Naphtha- Haldia seek 50KT for Feb/Mar

SINGAPORE, Dec 12 (Reuters) Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd (HPL) has issued a tender to buy one 50,000-tonne lot or two 25,000-tonne cargoes of naphtha for arrival in February-end or early March, an industry source said on Tuesday.

The tender will close on Dec. 18 and is valid until Dec.

23, the source said.

Haldia bought only one 25,000-tonne naphtha lot for first-half January arrival, instead of the two lots that the company had initially sought via tender earlier this month.

It awarded the import tender to Kuwait Petroleum Corp. (KPC) at a .75-premium a tonne to Middle East spot quotes, on a free-on-board (FOB) basis.

Haldia Petrochemicals usually buys a total of 140,000-150,000 tonnes of naphtha monthly, often importing two to three 25,000-tonne spot cargoes and buying the rest from domestic sellers or under long-term contracts.

REUTERS PV GC1517