US Cash Crude-Grades rise as WTI-Brent spread encourages export demand

March 27 (Reuters) - Grades rose on Thursday, dealers said, as a wide WTI-Brent spread helped encourage export demand.

The spread between U.S. West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude futures traded exclusively within a $4 discount range for the first time since December, according to LSEG data.

Minus $4 per barrel is typically considered the level that encourages U.S. exports, as traders see an open arbitrage route.

Continuing to boost the physical market was U.S. President Donald Trump's signing of an executive order on Monday authorizing blanket 25% tariffs on imports from any country that buys Venezuelan crude oil and liquid fuels.

This will likely lead to more stress on the heavy crude market.

Capping crude's gains, Cenovus CVE.TO will begin planned maintenance work on multiple units at its 160,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Toledo, Ohio in mid-April, a source familiar with plant operations said on Thursday.

Light Louisiana Sweet WTC-LLS for May delivery rose 15 cents to a midpoint of a $3.15 premium and was seen bid and offered between a $2.90 and $3.40 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

Mars Sour WTC-MRS rose 20 cents to a midpoint of a $1.10 premium and was seen bid and offered between a $1.00 and $1.20 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

WTI Midland WTC-WTM was steady at a midpoint of a $1 premium and was seen bid and offered between a 90-cent and $1.10 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

West Texas Sour WTC-WTS rose 45 cents to a midpoint of a 15-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between a discount of 20 cents and a 50-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

WTI at East Houston WTC-MEH, also known as MEH, traded between a $1.20 and $1.40 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

ICE Brent May futures LCOc1 rose 24 cents to settle at $74.03 a barrel

WTI May crude CLc1 futures rose 27 cents to settle at $69.92 a barrel

The Brent/WTI spread WTCLc1-LCOc1 narrowed 2 cents to last trade at minus $4.12, after hitting a high of minus $4.02 and a low of minus $4.13