SINGAPORE, Aug 29 (Reuters) -Crude benchmarks Dubai and Oman softened on Thursday amid a backdrop of largely quiet trade.

Concerns on Libya supply disruptions have had a largely muted impact on Middle Eastern sour benchmarks, though the Brent-linked crudes are likely to retain strength.

"If the tensions persist, we expect higher premiums for the alternative grades such as Nigeria's Bonny Light or Angola's Palanca," said LSEG Oil Research analysts in a report this week.

LSEG analysts added that premiums for North Sea Forties have continued to strengthen on the back of tight light sweet supply, amid continued loading disruptions of Libya's El Sharara grades.

Brent's premium to Dubai crude (EFS) for October was pegged at about $2.88 a barrel on Thursday, widening from the previous day. The EFS spread averaged at about $2.19 per barrel in August so far, wider than July's average of $2 per barrel.

SINGAPORE CASH DEALS

Cash Dubai's premium to swaps declined to $1.16 a barrel.

PRICES ($/BBL)

NEWS

Russian companies, mainly Tatneft, have boosted oil exports to Slovakia and Hungary to replace supplies lost after Ukraine sanctions halted exports from Moscow-based Lukoil LKOH.MM, Kommersant newspaper said on Thursday.

Omsk oil refinery, Russia's largest, completed maintenance in mid-August at a crude distillation unit that was damaged by fire on Aug. 1, two industry sources said on Tuesday, the day after a fire at another unit killed one and injured six others.

Traders are slated to load record volumes of diesel on very-large crude carriers from Asia to West of Suez markets in August, a trend likely to continue next month, data from trade sources and shiptrackers showed.

Asia has become the top destination for Nigeria Dangote refinery's low-sulphur straight run fuel oil exports in 2024 so far, data showed, though trade sources expect volumes to taper off going ahead.

The European Union's mission in the Red Sea said there was no oil spill in the waters near the Greek-flagged tanker hit by a fiery Houthi militant attack off Yemen's coast.

For crude prices, oil product cracks and refining margins, please click on the RICs below.

Reporting by Jeslyn Lerh; Editing by Shreya Biswas

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