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Severe tropical storm Paolo (international name: Matmo) has intensified as it barrels toward the northern part of Aurora and the southern part of Isabela, the state weather bureau reported early Friday morning.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), in its 5 a.m. update, said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal Number 3 is in effect over 10 areas in Northern Luzon.

Pagasa added that Paolo was tracked some 150 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora, with a maximum sustained wind speed of 100 kilometers per hour (kph), gusts of up to 125 kph, and moving west-northwest at 20 kph.

‘There is a moderate to high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights reaching 1.0 to 3.0 m within 24 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, and Quezon,’ Pagasa warned.

‘Heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surge may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone,’ added Pagasa.

Signal No. 3

*Northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan)

*Central and southern portions of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Mariano, San Guillermo, Echague, Jones, San Agustin, Cordon, City of Santiago, Ramon, San Isidro, Alicia, Angadanan, City of Cauayan, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Cabatuan, San Mateo, Aurora, San Manuel, Burgos, Gamu, Roxas, Palanan)

*Northern portion of Quirino (Maddela, Cabarroguis, Aglipay, Saguday, Diffun)

*Northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Diadi, Bagabag, Villaverde, Ambaguio, Quezon, Solano, Bayombong)

*Mountain Province

*Ifugao

*Southeastern portion of Abra (Tubo)

*Northern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Buguias, Kabayan, Bakun, Kibungan, Atok, Kapangan)

*Central and southern portions of Ilocos Sur (Sugpon, Alilem, Cervantes, Suyo, Tagudin, Santa Cruz, Sigay, Quirino, Gregorio del Pilar, Salcedo, Santa Lucia, City of Candon, San Emilio, Galimuyod, Lidlidda, Banayoyo, Santiago, San Esteban, Burgos)

*Northern portion of La Union (Sudipen, Santol, Balaoan, Luna, Bangar, San Gabriel, Bacnotan, San Juan)

Signal No. 2

*Central and southern portions of mainland Cagayan (Peñablanca, Tuguegarao City, Enrile, Solana, Iguig, Tuao, Piat, Rizal, Santo Niño, Alcala, Amulung)

*Rest of Isabela

*Rest of Quirino

*Rest of Nueva Vizcaya

*Central portion of Aurora (Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora, San Luis)

*Northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Bongabon, San Jose City, Pantabangan, Rizal, Lupao)

*Central and southern portions of Apayao (Conner, Kabugao)

*Kalinga

*Rest of Abra

*Rest of Benguet

*Central and southern portions of Ilocos Norte (Nueva Era, Badoc, Pinili, City of Batac, Paoay, Currimao, Banna, Laoag City, San Nicolas, Sarrat, Dingras, Solsona, Marcos, Bacarra, Piddig)

*Rest of Ilocos Sur

*Rest of La Union

*Northern portion of Pangasinan (San Fabian, Sison, Pozorrubio, Umingan, San Jacinto, Laoac, Binalonan, San Nicolas, Natividad, Tayug, San Manuel, Asingan, Santa Maria, San Quintin, Dagupan City, Mangaldan, Manaoag, Bolinao, Anda, Bani, City of Alaminos, Sual, Labrador, Lingayen, Binmaley, Calasiao, Mapandan, Santa Barbara, City of Urdaneta)

Signal No. 1

*Rest of mainland Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands

*Rest of Aurora

*Northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta), including Polillo Islands

*Camarines Norte

*Northern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Goa, San Jose, Presentacion)

*Catanduanes

Rest of Apayao

*Rest of Ilocos Norte

*Rest of Pangasinan

*Rest of Nueva Ecija

*Northern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, Norzagaray, San Rafael), *Tarlac

*Northeastern portion of Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba, Mabalacat City)

*Northern portion of Zambales (Palauig, Masinloc, Candelaria, Santa Cruz) /gsg

A total of 949 evacuation centers in La Union have been prepared, along with food packs to be distributed to affected residents, while rescue assets and teams are ready for mobilization in anticipation of the effects of Typhoon Paolo (international name Matmo).

