Oil & Gas Trading —
Mersin & Fujairah Ops
Crude oil, ULSD, Jet A-1, gasoline, fuel oil, LPG, bitumen and natural gas — physical commodity trading under formal Sale and Purchase Agreements with SGS / Bureau Veritas inspection at every load point. Operations anchored in Mersin (Mediterranean Turkey) and Fujairah (UAE), with access to major MENA, Black Sea and West African crude and product streams.
Key Supply Parameters
- Crude Oil Brent / WTI / ESPO / Urals
- Diesel ULSD EN 590 <10 ppm S · ASTM D975
- Jet A-1 DEF STAN 91-091 · ASTM D1655
- Gasoline RON 92 / 95 / 98 · EN 228
- Fuel Oil HSFO 380 cSt · VLSFO 0.5% · ULSFO
- LPG Propane · Butane · HD-5
- Bitumen 60/70 · 80/100 · PMB · Cutback
- Natural Gas Pipeline · LNG · LPG by Vessel
- Delivery FOB · CIF · CFR · DAP · Ex-Tank
- Inspection SGS / Bureau Veritas / Intertek
- Payment Wire · D/P · Escrow — written SPA
Two strategic locations — Mediterranean & Gulf
Atabaş Group conducts physical oil and gas trading through two primary hubs — Mersin on Turkey's Mediterranean coast and Fujairah in the UAE — providing complementary geographic access to European, MENA, Black Sea and Asian product flows.
Mersin is Turkey's largest port by cargo throughput and one of the Eastern Mediterranean's primary petroleum product trading terminals. The port handles crude oil, clean products (diesel, gasoline, jet fuel), LPG and bitumen through BOTAŞ, SOCAR Turkey, Tüpraş and independent terminal operators.
Atabaş Group's Istanbul headquarters — with offices in Üsküdar, Ümraniye and Beşiktaş — provides direct commercial and logistics management access to Mersin port operations. The Mersin Free Zone (MFBZ) provides duty-deferral, re-export and blending facilities relevant to petroleum product re-export to North Africa, the Levant and Iraq. İskenderun (Hatay) provides an additional Southern Mediterranean load point for regional product supply.
Turkey is simultaneously a transit country for Caspian crude (BTC pipeline — Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, terminus at Ceyhan/İskenderun), Iraqi crude (Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline) and a major regional product importer and processor (Tüpraş — Turkey's sole refiner). This creates a deep, liquid physical market for crude and products in the Eastern Mediterranean.
- Key Terminal Mersin · İskenderun · Ceyhan
- Crude Pipelines BTC (Ceyhan) · Kirkuk-Ceyhan
- Free Zone Mersin Free Zone — Re-export / Blending
- Regional Reach N. Africa · Levant · Iraq · Black Sea
- Refining Tüpraş (Turkey's sole refiner)
Fujairah is the world's second-largest bunkering hub (after Singapore) and the only UAE emirate on the Gulf of Oman coast — outside the Strait of Hormuz. This strategic position makes it a primary storage and blending hub for Middle Eastern crude and product exports, immune to Strait of Hormuz closure risk.
Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ) hosts more than 10 million barrels of petroleum storage capacity across major terminal operators (Vopak, ADNOC, ENOC, Brooge Energy). The hub handles VLCC crude loading from ADNOC's offshore pipeline (the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline — ADCOP — can deliver 1.5 million bbl/day to Fujairah), independent of Hormuz. Clean product blending, marine fuel (bunker) supply and breakbulk operations are all conducted from Fujairah terminals.
Atabaş Group leverages Fujairah access for Gulf crude and product origination, marine fuel supply programs and re-export of petroleum products to East Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia.
- Storage Capacity >10 million barrels (FOIZ)
- Bunkering Rank World No. 2 (after Singapore)
- Crude Pipeline ADCOP — 1.5 M bbl/day (ex-Hormuz)
- Terminal Operators Vopak · ADNOC · ENOC · Brooge
- Regional Reach E. Africa · S. Asia · SE Asia · Far East
Crude oil to refined products — every major energy commodity
All products are traded under formal written Sale and Purchase Agreements specifying grade, specification, volume, delivery terms and inspection protocol before any cargo commitment.
