PetroKazakhstan wants extra Iran exports.(Exports and trade)(Brief Article)

PetroKazakhstan has asked the Kazakh energy ministry for permission to export more crude to Iran.

The Canadian producer wants to divert exports of its Kumkol crude away from the Aktau-Baku-Batumi route across the Caucasus, as a result of weak demand for light sweet crudes in the Mediterranean (see above). Kumkol differentials slid from a 80 cents/bl premium to dated BFO in early October to a discount of $2/bl this week. PetroKazakhstan may now load only one 30,000t cargo of Kumkol at Batumi in November, compared with around 100,000 t/month (24,300 b/d) normally, say traders.

"The Iranian route is getting interesting again, because discounts for other …