Urals diffs unchanged, March cargoes offered

Urals crude differentials to dated Brent were unchanged on Monday, while March-loading cargoes were offered in the market.

Sellers actively offered Urals oil loading from Russian ports in March, though traders did not hurry to make deals as they tried to estimate possible effect from the recent U.S. sanctions imposed on Russian oil shipping company Sovcomflot and tankers.

The sanctions may increase Russian oil shipping costs and weigh on tanker availability, traders said.

PLATTS WINDOW

There were no bids or offers for CPC Blend, Azeri BTC or Urals oil in the Platts window on Monday.

NEWS

*A slump in U.S. refining activity and disruptions to global trade have tightened diesel supplies in recent weeks, dampening historically high U.S. diesel exports to Europe this month.

*Yemen's Houthis fired a missile that likely targeted the Torm Thor in the Gulf of Aden on Feb. 24 but missed the U.S.-flagged oil tanker, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Monday, as the Iran-aligned militia steps up attacks on ships.