Physical crude oil across the major benchmark and regional grades. Brent Dated (North Sea, ICE pricing reference): light sweet, API ~38°, sulphur ~0.37% — the global price benchmark. WTI (West Texas Intermediate, NYMEX): API ~39.6°, sulphur ~0.24% — US benchmark. ESPO Blend (East Siberia-Pacific Ocean pipeline, Russian Far East): API ~34–35°, sulphur ~0.5% — key Pacific Basin grade. Urals (Russian export blend, Baltic/Black Sea): API ~31–32°, sulphur ~1.5% — European refinery standard medium sour. Arab Light (Saudi Aramco, FOB Ras Tanura): API ~33°, sulphur ~1.8% — OPEC benchmark, Platts Oman/Dubai reference. West African grades (Bonny Light, Qua Iboe, Cabinda): light sweet, premium quality for complex refinery crudes. All crude priced at published benchmark ± differential agreed in SPA.
Ultra-Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD): sulphur ≤10 ppm (EN 590 European standard), cetane number ≥51, density 820–845 kg/m³ at 15°C, flash point ≥55°C. The mandatory diesel specification across the EU, UK, Turkey, MENA and most global markets. Atabaş Group trades ULSD as its primary clean product — from Turkish refineries (Tüpraş Izmit/Aliağa/Batman/Kırıkkale), Black Sea origins, and Mediterranean product tanker programs. Detailed standalone page: Diesel ULSD 10 PPM. Also available: Gasoil 50 ppm (EN 590, agricultural and off-road use); Marine Gasoil (MGO) 0.1% sulphur (IMO 2020 compliant).
Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) to Jet A-1 specification: flash point ≥38°C (min), freeze point ≤−47°C, density 775–840 kg/m³ at 15°C, smoke point ≥25 mm, sulphur ≤3,000 ppm (ASTM D1655 / DEF STAN 91-091). The global standard for commercial aviation. Additive packages (antioxidant, static dissipator, corrosion inhibitor, fuel system icing inhibitor / FSII) per AFQRJOS (Aviation Fuel Quality Requirements for Jointly Operated Systems). Atabaş Group supplies Jet A-1 from Mersin and Fujairah for regional into-plane programs, fuel farm supply and airport depot tenders. Jet A (US domestic, freeze point ≤−40°C) and TS-1 (Russian specification, lower freeze point) available on inquiry.
Unleaded motor gasoline: RON 92 (Research Octane Number, standard grade for emerging markets and price-sensitive destinations), RON 95 (European premium grade, EN 228, sulphur ≤10 ppm, RVP summer/winter grades), RON 98 (premium super unleaded). All grades unleaded (Pb ≤5 mg/L). Oxygenate content: ethanol up to 5% v/v (E5) or 10% v/v (E10) per market specification. RVP (Reid Vapour Pressure) summer/winter seasonal grades per EN 228 Annex B. Atabaş Group trades gasoline (mogas) for MENA, West Africa and Mediterranean destinations from Mersin and Fujairah loading points. Naphtha (full-range and light naphtha, petrochemical feedstock grade) also available.
Marine and industrial fuel oil across the IMO 2020 sulphur tier structure. HSFO (High Sulphur Fuel Oil, RMG 380 cSt): S ≤3.5%, viscosity 380 cSt at 50°C (ISO 8217 RMG 380) — only permitted in open loop scrubber-fitted vessels or non-ECA industrial use post-IMO 2020. VLSFO (Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil, 0.5% S, RMG 380 cSt or blends): the IMO 2020 compliant standard for open-sea bunkering. ULSFO (Ultra Low Sulphur Fuel Oil, ≤0.1% S, DMA grade): mandatory in Emission Control Areas (ECAs) — North Sea, Baltic, North American coastal, US Caribbean. Marine Diesel Oil (MDO, DMB): distillate-residual blend. Marine Gas Oil (MGO, DMA): pure distillate, ≤0.1% S. Bunker supply from Fujairah (major bunker hub) and Mersin.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas: commercial propane (C3H8), commercial butane (C4H10) and propane-butane mixtures. HD-5 propane (≥90% propane, ≤5% propylene): North American automotive LPG standard. Autogas (EN 589): European automotive LPG for LPG-converted vehicles. Commercial butane: vapour pressure 3–4 bar at 20°C — domestic bottled gas (camping, household cooking) in warm climates. Propane: vapour pressure 7–8 bar at 20°C — domestic bottled gas in cold climates, industrial use, petrochemical feedstock (PDH plants for propylene production). Refrigerant-grade propane (R-290): refrigerant for domestic and light commercial refrigeration systems. Seaborne LPG cargo from Middle East (VLGC — Very Large Gas Carrier) and Mediterranean supply. Pricing: CP (Contract Price, Saudi Aramco monthly CP for propane and butane) is the dominant benchmark.
