North Sea Crude-Forties holds unchanged, buyers remain in woodwork

LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) - * Forties differentials held unchanged on Thursday, as the dip back to last week's lows failed to attract any buying interest, ahead of Friday's slew of August loading programmes.

* Gasoline prices have come under pressure in the last week as fears of a lack of demand in the peak driving season have set in, although cracks recovered modestly in northwest Europe on Thursday.

* Norway's Statoil STL.OL has claimed 10 percent of the highly coveted oil trade route between west Africa and China's small 'teapot' refineries, its head of trading said, suggesting its gamble to offer directly to China's newest importers has paid off.

* Chevron (Euronext: CHTEX.NX - news) has tentatively booked the VLCC Ellinis to load Forties at Hound Point in mid-July.

WINDOW SUMMARY

* Eni (LSE: 0N9S.L - news) withdrew an offer for Forties for loading July 28-30 at a discount of 10 cents to dated Brent. This compares with a previous offer of 80 cents below dated Brent, leaving the price of Forties unchanged on the day. (Reporting by Amanda Cooper; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)