20AUG2019 - NEWS - South Korea’s SK Energy increases gasoline, gasoil output in H1 ahead of IMO 2020 rule

South Korea’s top refiner SK Energy has increased production of gasoline and gasoil in the first half of the year on solid local demand, while reducing output of fuel oil, a company official said Monday. The official said the company will further raise output of light products later this year ahead of the new International Maritime Organization 2020 marine fuel regulations. The IMO is moving forward with a marked reduction in the global maximum sulfur content of marine fuel on January 1, 2020. “Gasoil demand is expected to grow as the IMO regulations will be implemented from January next year,” the company said. The refiner produced 56.37 million barrels of gasoil over January-June, up 6.9% from 52.74 million barrels a year earlier.