Eight rescue teams, each with five members, are also on standby at key locations. Additionally, assets such as ambulances, rescue vehicles, rescue trucks, jet skis, and rubber boats have been inspected and are ready.

La Union Governor Mario Eduardo Ortega, in a statement on Friday, said their monitoring continues in coordination with partner government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to ensure immediate response to any emergencies or incidents.

‘LGUs in the province are now on heightened alert and fully prepared. Their command centers are operational and evacuation centers have been opened,’ he said.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) has elevated its Emergency Operations Center to red alert status after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) placed the northern parts of La Union under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4, while the remaining areas remain under Signal No. 3.

Based on the weather bureau’s 11 a.m. bulletin, the towns of Luna, Bangar, Balaoan, Sudipen, Santol, San Gabriel, Bacnotan, and San Juan are now under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4, while the rest of La Union remains under Signal No. 3.

Following the governor’s directive, the PDRRMO held a pre-disaster risk assessment meeting on Thursday to discuss preparations by various offices and agencies for possible effects of the typhoon.

Ortega on Thursday night announced the suspension of classes at all levels in both public and private schools across the province for Friday. Likewise, government offices will close starting at noon on Friday.

Moreover, the PDRRMO has warned fishermen to refrain from going to sea because waves may reach up to three meters along the coast. People living in flood- and landslide-prone zones are advised to stay alert, prepare accordingly, and evacuate to designated shelters if necessary.

According to the weather bureau, Paolo is expected to move west-northwest and is forecasted to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Saturday morning.

When Ateneo notched its second straight victory in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament, coach Tab Baldwin was more relieved than anything.

‘I’m really happy we’re getting wins in tough situations,’ he said after a 62-60 victory over University of the East last week.

The Eagles share the lead with National U, both with 3-0 (win-loss) cards heading into this weekend’s set of matches. Baldwin’s charges got to the top by playing extremely well in the clutch. And while the Bulldogs raced to two straight victories via routs, their third win, against a rolling University of Santo Tomas, came off a strong finish.

And how teams perform in the clutch might be crucial going into the weekend-and moving forward in the season.

Strong finish

Unbeaten Ateneo and NU lead the plus-minus in clutch play (games within five points at any point in the last two minutes).

The Eagles are scoring 8.5 points per game in clutch situations, fueled by that strong finish against Far Eastern U, where they battled from six points down using a 12-3 run. And they’re giving up just four points a game in that same stretch, for a +4.5.

In their lone thriller so far, the Bulldogs outscored the Tigers, 8-2 in the stretch for a +6.

La Salle, tied for third with host UST, has gotten through some nervy situations in the endgame, too.

‘We had a part in the game where we’re playing really, really well but in the UAAP you cannot say that you’re gonna have an easy win,’ said Archers assistant coach Caloy Garcia after a testy 74-72 victory over FEU. ‘We just have to figure out our struggles in the fourth quarter.’

Maybe not all of the fourth. La Salle has scored 4.5 points per game in the clutch while holding its opponents to 2.5.

So far, there have been five games this season with margins of five or less. And if you throw in Ateneo’s six-point deficit entering the two-minute mark against FEU, six games were separated by just two possessions in the last two minutes.

More importantly, all teams have been in clutch situations already, this early in the season-with half of them playing in two such games.

FEU has given up 8.0 points per game in the clutch so far this season (it is averaging 3.0 points scored in that same stretch for a -5) , while UE surrendered five in the lone tight game it has played. Both teams are two of the three lowest in that department. Not surprisingly, they are also winless so far.

For micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that are planning, or hoping to go global, finding the right partner to help them navigate the complex-and at the moment, tumultuous-international market is crucial to their success.

Payoneer, a pioneering financial platform for cross-border business, has made its services available to these MSMEs, which make up more than 90 percent of locally registered establishments.

