Japanese refiners started the ball rolling for Middle East crude trade, taking a slew of medium-sour Qatar and light-sour Abu Dhabi grades for May loading, traders said yesterday.

Light sour grades took centre stage when Japan's largest refiner, Nippon Oil, stepped in to buy two May-lifting cargoes of Abu Dhabi's Umm Shaif at Adnoc plus 20 cents a barrel on Tuesday.
May premiums were lower than in April, falling from a high of Adnoc plus 37 cents.

Abu Dhabi's Murban was offered at Adnoc plus 20 cents, but no takers were heard, traders said.

Other light sour deals include Japan Energy's purchase of an Umm Shaif cargo at Adnoc plus 17 cents from trader Mitsubishi, a trader said.

He also added that Japanese trader Mitsui bought a cargo of Lower Zakum at Adnoc plus 25 cents from oil-major Total , a trader said.

Although refiners hint at reduced demand for sour crudes in May, premiums for light sour grades from Abu Dhabi are expected to remain strong based on expectations of tightened supply.

Maintenance work at Adnoc's Das Island production facility, which started in April, could limit supplies for Lower Zakum and Umm Shaif in May, a refiner said.