Sudan offers 1.6 mln of Dar Blend crude for August

July 4, 2008 (SINGAPORE) — Sudan has offered via tender 1.6 million barrels of acidic Dar Blend crude for August loading, steady to July levels, a trader said on Friday.

The tender closes on July 10, and bids are to remain valid until July 13, the trader added.

Last month, Sudan sold 1.6 million barrels of the grade to Chinese trader Unipec and to European trader Vitol, at deep discounts of around $33.00-33.50 a barrel to Dated Brent.

The grade’s high acidic concent makes it unattractive to most refiners, while U.S. sanctions against the purchase of Sudanese goods also keep many companies away.

(Reuters)