UAE: Spot differentials for June-loading Murban crude flipped into premiums after Japanese refiner Fuji Oil bought three cargoes, traders said.

The refiner bought the cargoes at premiums averaging at about 25 cents a barrel above its OSP, they said.

One of the cargoes was sold by PetroChina, a source said.

Market sentiment for June-loading sour crude improved as demand from Japan is expected to pick up as its refiners ramp up output after seasonal maintenance.

May-loading Murban crude traded at discounts of about 10 cents a barrel to its OSP last month.

India's IOC has also likely bought 1 million barrels of Murban and the same volume of Das via a tender, traders said. Prices were not available although traders said Das' premium is about 10 cents a barrel below that of Murban.

Separately, Japanese trader PDS may have sold a cargo of June-loading Upper Zakum at 30 cents above its OSP to an unknown buyer, traders said.

QATAR: Qatar Petroleum sold two al-Shaheen crude oil cargoes to load in June via private negotiation for the first time, traders said.

The producer typically sells the medium-sour grade via a monthly tender, but some buyers have requested for direct price negotiation, one of them said.

The two cargoes were sold to a Japanese end-user and an oil major, likely JXTG Nippon and Shell, respectively, at 80-90 cents a barrel above Dubai quotes, they said.

June-loading Qatar Marine also traded at premiums of 20 cents to its OSP, traders said.

BAHRAIN: Firm demand for medium-sour grades also narrowed the differential for Banoco Arab Medium for June to a single-digit discount to its OSP, up from minus 30-40 cents in the previous month.