Continental storage divide
European oil storage struggles as new facilities aid further growth in Asia
In this article, PE looks at the evolution of storage trends in the industry. Part II of II. European oil storage activity this year has been heavily affected by the market backwardation. By late September, Brent crude futures prices were backwardated by 20-50 cents per barrel for all delivery months, while gasoil futures prices were showing monthly backwardation of up to $3.25 a tonne along the forward price curve. Such structures removed most incentives for speculative product storage. According to the IEA, European commercial oil inventories declined to 959m barrels at the end of June from 999m barrels at the end-June 2017. The trend towards lower inventories appears to have been consiste
Also in this section
12 December 2025
The federal government is working with Alberta to improve the country’s access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on the US, but there are challenges to their plans
12 December 2025
The latest edition of our annual Outlook publication, titled 'The shape of energy to come: Creating unique pathways and managing shifting alliances', is available now
11 December 2025
The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability
10 December 2025
The economic and environmental cost of the seven-year exploration ban will be felt long after its removal
