letter to the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) filed as part of a long series of comments by many made to the federal agency, Phillips 66, a leading refiner, brings up the impact on IMO 2020 if a […]
From Oct. 1 new low-sulfur fuel charges are being levied by some container lines with more to follow through Q4. Use of the fuels is not mandatory until January 1, 2020.
A weekly look at what occurred in the oil markets of the U.S. and the world this past week and what’s ahead. The Dallas Federal Reserve Board’s quarterly survey of conditions out in the oil patch is positive for the trucking sector only in one sense – production looks like it is going to continue […]
As California tightens trucking emissions, natural gas seen as most viable in market currently.
Ben Thrower writes about the coming IMO 2020 regulations and its impact on the shipping industry.
U.S. trucking operators, heed this warning from Asia. Maritime experts say that after the IMO 2020 deadline, fuel availability will be uncertain, scrubbers won’t work, stockpiles will “evaporate” and fuel prices will “go through the roof”.
New regulations are expected to affect around 60,000 ships, requiring them to reduce their sulfur emissions by more than 80%.
But batteries have a better future in more regional hauls.
Getting to Zero Coalition, which includes Maersk Line, calls for “commercially viable zero-emission vessels” to be deployed on deep sea trade by 2030.
The weekly average retail diesel price posted Monday by the Department of Energy (DOE) was in the top 20 biggest one-week increases in the history of the data series – and particularly steep compared to upward moves in the last seven years. The DOE/Energy Information Administration (EIA) price posted Monday was $3.081/gallon, up from $2.987/gallon, […]
UPS was an early adopter of LNG, now it has its sights set on RNG.
Diesel consumption in California fell in the beginning of 2019, led some to believe that there was a sudden transition to other fuel sources.
Whether its a small renewable diesel plant or a big refinery expansion, growth is ongoing.
California moved as expected Friday, Sept. 20, to sue the Trump administration over stripping its waiver to set tougher emissions standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks than the federal government.
FIATA warns that higher air, ocean and trucking fuels costs will be passed directly on to customers.
After a week in which oil and diesel prices rose and fell like a tanker on a wind-whipped ocean, FreightWaves Radio will have a wide-ranging discussion about petroleum prices on this weekend’s edition, broadcast over SiriusXM Road Dog Trucking. Co-host John Kingston will be joined by S&P Global Platts senior editor Brian Scheid and FreightWaves’ […]
As the world’s top producer of oil, the United States is more than capable of withstanding the global effects of the Saudi Arabian refinery attack.
MOL continues its foray into experimenting with LNG with an innovative LNG-powered tugboat; meanwhile, MOL’s LNG-bunkering business signs deals around the world.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman at Tuesday press conference discussing status of country’s oil industry. And just like that, the great Saudi oil crisis of 2019 might be over. In a press conference carried over the Internet, a significant step for the usually publicity-shy kingdom, Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said […]
Oil markets completed their first full day of trading following the drone attacks on Saudi processing facilities, with the global crude Brent benchmark rising more than 14% at the close and heading back up toward where prices were when trading began late Sunday U.S. time. The one comforting fact for truckers is that ultra low […]
U.S. Chamber chief Tom Donohue also commented on status of China trade talks, USMCA.
With oil prices climbing 20%, bunker and BAF costs are expected to follow suit after Saudi drone attacks
A market covers its shorts but also ponders the vulnerability of the Saudi oil system.
Diesel prices could spike by over 20% overnight due to the market coming to grips with the biggest blackswan event to hit oil in over a decade. On Friday night, while most of the U.S. was settling in for a weekend of high school, college and professional football, the world’s second largest oil producer was […]
The drone attacks were a combination of low-tech equipment versus an oil giant, creating more disruption than any time in recent history.
World No. 2 producer shuts in half of production due to overnight attacks.
A refinery in the Caribbean that was closed in 2012 is springing back to life, and it has a role in IMO 2020 compliance.
Higher transport costs are a price worth paying to cut carbon emissions, says a U.K. government energy czar. Ship owners beg to differ.
The International Energy Agency now believes implementation of the new fuel rule could be “much smoother than expected.”
BIMCO, ICS, INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO call on charterers, bunker suppliers and nation states to “double their efforts” to ensure a smooth transition to low-sulfur fuel.
Markets for diesel are trending where theyve been for the last year.
According to Euronav, the derivatives market in low sulfur fuel oil is not deep enough to provide a viable IMO 2020 hedge – but it will be soon.
Tanker major Euronav has revealed new details on its strategy to counter IMO 2020 risks.
Since 2016, Air BP has been reducing carbon emissions through its BP Biojet.
Do U.S. corn producers have an opportunity to sell more to Brazil for ethanol production?
The price of new IMO 2020-compliant low-sulfur fuels is already 30% higher than fuels currently in use, but costs will rise further as the Jan. 1 deadline approaches, says consultant
Nikola Corp. expects to raise more than $1 billion in its Series D runding raising. That starts with London-based CNH Industrial that invested $250 million in cash and in-kind help.
The London-based startup is helping ships to optimize their port docking time, allowing them to sail early and save on fuel by sailing slower.
U.S. crude output, according to one estimate, is now at 12.5 million barrels per day.
The engine displacement in Class 8 commercial tractors is expected to drop in coming years as stricter federal emissions standards take effect in the next decade.
There are more shortages of gasoline but diesel has some problems also.
Last-mile movement is one of the least energy-efficient operations within supply chains, and efforts need to be taken to consciously reduce energy expended in that stretch.
Partially synthetic lower viscosity 10W-30 and 5W-30 oils are supplanting the industry standard 15W-40 heavy-duty oil. The new formulas cost more but can bring up to 2 percent better fuel economy with longer intervals between changes.
But good news for the trucking sector: the assets stick around and activity continues
The vast majority of Aussie truck drivers are either fat or obese and they have a terrible diets, new research has found. Meanwhile, New Zealanders fund electric vehicles and Aussie trailer maker reveals a shocker set of financial results.
Most forecasts have been conservative, but not this one.
A lot of new pipeline capacity is kicking in and the need for trains is going to be greatly reduced.
Portuguese truck driver unions have gone on an indefinite strike, demanding better monthly base salaries.
Prices may have turned higher Friday but there isnt a lot of things going on that point that way in the market.
Refinery repairs and OPEC wreak havoc on rates, but there is always the next quarter.
EIV Capital, a Houston firm that invests in energy businesses, recently helped raise $75 million in funding that will research turning dairy cattle’s recycled cow manure into usable, clean energy products. The funding will be used by Amp Americas, a Chicago-based startup that is researching how to transform animal waste and convert it into biogas, […]
Whether the shale boom can keep going has recently been called into question.
