MOSCOW, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Urals crude oil differentials
to dated Brent were stable again on Friday, while rising demand
in China provided support to Russia's flagship blend, traders
said.
* China's commerce ministry has met independent oil refiners
to
discuss their deals with Russia, five sources with knowledge of
the matter said, imports which have saved Chinese buyers
billions of dollars.
* Russian oil producers expect to maintain current volumes
of
crude oil exports, despite the Russian government's plan to cut
oil output in March, the Vedomosti newspaper said on Friday,
citing sources familiar with companies' plans.
* Kazakhstan will supply 100,000 tonnes of oil via Russia's
Druzhba pipeline to Germany in March for the PCK Schwedt
refinery after it agreed commercial and legal terms with all
parties involved.
PLATTS WINDOW
* No bids or offers were made for Urals, Azeri BTC or CPC
Blend in
the Platts window on Friday, traders said.
NEWS
* India's Russian oil imports climbed to a record 1.4
million
barrels per day (bpd) in January, up 9.2% from December, with
Moscow still the top monthly oil seller to New Delhi, followed
by Iraq and Saudi Arabia, data from trade sources showed.
* Russia's decision to cut crude oil production by 500,000
barrels
per day reflects its inability to sell all of its oil, Ben
Harris, a U.S. Treasury Department Assistant Secretary, said on
Thursday.
(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
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