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Urals diffs consistent, premiums for Azeri BTC ease

Urals crude differentials to dated Brent were the same on Wednesday, while premiums for Azeri BTC oil alleviated further.

* Premiums for Azeri BTC oil continued to compromise amid lower demand for April barrels due to seasonal refinery maintenance in Mediterranean area, traders stated.

* Oil loadings from Russia's western ports from March 20-31 are anticipated to exceed 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd) and hit the greatest level since April 2022, according to market and trading sources, along with estimations.

* India's Dependence Industries, operator of the world's biggest refining complex, will not buy Russian oil packed on tankers operated by shipper Sovcomflot (SCF) after recent U.S. sanctions, according to 2 sources familiar with the matter.

PLATTS WINDOW

* Azerbaijan's SOCAR used 650,000 barrels of Azeri BTC oil loading on April 7-11 at premium of $2.35 per barrel, listed below recent price quotes, however failed to discover a buyer, traders stated.

* There were no bids or deals for CPC Blend or Urals oil in the Platts window on Wednesday.

NEWS

* Russia remained China's leading oil provider in the very first 2 months of this year, information revealed on Wednesday, as Saudi supply cuts continued.

* BP plans to decrease the crude processing capacity of its Gelsenkirchen oil refinery in Germany by around one 3rd from 2025 due to a weaker need outlook, its head of refining Amber Russell stated on Wednesday.