Bitumen (asphalt) for road construction, waterproofing and industrial applications. Penetration grades per EN 12591: 40/60 (hard, high-traffic roads in warm climates), 60/70 (standard paving bitumen, most widely traded global grade), 80/100 (softer, cold climates and airport taxiways), 160/220 (oxidised, industrial roofing and waterproofing). Viscosity grades: VG-10, VG-20, VG-30, VG-40 (Indian ASTM-based specification). Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB): SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene) or SBR-modified bitumen for high-stress, high-temperature pavements, bridges and airport runways — improved elasticity, rutting resistance and fatigue life. Cutback bitumen: RC-70, MC-250, SC-800 (solvent-thinned for surface dressing and cold-applied applications). Emulsified bitumen: cationic (CRS-1, CRS-2) for chip seal and tack coat. Origins: Iran (Bandar Abbas), Turkey (Tüpraş), Iraq.
Natural gas across three physical delivery forms. Pipeline gas: methane-rich (CH4 ≥85%), GCV ≥34 MJ/m³, H2S ≤4 ppm, CO2 ≤2%, water dew point ≤−8°C at pipeline pressure — traded against TTF (Title Transfer Facility, Netherlands), NBP (UK), or Turkey domestic BOTAŞ reference. LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas): pipeline gas liquefied at −162°C to 1/600th volume for vessel transport — Atabaş Group has been active in LNG spot cargo programs, including a structured offer to GSPC India (58,367 MT / 3,053,600 MMBTU, JKM benchmark). Detailed LNG capability: Natural Gas, LNG & LPG page. CNG (Compressed Natural Gas): pipeline gas compressed to 200–250 bar for road transport and industrial distribution.
Intermediate and petrochemical feedstock products adjacent to crude and refined product trading. Naphtha (full-range FR naphtha, light naphtha): steam cracker feedstock for ethylene/propylene production, also blendstock for gasoline; priced at Platts naphtha CIF NWE or CFR Japan. Gas condensate (C5+ ultralight, API 50–80°): from gas field processing, used as naphtha substitute and blendstock. MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether): high-octane gasoline blendstock (RON 118), sulphur-free — demanded in MENA markets where ethanol blending is restricted. Benzene: petrochemical primary feedstock (styrene, phenol, cyclohexane production); priced at Platts Benzene NWE. Toluene, Mixed Xylenes (MX): para-xylene (PX) feedstock for PET production. Sulphur (granular, prilled): refinery by-product from hydrodesulphurisation, used in fertiliser (sulphuric acid) and chemicals.
Key product parameters — per international standard
| Product | Key Spec | Sulphur | Density (15°C) | Flash Point | Standard | Price Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude — Brent | API ~38°, sweet | ~0.37% | ~833 kg/m³ | — | ICE Brent | ICE Brent Dated |
| Crude — Urals | API ~31°, medium sour | ~1.5% | ~868 kg/m³ | — | Platts | Brent ± Urals diff |
| ULSD EN 590 | CN ≥51, CFPP seasonal | ≤10 ppm | 820–845 kg/m³ | ≥55°C | EN 590 | ICE Gasoil ± diff |
| Jet A-1 | Freeze ≤−47°C, smoke ≥25mm | ≤3,000 ppm | 775–840 kg/m³ | ≥38°C | DEF STAN 91-091 | Platts CIF ARA Jet |
| Gasoline RON 95 | RON ≥95, MON ≥85 | ≤10 ppm | 720–775 kg/m³ | ≥−40°C | EN 228 | Platts Prem Unld CIF NWE |
| HSFO RMG 380 | Viscosity 380 cSt/50°C | ≤3.5% | ≤991 kg/m³ | ≥60°C | ISO 8217 | Platts HSFO 3.5% FOB |
| VLSFO 0.5% | Viscosity ≤380 cSt/50°C | ≤0.50% | ≤991 kg/m³ | ≥60°C | ISO 8217 | Platts VLSFO 0.5% FOB |
| MGO DMA | Viscosity ≤6.0 cSt/40°C | ≤0.10% | ≤890 kg/m³ | ≥60°C | ISO 8217 | Platts MGO 0.1% FOB |
| Bitumen 60/70 | Pen. 60–70 dmm at 25°C | — | ~1,020 kg/m³ | ≥230°C | EN 12591 | Market / Spot |
| LPG Propane | C3 ≥95%, VP <16 bar at 45°C | ≤50 ppm | ~508 kg/m³ | −104°C | EN 589 / GPA 2140 | Saudi Aramco CP |
Trade & Supply Conditions
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum Volume | Crude oil: 500,000 bbls (Aframax minimum) · Refined products: 1,000–5,000 MT depending on grade · Bitumen: 500 MT · LPG: 1,000 MT · Natural gas: by negotiation |
