Colombian diesel exports to USA accelerate in 2019
Vortexa Snapshot: Colombian diesel exports to USA accelerate in 2019
07 November, 2019
In Brief:
- Colombian diesel exports to the US – largely to PADD 1 (US Atlantic coast) – rose to a multiyear high of just under 50,000 b/d in October, boosting year-to-date exports on this route to around 25,000 b/d, Vortexa data show.
- Vortexa observed 32 vessels discharging into the US during 2019, compared to only 15 in 2018, arriving mainly into Florida and New York.
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Florida has been the biggest US recipient of Colombian diesel so far in 2019, with 20 vessels discharging, compared to only 4 in 2018.
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In addition to the above ports, rising Colombian diesel exports also went to Puerto Rico. Around 19,000 b/d has arrived so far in 2019, up by 13% over the same period in 2018. US and Puerto Rico account for around 70% of Colombia’s diesel exports since 2016.
- More diesel tankers are underway to PADD 1 – handymax tankers Kriti Emerald and Avon are en route to New York and New Haven, respectively, having loaded from Cartagena during late October-early November. PADD 1 one is also set to receive rare a cargo from India’s Sikka in November.
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US EIA data show that weekly PADD 1 distillate stocks dropped to their lowest levels since mid-July 2018 in the week ending 25 October.
- Higher Colombian diesel exports overall so far this year have been offset by rising imports. As a result, Colombia’s net diesel flows in 2019 have been relatively balanced. Imports, largely from PADD 3, flow mostly into Pozos Colorados, while exports largely leave from Cartagena port.
