Russian crude Urals for loading out of the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk has spiked over 90 

cents/barrel  last  week, to  stand at  its  highest  of the year so far, due to strong month-end 

demand for Urals. 

CIF  Augusta-delivered  Urals  crude  was assessed at Dated Brent minus $0.98/b Friday, up 

21.5 cents/b day on day, to stand at its highest since December 5. 

All through last week, Urals loading from the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk gained 92 cents/

b, as  Litasco  repeatedly  appeared in the Platts Market on Close assessment process as a 

bidder,  looking  for  cargoe loading between April 25-29, and while the company was sold a 

cargo  Tuesday  and  Wednesday  by  Vitol, which increased prices day on day. Litasco and 

Tenergy --  who  appeared  offering  the  cargo  Litasco was looking for in the MOC process 

Thursday  and Friday -- did not cross each other, which was one of the reasons of the price 

increase over the past week. 

On Friday, Litasco's bid was outstanding at Dated Brent minus $0.80/b, while Tenergy's offe

r was outstanding at the end of the MOC process at Dated Brent minus $0.60/b for the April 

26-27 loading Aframax Urals cargo.