Monique Avila, Payoneer head of customer success for Asia-Pacific, says the company has established as its niche the servicing of cross-border payments.

Payoneer offers convenience, speed, security, lower cost and the flexibility of paying or getting paid in different currencies.

Banks take longer to process transactions and charge higher fees. Electronic or e-wallets, while fast, do not have the facility to allow transactions in any denomination.

Through Payoneer, MSMEs are now able to access the global market. The world’s underserved businesses are being connected to a rising global economy.

Payoneer estimates that, based on staff sizes, 90 percent or more of its customers in the Philippines are individual contractors or MSMEs.

With its services available in over 190 countries and territories, Payoneer helps these firms manage their financial operations, including treasury, currency conversion for payments, vendor management, as well as accounts receivable and accounts payable. A key market

Payoneer considers the Philippines one of its key markets, ‘a global hub for digital services’ that includes business process outsourcing or BPO (including call centers) companies, creative and technology-enabled sectors.

Local businesses in information technology, software, digital services, marketing and creative services, e-commerce and logistics, professional services (such as consulting and accounting), travel services have tapped Payoneer to simplify global payments and scale internationally.

As Payoneer is able to handle multi-currency transactions, clients can keep payments they receive in virtual bank accounts in foreign denominations, like United States dollars.

‘[Y]our . client in the US will just perform a domestic transfer (which is cheaper). And then you get to store (your payment in) US dollars . (If you need money), you can bring the funds to the Philippines (or) use other products, like our (Payoneer) card (to pay for products and services) or (to use abroad if you are traveling),’ Avila explains.

Clients set up their own ‘accounts’ and money from that account may be transferred by Payoneer to their local accounts-a process that is still faster and cheaper, according to Avila.

Payoneer also keeps clients abreast of fluctuating rates of exchange so they know the optimal time to withdraw their funds.

In keeping with the evolving landscape of the service-providing industry, Payoneer has also gone beyond simply being a facilitator for moving currency from payer to payee. It has expanded its business to business services to meet emerging needs and trends.

Workforce management

Tarun Gadhok, Payoneer senior director for account management, says Payoneer has added a capability called workforce management, where it helps with fundamental principles to assist companies go global and cross borders.

Payoneer’s Workforce Management (WFM) division is a platform that empowers companies to seamlessly hire and manage talents across borders.

Through WFM, Payoneer assists clients find the best talent or work contractor they need in more than 100 countries served by the company.

It helps hire and ‘manage’ employees, like handling payroll, and ensuring that local laws are complied with.

‘Every country has different labor laws,’ Gadhok points out. The process is ‘actually a tech-driven employee management platform’.

‘This helps small businesses . basically break the border and go global by not having to worry too much about compliance. Setting up an entity in a new country can be really taxing. It requires time . managing that entity on an ongoing basis [is] even more difficult, because you have to do compliance filings. So all of that we do on behalf of our customers. We just let them just identify and/or hire the talent, or we can actually even hire, manage and pay the employees through the life cycle.’

Niche market

In the Philippines, she says, Payoneer established its office in 2016 specifically to service small businesses or the ‘freelancing’ industry. This includes individuals who are contracted to do work for overseas clients.

Avila says Payoneer has a ‘niche market’, and that is really to facilitate cross-border payments.

The cost for both payer and payee is seen to be lower. A client in the US, for instance, can pay a Filipino contractor by making a domestic transfer to the virtual dollar bank account of the payee, who may choose to keep the payment in his or her account. Another option is to use Payoneer’s other products, like its card, to access the money or transfer it to a Philippine bank, which will entail charges, explains Avila.

The process is faster and cheaper, Avila says.

Payoneer also helps clients decide when it is best to withdraw their funds by monitoring exchange rates.

Flagship event

An indication of how important the Philippines is to Payoneer is suggested by its choice of the country as venue for its recent VIP Connect, its global flagship event for high-growth businesses.

