🇦🇪 Freight shuts US crude out of Asia and Murban fills the gap A supertanker from the US Gulf to Asia now costs $76–82M, $40 a barrel. Traders say the arbitrage is closed. Asian refiners are buying closer to home instead: 🇦🇪 Murban’s premium over Dubai jumped above $11/bbl, yet it still lands $2 cheaper than WTI. 🇦🇷 Argentina’s Medanito is on the shortlist too. 🇺🇸 US producers carry the cost. Sellers are expected to cut offers to keep barrels moving. Brent’s premium over WTI stretched to $14–15 this week, from $9 in late September. Brent prices seaborne crude, so freight costs get built into it. WTI is priced inland at Cushing. ⚠️ Some Asian buyers still pay up for supply security, and Japan’s Cosmo Oil chartered a ship at $81M. If freight eases, the arbitrage reopens quickly.