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(Recasts, adds details)
By Florence Tan
SINGAPORE, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Saudi Aramco has raised February prices for most of the crude it sells to Asia and the United States, but cut prices in Northwest Europe and the Mediterranean.
The state oil giant said on Thursday that the price of Arab Light crude for Asian customers rose by $0.60 a barrel versus January to a discount of $0.15 a barrel to the Oman/Dubai average.
Prices for other crude grades to Asia were up by $0.40-$0.60 a barrel in February.
The price hikes were slightly higher than expected, three Asian traders said, coming on the back of possible supply cuts in February.
The company dropped its Arab Light OSP to Northwest Europe by $0.50 a barrel for February from the previous month at a discount of $4.70 a barrel to the Brent Weighted Average (BWAVE).
The Arab Light OSP to the United States was set at a premium of $0.25 a barrel to the Argus Sour Crude Index (ASCI) for February, up $0.20 a barrel from the previous month.
The tables below show the full FOB differential prices for February in U.S. dollars.
Saudi term crude supplies to the United States are priced as a differential to the Argus Sour Crude Index (ASCI).
Prices at Ras Tanura destined for Northwest Europe are set against Brent crude weighted average (BWAVE):
Saudi term crude supplies to Asia are priced as a differential to the Oman/Dubai average:
Prices at Ras Tanura for Saudi oil destined for the Mediterranean are set against the BWAVE:
(Additional reporting by Mark Tay; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) ((Florence.Tan@thomsonreuters.com; +65 6870 3497; Reuters Messaging: florence.tan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
By Florence Tan
SINGAPORE, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Saudi Aramco has raised February prices for most of the crude it sells to Asia and the United States, but cut prices in Northwest Europe and the Mediterranean.
The state oil giant said on Thursday that the price of Arab Light crude for Asian customers rose by $0.60 a barrel versus January to a discount of $0.15 a barrel to the Oman/Dubai average.
Prices for other crude grades to Asia were up by $0.40-$0.60 a barrel in February.
The price hikes were slightly higher than expected, three Asian traders said, coming on the back of possible supply cuts in February.
The company dropped its Arab Light OSP to Northwest Europe by $0.50 a barrel for February from the previous month at a discount of $4.70 a barrel to the Brent Weighted Average (BWAVE).
The Arab Light OSP to the United States was set at a premium of $0.25 a barrel to the Argus Sour Crude Index (ASCI) for February, up $0.20 a barrel from the previous month.
The tables below show the full FOB differential prices for February in U.S. dollars.
Saudi term crude supplies to the United States are priced as a differential to the Argus Sour Crude Index (ASCI).
| United States | FEBRUARY | JANUARY | CHANGE |
| EXTRA LIGHT | 2.1 | 1.9 | 0.2 |
| LIGHT | 0.25 | 0.05 | 0.2 |
| MEDIUM | -1.15 | -1.15 | 0 |
| HEAVY | -2.35 | -2.35 | 0 |
Prices at Ras Tanura destined for Northwest Europe are set against Brent crude weighted average (BWAVE):
| NW EUROPE | FEBRUARY | JANUARY | CHANGE |
| EXTRA LIGHT | -2.9 | -2.4 | -0.5 |
| LIGHT | -4.7 | -4.2 | -0.5 |
| MEDIUM | -5.7 | -5.1 | -0.6 |
| HEAVY | -7.25 | -6.7 | -0.55 |
Saudi term crude supplies to Asia are priced as a differential to the Oman/Dubai average:
| ASIA | FEBRUARY | JANUARY | CHANGE |
| SUPER LIGHT | 3.45 | 3.05 | 0.4 |
| EXTRA LIGHT | 1.1 | 0.65 | 0.45 |
| LIGHT | -0.15 | -0.75 | 0.6 |
| MEDIUM | -0.9 | -1.4 | 0.5 |
| HEAVY | -2.8 | -3.3 | 0.5 |
Prices at Ras Tanura for Saudi oil destined for the Mediterranean are set against the BWAVE:
| MEDITERRANEAN | FEBRUARY | JANUARY | CHANGE |
| EXTRA LIGHT | -2.55 | -2 | -0.55 |
| LIGHT | -4.55 | -4.1 | -0.45 |
| MEDIUM | -5.5 | -5.1 | -0.4 |
| HEAVY | -6.9 | -6.7 | -0.2 |
(Additional reporting by Mark Tay; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) ((Florence.Tan@thomsonreuters.com; +65 6870 3497; Reuters Messaging: florence.tan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
