SEOUL, Feb 17 (Reuters) - SK Energy has bought Russian Urals crude for the first time in 10 years, a spokeswoman for the parent company of South Korea's top refiner said on Friday.
SK Energy has purchased 1 million barrels of the Urals grade of crude for arrival in late March or early April, said Kim Woo-kyung at SK Innovation 096770.KS .
She said the firm had taken the step as supplies of some Middle Eastern crude had tightened in the wake of output curbs by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other producers.
"Dubai crude supply is tight in Asia after the OPEC cut deal, making other crude outside the region more economical," she said, adding that shipping fees had also been dropping as winter faded.