As of August 1, all 199 licensed bunker tankers for supply of fuel to ocean-going vessels have been fitted with calibrated MFMs, MPA said.

On the flip side, middle distillate-rich grades have been finding support from strong refinery margins.

Japanese refiner Cosmo Oil will slash its output of high sulfur fuel oil and boost middle distillate production once it completes the coker capacity expansion at its Sakai refinery during the second week of October.

ZPC set to start its naphtha cracker by the end of 2019 and diverts supplies for its own consumption.

The offer remained standing at a premium of $4.55/b to first-line October Dubai at the end of the MOC process, with no buying interest seen.

"Murban should be in single digit discount... that should be reasonable, not premiums," said a crude oil trader with a North Asian refiner.

Kinder Morgan's Pasadena facility will get the lion's share of the announced project spending.

The improving outlook for WCS in the fourth quarter is due to "continued inventory draws and potential increased pipeline capacity," a trader said.