Saudi Aramco light crude premium seen jumping to $40 a barrel

Saudi Aramco is set to finalize May crude prices

Saudi Aramco is finalizing May crude shipment pricing, with the light Arab crude premium expected to hit an unprecedented $40 a barrel, up from $2.50 in April, traders familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. The benchmark is based on regional pricing indicators.

The pricing list is expected to be shared with buyers in the coming days. Some Asian refiners have requested Aramco link prices to Brent futures, while alternatives are being considered.

Other options include referencing Shanghai Futures Exchange crude prices minus shipping and related costs, or using other grades such as UAE Upper Zakum, which S&P Global Energy has published daily prices for this month.

Traders from regular Saudi crude-importing refiners said talks with Aramco are ongoing and no final pricing decisions have been made. They added that a $40 premium could reduce purchase volumes.