Marketing & Transportation
Sonangol Shipping Angola , a subsidiary of Sonangol Shipping Holdings Limited, responsible for the maritime transport of crude oil (Dirty Oil) and its refined (Clean Products) with Angolan coast waters at its national Oceanic Terminals in the ocean terminals of Cabinda, Soyo, Porto Amboim, Lobito, Namibe and Luanda.
The value of Angolan crude
Not all oils are created equal, nevertheless, despite fierce competition from Nigeria's highly graded oils, Angolan oil sells well in the international markets. This performance can be exemplified by:
- Crude from Nemba and Palanca is light and appropriate for gasoline production and is favored by US buyers.
- Kuito’s crude is dense and has good acceptance in the Middle East where the economy is growing exponentially.
- For being good for production on fuel oil, a great majority of crude from Cabinda has lately been exported to China.
- Cabinda and Nemba come from Block Zero, Angola’s most prolific area, at the mouth of the Congo River.
- Kuito comes from deepwater Block 14.
- Hungo, Xikomba, Kissanje, Mondo, and Saxi-Batuque comes from deepwater Block 15.
- Dalia, Girassol, and Pluotonio come from Block 17 & Block 3.
For more information about the Blocks, please consult the concessions' map.
Angola's thirteen main grades of oil have quoted prices. Nemba, Girassol, and Palanca are the best quality crude type (i.e. lowest content of sulfur and asphalt) and trade at a premium to Brent. Crude from Dalia, Kuito, and Cabinda, with heavy content of sulfur and asphalt, normally trade at a discount to Brent.
Cabinda could be regarded as the benchmark Angolan crude and is a reference point for international markets. Platt’s, the commodities reporting company, considers Cabinda grade to be transparent and globally traded.