With the theme of ’20 Years of Empowering Businesses to go Global’, the event celebrated two decades of partnership with businesses in navigating the complexities of cross-border payments. It showcased Payoneer’s role in empowering local businesses with tools and community support.

Attendees were treated to a preview of new product features, Workforce Management and product road map.

Filipino customers shared stories of their journey toward global growth. Speakers included local and regional Payoneer leaders. Among the topics covered were efficiency, scalability and payouts. -CONTRIBUTED

A barangay councilor in Alaminos town in Laguna province was shot and killed on Thursday.

The Region 4A police reported that ‘Darwin,’ 55, a councilman in Barangay Poblacion 4, was seated inside his sari-sari (small family-run convenience) store at 6:45 p.m. when two males arrived and, without any provocation, one of them repeatedly shot the victim using a handgun.

After the shooting, the gunman fled on a black motorcycle driven by his accomplice.

The victim sustained gunshot wounds on different parts of his body and was rushed to a hospital in neighboring San Pablo City, but was declared dead on arrival.

Investigators were checking if there was a security camera around the crime scene for possible identification of the gunman and his accomplice.

Police have yet to establish the motive behind the killing

Classes in all levels, both public and private, were suspended in Zambales and nearby Olongapo City on Friday as nonstop rains from Typhoon Paolo drenched the province.

In separate advisories from local government units, afternoon classes were cancelled in Subic, Castillejos, San Marcelino, San Narciso, the capital town of Iba, and Olongapo City. In Candelaria town, classes shifted to modular and asynchronous learning.

In northern Zambales, particularly in San Felipe, Botolan, Palauig, and Masinloc, classes had already been suspended earlier in the morning due to expected bad weather from Paolo. In San Antonio, classes were also cancelled in observance of Teacher’s Day.

On Thursday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Zambales ordered the suspension of sea travel for all types of vessels due to rough sea conditions brought by the storm.

The northern towns of Palauig, Masinloc, Candelaria, and Sta. Cruz was placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1.

The entire province and Olongapo City have been experiencing continuous rainfall since Friday morning, prompting Pagasa to raise an orange rainfall warning.

An orange warning is issued when intense rainfall, typically 15 to 30 millimeters per hour, is expected or observed to persist within the next two hours./coa

Typhoon Paolo (international name: Matmo) slightly weakened as it crossed Northern Luzon on Thursday, Oct. 3.

‘Paolo slightly weakens while traversing the mountainous region of Northern Luzon,’ said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration in its latest advisory.

While Paolo may continue on this course, the possibility of it maintaining its typhoon category cannot be ruled out.

The typhoon’s center was last located in the vicinity of Mayoyao, Ifugao at 1 p.m.

It was carrying maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, lower than the 130 kph earlier, and gustiness of up to 200 kph from 215 kph while moving west-northwest at 30 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals are still hoisted in the following areas:

Signal No. 4

The southwestern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Mariano, Palanan, Roxas, Burgos, Gamu, Naguilian, Benito Soliven, San Manuel, Cabatuan, Aurora, Luna, Reina Mercedes, City of Cauayan, San Mateo, Alicia, Ramon, City of Santiago, Cordon, San Isidro, Echague, Angadanan, San Guillermo, Jones, San Agustin)

The northwestern portion of Quirino (Diffun, Aglipay, Saguday, Cabarroguis),

The northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Solano, Villaverde, Bagabag, Diadi, Quezon, Ambaguio, Bayombong)

Mountain Province

Ifugao

The southern portion of Abra (Tubo)

The northern portion of Benguet (Bakun, Mankayan, Buguias, Kibungan, Kapangan, Atok, Kabayan)

The southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Cervantes, Quirino, Gregorio del Pilar, Sigay, San Emilio, Salcedo, Burgos, Lidlidda, Banayoyo, San Esteban, Santiago, Galimuyod, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Santa Cruz, Suyo, Alilem, Tagudin, Sugpon)

The northern portion of La Union (Luna, Bangar, Balaoan, Sudipen, Santol, San Gabriel, Bacnotan, San Juan)

