News in Brief
Robust oil imports of China, India
REUTERS – Asia's imports of crude oil stayed at relatively robust levels in March, as strong inflows to the top-importing region's heavyweights China and India offset weaker demand among some others buyers.
Total March crude imports were estimated by Refinitiv Oil Research at 116.73 million tonnes, equivalent to 27.60 million barrels per day (bpd).
This was up almost 4% from February's 112.32 million tonnes, but down 6.1% on a daily basis from February's 29.4 million bpd, and also below January's 29.13 million bpd.
Big jet orders
CNBC – China and France will study the need for cargo planes and long-haul jets "in due course," a joint statement said on Friday, following a state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The comments suggest a more muted stance on the prospect for significant orders of large Airbus jets compared with the planemaker's best-selling A320neo medium-haul model, for which it is doubling production capacity in China.
Delivering Turkish gas to homes
CNN – Türkiye will start delivering gas from its offshore finds to households in May in a move that is projected to meet their needs for 35 years, Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said.
Turkish state-run energy importer BOTAS will distribute the gas to households next month once controls are completed, Donmez told private broadcaster CNNTurk in an interview on Saturday.
The minister also hinted at potential discounts to utility bills ahead of general elections on May 14, where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking reelection. Erdogan will announce “good news” on April 20, Donmez said.