01Why Energy, oil and gas needs specialised logistics
Oil & gas logistics moves crude, refined products, LNG, drilling chemicals and major equipment for platforms and refineries, under strict safety and environmental regulations.
Requirements differ significantly from standard LCL logistics: different documents, different equipment, different safety standards.
02Typical goods and trade flows
Main commodities: Crude oil, diesel, kerosene, LNG, LPG, drilling chemicals, pipelines, separators.
Flows usually go from a small number of production and raw-material sources to global distribution centres. Transit time, frequency and capacity booking are therefore critical.
03Equipment and packaging
Tankers (oil, chemical, LNG), pressure containers, ISO tanks, break-bulk equipment for platforms.
Equipment choice directly affects transport cost, CO₂ footprint and damage rate. Recommendation: agree an equipment concept with the carrier before requesting the first quote.
04Compliance and regulatory framework
Key frameworks: MARPOL, OPA 90, IMO 2020 (0.5 % sulphur), REACH, ADR/IMDG/RID, PED for pressure equipment, offshore safety.
Beyond those, industry-specific certificates and audits (e.g. supplier audits, AEO, TAPA) are typically prerequisites for market access.
Frequently asked questions
Which Incoterm should I use for Energy, oil and gas?
In practice, CFR / CIF für Bulk, DAP für Equipment is the industry default. The final choice depends on country, sales model and tax situation — always have the term reviewed by customs and tax advisers before contract.
Which regulations are most critical?
The frameworks named above — particularly MARPOL, OPA 90 — should be embedded in your SOPs and audit programme.