Signal No. 3

The northern and central portions of Aurora (Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Casiguran, Dilasag)

The rest of Isabela

The rest of Quirino

The central portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Bambang, Kayapa, Aritao, Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur, Santa Fe)

Kalinga

The central portion of Abra (Boliney, Daguioman, Sallapadan, Bucloc, Licuan-Baay, Malibcong, Lacub, La Paz, San Juan, Lagangilang, Danglas, Lagayan, Tayum, Bangued, Langiden, Pidigan, San Quintin, Pilar, Luba, Manabo, Villaviciosa, San Isidro, Peñarrubia, Bucay, Dolores)

The rest of Benguet, the rest of Ilocos Sur, and the rest of La Union

Signal No. 2

The central and southern portions of Cagayan (Peñablanca, Tuguegarao City, Solana, Iguig, Tuao, Piat, Rizal, Santo Niño, Alcala, Amulung, Enrile, Baggao, Lasam, Gattaran, Lal-Lo, Allacapan)

The rest of Nueva Vizcaya

Apayao

The rest of Abra

The central and southern portions of Ilocos Norte (Nueva Era, Badoc, Pinili, City of Batac, Paoay, Currimao, Banna, Laoag City, San Nicolas, Sarrat, Dingras, Solsona, Marcos, Bacarra, Piddig, Pasuquin, Vintar, Carasi)

Pangasinan

The central portion of Aurora (Baler, Maria Aurora, San Luis)

The northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Bongabon, San Jose City, Pantabangan, Rizal, Lupao, Science City of Muñoz, Llanera, Nampicuan, Cuyapo, Guimba, Talugtug, Quezon, Santo Domingo, Talavera, General Mamerto Natividad)

The northern portion of Tarlac ( Moncada, San Clemente, Camiling, Paniqui, Ramos, Anao, San Manuel, Gerona, Victoria, Pura)

The northern portion of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria)

Signal No. 1

Batanes

The rest of mainland Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands

The rest of Ilocos Norte

The rest of Aurora

The rest of Nueva Ecija

The rest of Tarlac

Bulacan

Pampanga

The rest of Zambales

The northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Polillo Islands

Camarines Norte

Pagasa also warned of storm surge of up to 3 meters in low-lying areas of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Cagayan, Isabela and Aurora.

Rough and high seas are expected over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, making sea travel risky.

Heavy rainfall

Pagasa also warned of torrential rains in several provinces due to Paolo.

Rainfall exceeding 200 millimeters (mm) is expected in Isabela, Quirino, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Aurora, Nueva Vizcaya and Benguet until Saturday noon, Oct. 4.

Rainfall between 100-200 mm is likely over Cagayan, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Nueva Ecija, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan while 50-100 mm may be experienced in Ilocos Norte, Zambales, Tarlac, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite and Batangas.

Paolo is forecast to cross the landmass of Northern Luzon this Friday and emerge over the West Philippine Sea this afternoon or evening.

It is predicted to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday morning. /apl

The controversy over Mo Tautuaa’s nullified dunk in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals has triggered significant rule changes ahead of the league’s 50th season.

Starting on Sunday, goaltending or basket interference calls will only be reviewable if a referee makes a call in real-time. The league is doing away with retroactive reviews like the one in Game 1 of last July’s finals between San Miguel and TNT, when Tautuaa’s go-ahead dunk was overturned by the technical committee after no whistle was initially blown.

‘If the referees do not make any call, the decision is final. The referees will be held accountable after the game,’ PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said during Wednesday’s press conference at Shangri-La The Fort.

Tautuaa’s dunk, which came off a bounce from the rim, gave San Miguel a 97-96 lead with under a minute left. With no infraction called on the play, the basket stood-until the technical committee reviewed it during a dead ball with five seconds remaining. The play was ruled basket interference, shifting the lead back to TNT and drawing heavy criticism from the Beermen’s camp.

