Iran crude/condensate review H1 2022
This insight explores Iran’s declining crude/condensate exports through H1 2022, strengthened trade with Venezuela and Russia’s impact on Iranian fleet activity.
Iranian crude/condensate exports declined over the course of H1 2022 after an initial surge in January 2022, as Q2 2022 exports fell 160kbd q-o-q to 820kbd. Exports rose sharply in January (m-o-m), the highest month on record since sanctions were imposed, surpassing 1.1mbd. This contributed to a strong Q1 2022 where exports averaged 980kbd, an 130 kbd increase from Q4 2021.
Exports have since moved flat-to-lower, averaging 850kbd over February to June 2022, as Chinese buyers have benefitted from increased competition between Iranian and discounted Russian crude.
Meanwhile, Iran’s onshore crude inventories have broadly increased, after a 10mb draw from Q4 2021 to Jan 2022. Q2 2022 crude/condensate exports declined 300kbd from January, coinciding with a 5mb stockbuild over the same period. Stockbuilds may also be supported by reportedly higher Iranian production in previous months, in anticipation of the lifting of US sanctions – which failed to materialise.
Iran & Venezuela’s crude/condensate trade rises in H1 2022
Venezuela’s trade with Iran strengthened in H1 2022, as its agreement to import Iranian condensate expanded to also include crude (Reuters). Venezuelan imports of Iranian crude/condensate increased to 55kbd in H1 2022, up 25kbd from H2 2021.
During H1 2022, four cargoes of Iranian South Pars condensate arrived at Venezuela’s Jose terminal, up from three cargoes across all of H2 2021. Venezuela also started importing Iranian Heavy in H1 2022 to feed its refineries. Suezmax tankers from Iran’s national tanker company (NITC) discharged Iranian Heavy via STS into Venezuela’s Amuay, Cardon & El Palito refineries.
In H1 2022, Iran started loading Venezuelan crude and fuel oil from Jose in return for supplying Venezuela with crude/condensate. Venezuelan Merey crude has been loaded on 3 NITC VLCCs in recent months for export, namely STARLA, DAN and DERYA.
Tankers previously carrying Iranian crude switch to Russian trade
As of 18 July, we track 11 unique tankers, mostly Aframaxes, which have loaded Russian crude/products since April 2022, having previously carried Iranian crude. The 11 tankers account for 16 Russian oil liftings since April.
VLCCs previously carrying Iranian crude recently started carrying Russian oil, spurring Russian oil exports on Iranian crude carriers to 250kbd for 1H July, a 170kbd increase from April 2022. As more companies scale back from carrying Russian crude/products, those familiar with the sanctioned crude trade will continue using their tankers to assist Russia in exporting oil East of Suez.
Dark STS transfers of Russian Urals in the Atlantic are growing and involve tankers which have previously carried Iranian crude. As of 18th July, we track seven VLCCs and seven Aframax’s which have been in the Atlantic in recent weeks with their AIS off – of these, three VLCCs and two Aframax’s have previously carried Iranian crude.
Count of Russian oil loadings on Iranian crude carriers split by vessel class (LHS) vs Russian oil exports (excl. CPC Blend) on Iranian crude carriers (kbd, RHS)
Russia, Iran and Venezuela compete for limited market, with knock-on effects on other suppliers
We expect further dark STS activity in the Atlantic as VLCCs previously carrying Iranian crude arrive ballast, awaiting STS transfers with Urals-laden Aframaxes (in the absence of AIS signals).
At the same time it is very clear that Russia is competing with Iran and Venezuela for so far limited placement options in East of Suez markets, essentially only China and India. China, in particular, appears to be hesitant so far to take huge volumes of Russian crude in contrast to India, with limited players involved, reducing the available market.
Meanwhile, the rising inflows of sanctioned or quasi-sanctioned (Russian) oil into Asian markets cause difficulties for some Middle Eastern suppliers to place all their medium-to-heavy sour barrels, with Iraq reducing official selling prices relative to competitors as a consequence.
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