Urals differentials stable, Russia to impose tighter gasoline export ban

Urals crude differentials to dated Brent held steady on Thursday, while Kazakh and Russian Black Sea oil exports from Russia's main Black Sea ports resumed.

Russia's FSB security service has started handing out clearance for foreign tankers to access the Black Sea ports, allowing for Kazakhstan's oil exports to resume after they were halted for nearly a day, four industry sources said on Thursday.

BP said on Thursday that organic chlorides were detected in some of the oil tanks in the Turkish terminal of Ceyhan, adding that oil loading continued from some of the tanks with chloride levels assessed to be within normal specifications.

An oil tanker carrying Russian Urals crude has been diverted away from the EU-sanctioned Nayara Energy's Vadinar port in India to unload its cargo at the port of Mundra, according to shipping data and four industry sources on Thursday.

No bids or offers were made for Urals, Azeri BTC or CPC Blend in the Platts window on Thursday.

Russia is poised to introduce a tighter gasoline export ban, including for fuel producers, in the coming days to tackle rising prices, three industry sources familiar with the plans told Reuters on Thursday.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)