Though San Miguel eventually won the series and the championship, the fallout led to changes, including Eric Castro’s move from the technical committee to head of operations.

Among the other rule changes:

Corrections to two-, three-, or four-point shots cannot be made after the game.

Teams will no longer retain possession after a technical foul for excessive timeouts.

Penalty situations now apply after two fouls in the final two minutes of any period, not just the fourth.

Teams can huddle during challenges.

Players can recover their own airballs without being called for a violation.

Offensive fouls now count toward team fouls, but no free throws will be awarded if the team is already in penalty.

Technical fouls will be called for excessive elbows and for throwing the ball in plain sight of an official.

‘These rules were finalized by the competition committee composed of coaches,’ Marcial said, citing members like Rain or Shine’s Yeng Guiao, Meralco’s Luigi Trillo, and Converge’s Franco Atienza.

The Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) proudly announces the highly anticipated return of the Student PR Congress and Grand Prix, setting the stage for the next generation of communicators to create purpose-driven change. This year’s event calls on students to break through boundaries with the theme, ‘Unmuted: Live, Loud, and Limitless PR.’

The Congress is the PRSP’s commitment to fulfilling its mission: to nurture and develop a new generation of PR practitioners equipped to navigate a rapidly changing world. By focusing on shifting and emerging technologies and trends the PRSP aims to cultivate professionals who can wield public relations as a tool for creating meaningful, positive impact in society. The ‘Unmuted’ theme embodies this goal, encouraging students to utilize every available platform-live interactions, digital channels, and innovative storytelling-to make their voices and campaigns impactful and boundless.

‘It is truly inspiring to witness the growing interest in Public Relations among schools, particularly through initiatives like our PR caravans. These programs are vital in fulfilling our mission to nurture the next generation of PR professionals, providing them with invaluable insights into a dynamic and impactful career, said Steve Michael Moore, Student PR Congress Chairman and PRSP officer.

The centerpiece of the event, the Student PR Grand Prix, is a high-stakes, real-world competition. Student teams from across the nation will receive an actual campaign brief from a leading organization and must develop and present a comprehensive PR strategy to a panel of award-winning industry leaders.

The competition mechanics challenge students’ strategic thinking, creativity, and execution skills under a tight deadline. Judging criteria will focus on quality of research, creativity of the big idea, feasibility of proposed executions, clarity of metrics and the actual pitch presentation. Top teams will vie for the coveted Grand Prix title, recognition from the country’s most respected PR professionals, and exciting cash prizes and professional opportunities.

The Student PR Congress and Grand Prix will take place on November 6-7, 2025 at De la Salle College of St. Benilde, 2544 Taft Avenue, Manila This event is a critical networking opportunity, bringing together students, academics, and industry veterans for a day of learning, inspiration, and competition.

Student teams are invited to review the Grand Prix full campaign mechanics here and then your attendance to the Student PR Congress register here,

Pump prices for diesel products show no signs of easing as industry sources estimate another round of hikes on Oct 7.

In an advisory, Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas said the diesel prices might go up by 80 centavos to P1 per liter.

Meanwhile, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) estimate for diesel is an increase of about 50 centavos per liter.

For the previous six consecutive weeks, diesel prices had already increased by a total of P5.10 per liter.

Meanwhile, the DOE expects a potential rollback of more or less five centavos per liter of gasoline.

Bellas, on the other hand, sees either an increase or a decrease of 10 centavos for gasoline.

Kerosene prices are also expected to inch up by 25 centavos a liter.

‘Crude oil prices have declined sharply this week due to concerns about a market glut from the prospect of higher OPEC+ production output,’ Bellas said.

‘However, despite the bearish sentiment, Asian diesel market fundamentals remain supported due to shifting of regional flows to the West to meet the demands from the US and Europe as the ongoing autumn refinery maintenances, peak harvest season demand, and Russia’s partial diesel export ban have raised the risk of supply shortfalls,’ he added. /rwd