| Delivery Terms | FOB · CIF · CFR · DAP · Ex-Tank · Ex-Pipe — Incoterms 2020 |
| Load Points | Mersin · İskenderun · Ceyhan · Aliağa (Turkey) · Fujairah · Jebel Ali · Ruwais (UAE) · Black Sea: Novorossiysk · Odessa · Constanța · West Africa: Bonny · Warri · Luanda |
| Vessel Types | VLCC (crude, 2M bbls) · Suezmax (crude, 1M bbls) · Aframax (500k bbls) · MR (clean products, 30,000 MT) · Handysize (products, 10,000–20,000 MT) · VLGC (LPG, 80,000 MT) · Q-Flex/Q-Max (LNG) |
| Inspection | SGS / Bureau Veritas / Intertek — quantity (ullage survey) and quality (sampling/analysis) at load port and/or discharge port · Independent inspector mandatory |
| Documents | Bill of Lading · Certificate of Origin · Quantity Certificate (OBQ/ROB) · Quality Certificate (CoA) · SGS/BV Inspection Report · Commercial Invoice · Vessel Q88 vetting documentation |
| Payment | Staged wire transfer · D/P · Escrow — documented in written SPA. SBLC and BG instruments are not accepted in standard commercial transactions. |
Physical oil trading with institutional counterparty standards
Crude oil, ULSD, Jet A-1, gasoline, fuel oil, LPG, bitumen, natural gas and petrochemical feedstocks — the complete energy commodity spectrum under one trading relationship. Separate pages cover our diesel, crude oil, petroleum products and LNG capabilities in greater technical depth.
Mediterranean and Gulf of Oman positions provide geographic complementarity: Mersin for European, North African, Black Sea and Levant supply; Fujairah for MENA crude origination, Asian product export and global marine fuel supply. ADCOP pipeline access gives Fujairah a Hormuz-independent crude loading option.
All crude and product prices quoted against published benchmarks — ICE Brent Dated, ICE Gasoil, Platts CIF ARA, Platts HSFO/VLSFO FOB, Saudi Aramco CP for LPG. All pricing components — base benchmark, grade differential, freight, insurance — itemised explicitly in the SPA before execution.
Independent quantity (ullage survey) and quality (sampling and analysis per relevant ASTM/EN/ISO method) inspection at load port on every cargo. OBQ and ROB measurements. Certificate of Analysis issued per cargo — not against a standing product specification. No exceptions.
All counterparties, vessels, beneficial owners and trade routes are screened against OFAC SDN, EU consolidated sanctions list and UN Security Council lists before any SPA execution. Clean compliance record. IFRS-audited financials, ISO 37001 (anti-bribery) certified. LEI registered: 984500DB9C2D71FF8846.
Since 1981, one principle: no matter what, keep your word. In physical energy trading, commitment reliability — on cargo specification, delivery window and documentation — is what distinguishes a professional counterparty from a broker who walks away when conditions tighten.
Common questions from oil & gas buyers
How is crude oil priced and what is the Brent differential?
Crude oil is priced against a benchmark crude ± a quality/location differential. ICE Brent Dated (North Sea physical cargo) is the global benchmark for approximately 70% of internationally traded crude. NYMEX WTI is the US domestic benchmark. Platts Dubai/Oman is the Middle East sour crude benchmark for Asian buyers. Physical crude is priced as "Brent Dated + X cents/barrel" where X is the differential — positive for sweeter, lighter or better-located crudes; negative for sourer, heavier or more remotely located crudes. The differential is agreed at the time of deal execution and reflects relative quality, logistics cost and market supply/demand. For example, ESPO Blend typically trades at a premium to Brent due to its proximity to Chinese refineries; Urals trades at a discount due to its higher sulphur content and Black Sea logistical costs. All Atabaş Group crude transactions specify both the benchmark and the differential explicitly in the written SPA.
What is the IMO 2020 sulphur cap and how does it affect marine fuel supply?
