London, 12 July (Argus) — Oil products held in independent storage tanks in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) trading hub fell by 2pc week on week to 5.5mn t today.

The decrease was prompted by a 20pc fall in total fuel oil inventories. Other oil product stocks rose, as low water levels on the Rhine continued to weigh on flows.

Fuel oil inventories fell although no very large crude carriers were reported leaving ARA this week. Cargoes — including two loaded on the Suezmaxes the Bouboulina and the Delta Hellas — departed for the Mideast Gulf, the Mediterranean and Singapore. Cargoes arrived from Estonia, Russia, the UK and Canada. Inflows from Canada are sporadic and tend to be high sulphur fuel oil.

The VLCC Fida is due to begin loading fuel oil from Rotterdam on 14 July.

Naphtha recorded the highest rise in percentage terms. Stocks rose by 11pc amid weaker demand from gasoline and petrochemical end-users. Around half the usual volume left the ARA on barges amid higher Rhine freight costs, which hit their highest since August 2017. Cargoes arrived from Algeria, Norway, Portugal, Russian and the UK.

Gasoil inventories rose by 5pc on weaker demand for heating oil and industrial gasoil. Gasoil cargoes arrived in the ARA area from Russia, the UAE and the US. Tankers departed for the Mediterranean and the UK.

Jet kerosine stocks rose by 4pc, reaching their highest since 16 November 2017. Demand for jet kerosine is seasonally steady but outflows were limited by barge loading restrictions. A 70,000t cargo arrived from Saudi Arabia, and two tankers left the ARA area for Norway and the UK.

Gasoline inventories were broadly stable, rising by less than 1pc. Outflows to North America were healthy, at around 185,000t, but outgoing volume was offset by inflows from the Mediterranean and northwest Europe. Cargoes also departed the ARA area for the Mideast Gulf and the Mediterranean. Cargoes departed the ARA for Argentina, Canada, Latin America, west Africa and the US. Cargoes arrived from Denmark, France, Italy, Spain and the UK.

Reporter: Thomas Warner