Med crude-CPC resumes loadings, price discussions muted

LONDON, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Urals and Caspian crude oil differentials were little changed on Tuesday, as public holidays in the region for New Year and orthodox Christmas continued.

• The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal near the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk resumed crude loading on Monday after several days of weather-related disruption that also prolonged maintenance work, two industry sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

• Talks on trading CPC Blend crude have stalled because of the loading delays, three traders told Reuters this week.

• CPC Blend loading disruptions could have prompted some refiners to seek alternate grades including U.S. WTI or Libyan Es Sider, one trader said on Tuesday. Azeri BTC crude could be too expensive to substitute for CPC, the trade source added.

PLATTS WINDOW

• No bids or offers were reported to Reuters from the Platts Window on Tuesday for Urals, Azeri BTC and CPC Blend.

NEWS

• Ukrainian forces struck an oil depot in Russia's Lipetsk region as well as a missile and ammunition arsenal in the Kostroma region in long-range drone attacks, an official from Kyiv's SBU security service said on Tuesday.

• Reliance Industries said on Tuesday it is not expecting any Russian crude oil deliveries in January, a move that could sharply cut India's Russian oil imports during the month to the lowest in years.