China and India are the largest buyers of Iranian crude, with more than one million barrels in total.

The figure is expected to reach nearly 1.3 million barrels per day in April, while China and India will maintain their position as the first and second largest oil importers of Iranian crude.

Dutch-British Shell, France Total, Italian ENI and Saras Companies, Greek Hellenic Petroleum and Spain Repsol and Hungary MOL are among Iranian oil customers in Europe.

According to the Oil Ministry’s report, Iran has also exported 400,000 barrels per day of condensates during the March with South Korea was the biggest customer with purchasing half of the amount.

South Korea has requested for more gas condensate from Iran, however, due to increased domestic consumption and its allocation to Persian Gulf Star Oil Co., there is no possibility of realizing South Korea’s demands for it. South Korea now receives about 200,000 barrels of gas condensate per day from Iran.

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Managing Director of Iran Oil Terminals Company (IOTC) Seyed Pirouz Mousavi said oil can now be stored for as long as 15 days without the need for exports.

“Iran’s oil storage capacity has currently reached global standards with implementation of 10 million barrels of new capacity in Bahregan district as a backup for Kharg Oil Terminal,” he added.

The official highlighted that operation of new tanks not only has boosted storage duration to 15 days but also increased crude storage capacity of the country’s terminals by about 35 per cent.

“The rise in crude storage capacity, in addition to strengthening Iran’s bargaining power for commerce and sales of oil, will elevate the quality of export products.”

He recalled that construction and implementation of new storage tanks will lower risks of production cuts and transfer of oil to Kharg Terminal, as the country’s largest crude terminal.

Mousavi further deemed increased oil exports throughput as yet another advantage of the new oil storage project adding “upon operation, the possibility will be provided for regular and overhaul of crude oil storage tanks at Kharg Terminal.”

Implementation of new tanks for storing 10 million barrels of Iranian crude earlier this month, the country’s overall capacity rose to 38 million barrels. The project also comprises design, construction, installation and operation of eight one-million-barrel tanks, two 500-thousand-barrel tanks as well as four 250-thousand-barrels tanks for storing crude oil.

Iran’s oil terminals remain as the last link in the chain of oil and gas production and presently over 90 per cent of the country’s crude oil is being deployed to global markets through Kharg Terminal.

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New Managing Director of the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) Sirous Kianersi described latest status of oil displacement agreements between NITC and huge European oil companies saying “so far, 35 contracts have been inked with European sides for taking out leases on 35 Iranian tankers.”

The official stated that the 35 lease contracts had been signed with oil giants from various EU states like Greece, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands asserting that the deals were spot contracts which were sealed for transport of crude oil.

He highlighted that Iranian tankers enjoyed highest standards for transference of crude oil in ports and oil terminals of the European Union (EU); “so far, agreements have been signed with majority of European oil firms like Spain’s Cepsa, Italy’s Eni in addition to Greek and Dutch companies.

In view of post-JCPOA conditions and removal of restrictions, more agreements will be sealed with European oil giants for displacement of crude oil, the official reiterated.

Last week, Kianersi had reported on berthing of Iranian oil tankers at EU oil terminals stressing that the first Iranian tanker had tied up at a Spanish socking site.

For the first time ever, an Iranian tanker, which has been lent out to a large Spanish oil company, moored at Algeciras port of the European state.

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Chinese firms were expected to lift between three million to four million barrels more Iranian oil each quarter in 2017 than last year, four sources with knowledge of the matter estimated. That would be about five percent to seven percent higher than the 620,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Iranian crude the country has imported during the first 11 months of 2016, according to the customs data.

Iran, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), won an exemption from the group’s production cuts agreed to on Nov. 30 and may raise output slightly.

China’s demand for foreign crude could touch new highs as state-run refiners start up new plants and as Beijing allows more independent refiners to import crude, with the country forecast to remain a key driver of 2017 demand growth.

State refiner Sinopec Corp and state-run oil trader Zhuhai Zhenrong Corp, the two biggest Chinese lifters of Iran’s oil, are set to roll over annual supply agreements with National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC), with combined volumes of about 505,000 bpd, two sources with knowledge of the agreements said.

Additionally, China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) and Sinopec expect to lift more oil this year from two oilfields they operate under service contracts, the sources said.

A press official with Sinopec said the company does not comment on operational matters. CNPC and NIOC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Sinopec signed a development deal for the Yadavaran field in late 2007 with CNPC signing a deal for the North Azadegan field in 2009, after Japanese and European companies pulled out of the projects, both in the southwestern Iranian province of Khuzestan, due to sanctions over Iran’s nuclear program.

Both fields started pumping oil in early 2016, with North Azadegan reaching full production in the third quarter and Yadavaran in the fourth quarter, and they are currently pumping at around 160,000 bpd.

“The terms of return on investment are still being finalized …but it’s safe to say Sinopec is going to lift more from Yadavaran this year than last,” said a Beijing-based oil executive familiar with Sinopec’s operations on Yadavaran.

