China’s independents find hard to resist temptation of discounted Russian crude
After an initial period of caution, China’s independent refiners are becoming increasingly confident in snapping up attractively-priced Russian crude amid growing clarity that the conflict in Ukraine will not create major disruptions to shipment flows or financial transactions, unless sanctions are imposed. With Shandong’s pandemic-related restrictions easing and signs of improving refining margins, independent refiners are buying cargoes from the…