Market participants have criticized the Dated Brent assessment mechanism after pricing gaps appeared in late September and early October. No trades took place in the assessment window from Sept 24 to 29 or during the first week of October, though premiums continued to rise. These distortions can push dated prices to $30 above futures, which, when added to $15 loading costs, increases the landed value of oil in Europe to unsustainable levels.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Dated Brent and North Sea Premia Plunge $10 in Historic 1 Day Drop
Commodities4 days ago
North Sea crude prices and premiums collapsed on Oct 16, affecting the economic viability of European refineries. The Dated Brent benchmark and associated physical premia fell by approximately $10 a barrel, marking one of the largest 1 day declines on record for those premiums. This move occurred even before the broad circulation of rumors concerning a pipeline, with observers noting a lack of other bearish newsflow.
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