A separate senior trading source estimated that Sinopec could lift about four million barrels of Yadavaran crude, considered a heavy grade with an API gravity rating of about 25, every quarter this year. The person did not give an earlier comparison.

After first shipments last October, CNPC is expected to lift an average of about three million barrels from North Azadegan each quarter, said a second senior trader with knowledge of CNPC’s Iranian production. /Reuters

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Each consignment, Qamsari added, comprises around one million barrels of oil.

The official added that the sales to the two companies had been conduct through spot contracts.

Qamsari further underlined that Iran expected to increase oil sales to Shell and BP in the near future through more spot contracts.

He added that talks were also underway with both companies on long-term sales deals.

Qamsari said that Iran’s average 2016 oil exports stood at around two million barrels per day.

Iranian media reported that the country’s current crude oil production was close to four million barrels per day — almost the same as before sanctions were imposed against the country in 2011.

Iran exports the bulk of its crude oil to Asian consumers including India, China, South Korea and Japan.

Figures released earlier this week showed that Iran’s oil exports to Asian clients had doubled in November compared to the figure for the same period last year.

A report by Reuters to the same effect showed that the four major Asian consumers of Iran’s oil had imported a total of 1.94 million barrels per day of oil from the country in November. The figure, the report added, was 117 percent higher than the amount for last year.

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Following the inking of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for conducting developmental studies in Azadegan oil field with France’s Total, Britain’s Royal Dutch Shell and Inpex Corporation of Japan, a cooperation agreement will be also inked in the current week between the largest Malaysian oil firm PETRONAS and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) to carry out similar studies in Iran’s joint oil field with Iraq.

Moreover, NIOC will also sign into another deal with the Malaysian side in order to perform studies for boosting recovery factor in Cheshmeh Khosh field.

In recent months, NIOC has sealed several MoUs with Austria’s OMV and Gazprom of Russia aiming to increase recovery factor of Cheshmeh Khosh in the west of Iran.

The accord between NIOC and PETRONAS is scheduled to be signed on Wednesday in Tehran between officials of the two oil companies.

On the sidelines of his meeting with Minister of Foreign Trade and Industry of Malaysia Dato’ Seri Mustafa Muhammad, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said Iran welcomes arrival of Malaysian firms, Petronas in particular, since they hold a long history of relations with the country’s oil industry.

Prior to sanction years, the bulk of cooperation between National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and Malaysia pertained to sales and exports of crude oil as Iran was deploying a daily average of 50 to 60 thousand barrels of crude oil to Malaysia’s PETRONAS under spot contracts, he continued.

One of NIOC’s most significant deals with Petronas was over the developmental project of South Pars Phase 11 which was supposed to be accomplished in collaboration with France’s Total and Repsol S.A. of Spain though the agreement was violated as a result of international sanctions against Iran.

Despite having had only a few years of activity in the oil and gas industry, PETRONAS remains among rare oil and gas companies who enjoy functionality and operational teams in both upstream and downstream oil sectors.

The Malaysian oil and gas company is currently active in numerous fields including oil and gas refining, construction of pipelines, LNG transfer, gasoline stations management, manufacturing and marketing of petrochemicals and chemicals, exploration, exploitation, drilling, production and storage of crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas.

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Executive Director for International Affairs at National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Seyed Mohsen Ghamsari, while pointing to launch of oil sales to Eni in the post-JCPOA era, said Iran has so far deployed one cargo of crude oil to the Italian firm within a short-term contract.

The logo of oil company Eni-Saipem is pictured on a barrel in Rome, Italy, March 5 2016. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi

He however highlighted that negotiations are being conducted to sign a long-term oil sale contract with Eni; “in addition to Eni, an agreement has been also sealed with Italy‘s Saras SpA for oil sales in 2016.”

“The possibility exists to ship 30 to 60 thousand barrels of crude oil to Saras SpA per day and the Italian company calls for differing amounts which can vary from 30 to 60 thousand barrels per day.

NIOC officials had previously announced that Iran could sell 100 thousand barrels of crude oil per day to Italy’s Eni in case an agreement was reached.

Iran has no limitaion for export oil to Sri Lanka and South Africa

On latest status of resumption of oil sales to Sri Lanka and South Africa as two traditional customers, Ghamsari underscored that crude exports to the two Asian and African states had reached a hiatus.

The NIOC official recalled that Iran perceived no limitation on oil sales to the two countries; “nevertheless, share of South African refineries are held by European and American oil giants.”

He emphasized that necessary negotiations had been held with refinery stakeholders in South Africa estimating that crude exports to the African state will soon become operational.

Almost two years ago, the South African Deputy Minister of Energy, Ambassador Thembisile Majola had also announced South Africa’s plan to purchase oil from Iran saying “majority of South African refineries are managed by foreign companies and we could encourage them to resume trade with Tehran following the removal of oil sanctions.”

