In-depth analysis of current trends and future expectations for different segments of the oil market, with a focus on understanding both the supply and demand dynamics at play.
Hormuz exports are back near pre-war levels. The military escalations haven't stopped.
Felipe Elink-Schuurman, Michael Ryan, Aaron Kildow and Nikolas Plonski unpack Hormuz exports rebounding near pre-war levels despite daily tanker attacks, VLCC rates near $1.2 million a day, Trump's shelved diesel export ban, EU and US SPR releases, and why gas oil cracks still look bullish into Q1 2027.
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(00:00:20) Hormuz Holds, Barely: Crude exports near pre-war levels even as tanker attacks continue daily and Iran talks go nowhere.
(00:02:50) VLCC Rates Go Vertical: Freight fixtures surge out of the Gulf as VLCC rates jump from $80k to $1.2 million a day.
(00:12:54) Ukraine Hits Russian Refining: Lukoil's Volgograd refinery and a Transneft hub get struck, cutting roughly 5% of Russian capacity.
(00:15:06) Distillates and the SPR Release: EU and G7 SPR releases crush gas oil spreads, but Nikolas still likes Q1 2027 cracks.
(00:25:18) Freight and Crude Trade Calls: Michael turns bearish TC2 spreads, Aaron flags a $25 a barrel freight bill eating North Sea margins.
(00:31:03) Gasoline Holds the Line: RBOB stays firm on hurricane risk and tight US octane, with ARA still the Atlantic's key supplier.
1 Oct 2026
Episode 113: ICE gasoil cracks remain over $85/bbl. China's export ban cuts deep
Host June Goh welcomes Sparta colleagues James Noel-Beswick and Jorge Molinero to unpack the diesel crisis: why global stocks have hit 10-year lows, how geopolitics and refinery outages are compounding the squeeze, and where traders should look to position next.
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Chapters:
(03:59) Red Diesel and the US Response: Washington explores red diesel sales and fuel tax cuts as diesel prices hit $6 a gallon. EU pressure intensifies as the White House threatens export bans.
(04:00) Middle East Flows and Supply Reality: Saudi East-West pipeline back online, but production still far below capacity. Global crude rebounding, but refined products remain dangerously tight.
(06:35) China's Policy Pivot: Crude import quotas flat. Product exports suspended. The refinery outage crisis spreads—India's MRPL fires, potential strikes at US Gulf refineries.
(08:47) Light Distillates and Freight Gasoline stocks at 12-year lows. Naphtha weakness, but gasoline holding firm. LPG tight. Freight—specifically TC5 from Europe—up 65% in one month.
(15:38) The Diesel Armageddon: Singapore diesel cracks at seasonal highs. All regular diesel arbs into Singapore closed. European pricing bucking the trend. Heating oil cracks exploding.
(20:23) Trade Calls and Crude Outlook: James makes the bull case for Q1 heating oil cracks (at $90 per barrel). June covers the US SPR release and Mars basis under pressure through year-end.
24 Sept 2026
Episode 112: A diesel ban looms. HOGO reacts. Freight markets in limbo.
Felipe Elink-Schuurman, June Goh and Michael Ryan unpack the potential US diesel export ban, the Saudi pipeline attack and Russian refinery strikes reshaping crude flows. June covers the diesel, gasoline and crude fallout if the ban lands, while Michael maps the freight rush already underway on TC14 and VLCCs.Try Leonidas AI: https://www.spartacommodities.com/leonidas/?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=leonidas_ai_launch_2026q3
Chapters:
(00:31) Trump's diesel ban threat: the backdrop: Trump backs a full or partial US diesel export ban; midterms, low stocks and Hormuz disruption drive the panic.
(03:09) Russia strikes and Saudi's pipeline scramble: Ukrainian drones knock out Russian refineries as Aramco reroutes 14 million barrels after an Iraq pipeline attack.
(09:51) HOGO whiplash and the diesel ban math: October Hogo swaps swing violently as June maps the price path if a 90 day export ban hits.
(13:49) Freight scramble: TC14, MRs and the LR2 dirty trade: Michael on the rush to fix diesel cargoes, TC14 risk, and MRs turning dirty if US exports stop.
(22:14) Fuel oil, refining margins and China's holiday lull: June and Hoa on high sulfur fuel support, razor thin refining margins and China's Golden Week pullback.
(29:34) Gasoline's own diesel story: ARA undercuts the Gulf Coast, TC2 rallies and East-West Q4/Q1 spreads look primed for a repeat.
Who has been a guest on Sparta Market Outlook
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Abhishek Kumar
Michael Ryan
Jay Maroo
Aaron Kildow
Nikolas Plonski
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
3.7 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
43 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 45 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
69
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
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