QatarEnergy sharply cut the term price for al-Shaheen crude oil loading in January, trade sources said on Friday, in line with a recent fall in Middle East spot premiums.
The January term price fell to 73 cents a barrel above Dubai quotes, the sources said, down for a second straight month and at a multi-month low. The sources declined to be named as they are not authorised to speak with the media.
The term price for December cargoes was at a premium of $1.93 a barrel.
For its January tender, QatarEnergy sold five cargoes at premiums between 40 and 70 cents a barrel to Dubai quotes, the sources said.
Japanese refiner Eneos bought two cargoes, while Exxon Mobil , TotalEnergies, and Unipec took one each, they added.
Traders said QatarEnergy offered more spot al-Shaheen crude in January as the term prices in some months this year were higher than spot market levels, deterring trading firms from committing to full-year supplies.
Spot premiums for Middle East crude have fallen sharply over the past one month, weighed down by demand weakness in China, the world's No.1 crude oil importer.
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