Sri Lanka, also, marks a traditional customer of Iranian crude as 100 per cent of the oil demand in its only oil refinery, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, was supplied by Iran before the imposition of international sanctions.

At the present time, Sri Lanka’s total crude oil demand is estimated to be approximately 45 to 50 thousand barrels per day.

Following the application of international sanctions, Iran’s crude was replaced by Saudi Arabian and Omani oil in the East Asian country’s Ceylon refinery.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Minister Petroleum Resources Development Chandima Weerakkody had then announced that the use of Saudi Arabia’s oil had brought about a significant decline in the country’s gasoline production.

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Iran’ light oil price stood at $40.12 on average since the beginning of 2016 until December 2.
The country also sold its heavy crude oil at $45.37 per barrel in the mentioned week, with $1.81 rise from its preceding week.

Iran’ heavy oil price stood at $38.14 on average since the beginning of 2016 until December 2.
Oil prices have soared as some of the world’s largest oil producers agreed to curb oil output for the first time since 2008 in a last-ditch bid to support prices.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which accounts for a third of global oil supply, agreed in Vienna on November 30 to cut production from January by around 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd), or over 3 percent, to 32.5 million bpd.
The cut will put production at the low end of a preliminary agreement struck in Algiers in September, and will reduce output from a current 33.64 million bpd.

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Following the signing of an Agreement in Principle (AiP) with France’s Total S.A. company on development of South Pars Phase 11, the French firm will seal two more agreements today with NIOC.

One contract to be inked between the two sides today on Wednesday December 07 pertains conducting studies and development of Azadegan joint oilfields.

The accord follows an earlier meeting in December between Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh and Chairman and CEO of Total Patrick Pouyanné held on the the sidelines of OPEC summit in Algeria where the two sides mulled over venues to develop South Azadegan oil field.

NIOC and France’s Total had also sealed a confidential disclosure agreement in March in order to develop Iran’s South Azadegan joint oilfield with Iraq and the French side was required to present its technical bid in six months’ time.

Earlier, the Project Director of the Development Project of South Azadegan Seyyed Mahmoud Mar’ashi estimated that the required volume of investment for the project will be less than five billion dollars in order to reach a daily production of 300 to 320 thousand barrels of crude oil.

In the current time, about 50 thousand barrels of crude oil is being extracted from the joint oil field while completion of the first developmental phase will raise the output to 100 thousand barrels per day by the end of the current year.

In addition to the deal on Azadegan, another agreement is slated to be signed with Total over expansion of Kish gas field as one of the NIOC Recent Discoveries which was discovered in 2006.

A total of 12 wells have so far been drilled in Kish gas field, which is a giant independent field close to Kish Island in the Persian Gulf, and three developmental phases have been defined to realize five billion cubic feet of gas.

The third contract, however, will be endorsed today between NIOC and Royal Dutch Shell on development of Yadavaran joint oilfield. It remains noteworthy that the first phase of development in the Iranian field has been carried out by Sinopec of China.

With completion of Phase 1 of North Azadegan oilfield, in collaboration with China National Petroleum Corporation International (CNPCI), the production at Yadavaran joint field has also surged to 115 thousand barrels per day as a result of cooperation with Sinopec.

Oil production at the joint oilfield with Iran has currently reached 115 thousand barrels which exceeds the initial commitment made for the first developmental phase by approximately 30 thousand barrels.

Yadavaran oilfield has a reservoir of 17 billion barrels and a potential to produce 300-400 thousand bpd of crude.

Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh had previously said the MDP of phase II of North Azadegan and Yadavaran oilfields has been approved by Chinese contractor SINOPEC and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) under an initial contract, adding “Iran is ready to hold multilateral negotiations with Chinese companies within its accepted framework.”

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Iran’s output will be 3.797 million barrels per day per an agreement reached in the OPEC 171st ordinary meeting on Wednesday, November 30.

Hence, Iran’s average crude production level for the first half of 2017 will be 3.797 million barrels.

As of January 2017, Iran’s production will be 3.707 million per day, adding 90,000 barrels per day to the figure gradually.

Per OPEC approved table, Iran will be the only country to add to its production in the first six months of 2017: 90,000 barrels per day on the average. Iran’s average output level would not exceed 3.797 million barrels per day in the first six months of 2017.

Iran will be able to produce 3.9 million barrels per day oil in certain weeks in the first six months of 2017 but the average figure in the six-month period would not exceed 3.797 million per day.

Per OPEC agreement, Saudi Arabia should cut 486,000 barrels per day from its output to bring its output level overall to 10.058 million barrels per day.

The petroleum ministers of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decided to curtail their total production by 1.2 million barrels a day.

For the first ever since 2008, OPEC will cut its production in consistency with the Algiers September 28 accord.

In accordance with the Algiers accord, the Organization’s output ranged between 32.5 million barrels per day to 33 million barrels per day.

Oil prices are predicted to rise after the November 30 agreement to 50 to 55 dollars a barrel.

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