Sudan offers 1.2 mln bbls end-June Dar Blend crude

May 13, 2008 (SINGAPORE) — Sudan has offered via tender 1.2 million barrels of acidic Dar Blend crude for end-June loading, only its second spot tender for the grade, a trader said on Tuesday.

The tender, which closes on May 19, offers two cargoes — one 600,000-barrel cargo for loading on June 26-28, and the second for June 29-July 1 loading, the trader added.

Last month, Sudan sold an estimated 1.5 million barrels of Dar Blend crude for May loading through its first-ever spot tender for the acidic grade.

State-owned oil company Sudapet sells higher-quality Nile Blend crude via monthly tenders.

It was unclear if Sudapet’s spot tenders for Dar Blend crude meant the end of a marketing agreement with European trader Vitol, which has been selling most of the grade’s output on behalf of the different equity holders since the grade came on stream in 2006.

(Reuters)