Commodities
One Oil Cargo’s Odd Journey Highlights Global Market Strains
- Reliance faces multiple ship transfers for heavy Canada crude
- Sanctions and OPEC+ output cuts have crimped similar supplies
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A dearth of heavy crude is forcing one of the world’s biggest buyers to go the extra mile to get the barrels it needs, offering another example of how sanctions and OPEC+ curbs are recasting the supply chain.
Reliance Industries Ltd., India’s largest private refiner, purchased about 2 million barrels of Canada’s Access Western Blend crude from the recently expanded Trans Mountain pipeline, its first such cargo. And although that grade suits processors with sophisticated refineries such as Reliance, there were plenty of unusual logistical complexities that came with the deal.