Kiuchi says Japan's economy continues a moderate recovery.

Fars News reported the mayor of Mahshahr said explosions heard in Mahshahr minutes earlier were caused by the demolition of wartime ordnance in Iraq.

Some Asian refiners have refused ARAMCO’s request to pick up September-loading crude at Yanbu after failing to find vessels willing to transit the risky Red Sea route, traders said. At least two refiners have asked ARAMCO to deliver their purchased cargoes to Sidi Kerir near Port Said on the Mediterranean instead; the cargoes were due for September under long-term contracts. At least one refiner may forgo its September allocation because rerouting from Sidi Kerir around Africa to Asia would raise transport costs. Traders said some Saudi barrels were already diverted to Sidi Kerir before ARAMCO published its September sales plan. As part of next month’s allocations, ARAMCO has asked some Japanese and Korean refiners to take deliveries at the Egyptian port, while most Indian refineries remain assigned to pick up at Yanbu.