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 Global Sulphur Cap, effective 1 January 2020, reduced the maximum sulphur content of marine bunker fuel from 3.5% to 0.50% globally (and 0.10% in designated Emission Control Areas — ECAs: North Sea, Baltic, North American coastal, US Caribbean). Ship operators have three compliance options: (1) use IMO 2020-compliant low sulphur fuel (VLSFO 0.5% or ULSFO 0.1%) — the dominant approach; (2) install an exhaust gas cleaning system (EGCS / "scrubber") enabling continued HSFO 3.5% use; or (3) convert to LNG (no sulphur, also reduces NOx and CO2). The shift to VLSFO created a large new product category that did not exist before 2020 — VLSFO is typically produced by blending residual fuel with distillate cutter stock or by processing lower-sulphur crude. Atabaş Group supplies VLSFO 0.5% from Fujairah and Mersin, HSFO for scrubber-fitted vessels, and MGO 0.1% for ECA operations.
What are the standard vessel types for petroleum cargo and what volumes do they carry?
Crude oil tanker classes by size: VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier, 200,000–320,000 DWT, ~2 million barrels) — long-haul routes: Middle East to Asia, West Africa to USA/Europe; Suezmax (120,000–200,000 DWT, ~1 million barrels) — can transit the Suez Canal laden, Mediterranean and West Africa routes; Aframax (80,000–120,000 DWT, ~500,000 barrels) — Turkish Straits, Black Sea, North Sea, Caribbean; Panamax (55,000–80,000 DWT) — canal-constrained routes. Product/clean tanker classes: LR2 (Large Range 2, ~90,000 DWT) — long-haul products, naphtha, jet; LR1 (~75,000 DWT); MR (Medium Range, 25,000–55,000 DWT, ~30,000 MT) — the global workhorse for refined product distribution; Handysize (10,000–25,000 DWT) — small ports, inland waterways, coastal distribution. Gas tanker classes: VLGC (Very Large Gas Carrier, 80,000–84,000 m³) for LPG; Q-Flex/Q-Max for LNG. Atabaş Group coordinates vessel nomination, Q88 vetting, port agency and P&I club documentation for all tanker nominations.
Why does Atabaş Group not accept SBLC or BG payment instruments?
Standby Letters of Credit (SBLC), Bank Guarantees (BG) and similar instruments have become almost exclusively associated with advance fee fraud and structured scam operations targeting commodity buyers and sellers. Legitimate physical commodity transactions do not require SBLC, BG, MT103, Swift MT760 or related financial instruments as a condition of trading — these instruments are exploited by fraudsters to extract fees, legal costs and "activation charges" from victims who believe they are entering genuine trade finance arrangements. Atabaş Group's standard payment terms for physical commodity supply are: staged wire transfer (T/T), documents against payment (D/P), or escrow arrangement — all documented in a written Sale and Purchase Agreement specifying the commodity, specification, volume, price, delivery terms and payment schedule. Any counterparty requesting SBLC or BG instruments as a condition of supply is exhibiting a strong fraud indicator. Verify all counterparty credentials at atabas.com.tr/contact-us.
What documentation accompanies an oil cargo from Atabaş Group?
Standard documentation package for a refined product or crude oil cargo: (1) Commercial Invoice specifying product, quantity, unit price and total value; (2) Bill of Lading (B/L) — the document of title issued by the carrier; (3) Certificate of Origin (chamber-endorsed where required by destination customs); (4) SGS / Bureau Veritas Quantity Certificate (ullage survey, OBQ measurement, net quantity in metric tonnes and barrels/litres at 15°C); (5) SGS / Bureau Veritas Quality Certificate (samples taken at load port per ASTM D4057/D4177, analysed against the agreed product specification — all key parameters reported with actual results vs specification limits); (6) Certificate of Analysis from the producer/refinery for first-hand supply; (7) Vessel documents: Q88, flag state certification, P&I cover confirmation, vetting acceptance (for crude and major product terminals). Additional documents on request: MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet), customs invoice, packing list, phytosanitary or hazardous goods declaration as required by the destination country and port.
Enquire about crude oil, refined products or gas supply
Crude Oil · ULSD · Jet A-1 · Gasoline · VLSFO/HSFO Bunker · LPG · Bitumen · Natural Gas · LNG · Petrochemical Feedstocks — Mersin & Fujairah
“Credibility, in international trade, is the only asset that compounds.”