In this week's Sparta Market Outlook Podcast, Rachel Williams, Neil Crosby, and June dive into the oil market's most telegraphed glut, dissecting OPEC's recent 137 kbd production hike and its implications for global crude flows. They explore why Brent spreads remain resilient despite bearish fundamentals, analyse key trades like Brent-Dubai swaps and transatlantic gasoline arbitrage, and highlight shifting dynamics in naphtha and distillates. The episode also covers freight market trends and refining challenges, offering traders actionable insights into navigating oversupply risks and arbitrage opportunities.
Key Takeaways:
- OPEC's production hike: What does the 137 KBD increase signal about their confidence, and how might it reshape global crude markets?
- Brent-Dubai swaps: Is the recent weakness in Dubai a fleeting opportunity or a sign of deeper bearish pressures?
- Transatlantic gasoline arbitrage: Why is the $3.45/gallon setup puzzling traders, and what role does Dangote play?
- Naphtha and distillates: Are East-West naphtha spreads overdone, and is now the time to buy the Ice Nov-Dec gas oil dip?
- Freight market shifts: How are softening TC14 rates and a rebounding TD25 impacting crude and product flows?
Chapters
(01:29) OPEC’s Production Hike and OSP Strategy
Neil unpacks OPEC’s 137 kbd increase and their decision to hold firm on Asian OSPs, signaling confidence amid a looming glut.
(03:22) Decoding the Global Oil Glut
The team investigates why Brent spreads defy bearish fundamentals, exploring oil-on-water trends and Saudi loading patterns.
(07:10) Brent-Dubai Swaps: A Trading Opportunity?
June and Neil analyze the weakening Dubai market and discuss whether selling Brent-Dubai swaps offers a profitable entry point.
(12:17) Transatlantic Gasoline Arbitrage Breakdown
Neil and June explore the $3.45/gallon transatlantic arb, weighing Dangote’s influence and mixed signals from U.S. and Latam stocks.
(15:12) East-West Naphtha: Overbought or Justified?
June highlights naphtha’s peak pricing, driven by Russian refinery attacks, and debates whether East-West spreads are set to correct.
(18:46) Ice Nov-Dec Gas Oil: Time to Buy the Dip?
Neil and June discuss the oversold Ice Nov-Dec gas oil spread, spotlighting shifting U.S. yields and closed European arbs.
(22:20) Quickfire: Fuel Oil, Freight, and Refining Updates
The team tackles Forties’ overvaluation, TC14 softening, and Malaysia’s refinery woes, offering rapid-fire trade insights.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Two Guys, Five Rings: Matt, Bowen & The Olympics
Two Guys (Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers). Five Rings (you know, from the Olympics logo). One essential podcast for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Bowen Yang (SNL, Wicked) and Matt Rogers (Palm Royale, No Good Deed) of Las Culturistas are back for a second season of Two Guys, Five Rings, a collaboration with NBC Sports and iHeartRadio. In this 15-episode event, Bowen and Matt discuss the top storylines, obsess over Italian culture, and find out what really goes on in the Olympic Village.