Middle East Crude-Oman, Dubai premiums edge up on Middle East tension

SINGAPORE, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Spot premiums for Middle East crude benchmarks Oman and Dubai ticked up on Tuesday, after seven-session declines, as attacks on ships, Saudi sites fuelled supply worries.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said on Monday they launched several attacks on Saudi energy, airport and military targets, such as an Aramco 2222.SE site in Yanbu, the Shaybah oilfield, Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport and Abha airport.

Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm the Houthi claims and Reuters could not independently verify them.

Oil prices advanced on Tuesday, with Brent reaching a five-month high. O/R

SINGAPORE CASH DEALS

Cash Dubai's premium to swaps rose 45 cents to $4.48 a barrel.

Unipec, Mitsui, Glencore and Trafigura will each deliver a December-loading Oman crude cargo to Trafigura following the deals.

PRICES ($/BBL)

NEWS

China's crude oil imports from top supplier Russia stood at 9.94 million metric tons in September, or 2.42 million barrels per day (bpd), up 20% from a year earlier, but down 11% from the previous month, customs data showed on Tuesday.

Oil majors are set to post a big jump in third-quarter profit as the US-Israeli war on Iran has boosted refining and trading results, while investors will monitor how wisely they use their cash piles and whether they resist a spending spree.

President Donald Trump said on Monday the US Department of Agriculture will launch what he called a new "harvest fuel relief program" that will provide farmers with $8 billion in support to offset diesel costs during the harvest season.

China's fuel oil exports, which are mainly for marine fuel bunkering, rebounded in September after a sharp decline in August, while fuel oil imports dipped slightly from the previous month, customs data showed on Tuesday.

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