The company admits that “negotiations are ongoing” but declined to elaborate on the identity of the buyer. A Murphy spokesperson also indicated that it plans to retain the other six products terminals that are part of the Murphy USA spinoff, along with over 1,100 service stations.

Shipping sources say that Murphy has been mum on the sales date or specifics on the buyer, but sources say they’ve been told that title to the facility will move to a foreign company, with a local distributor likely to operate the terminal. Months ago, sources reported talks between Murphy and a company identified as Herrera Oil, which boasts exploration, production, refining, and shipping assets in Latin America and Africa. That company did not respond to OPIS inquiries by press deadlines.

The Tampa terminal has about 245,000 bbl of light products storage, including gasoline and ethanol. A sale of the facility would likely include a supply agreement for Murphy retail properties in western and central Florida, sources say. The property could receive foreign tankers although it has mainly handled American-flagged barges and tankers moving product from Texas and Louisiana refineries to the Sunshine state.

Companies in the terminal roll-up business are hoping that other Murphy facilities are eventually shopped. The 120,000-bbl Freeport, Fla., terminal, for example, can only handle lighter barges, but it is one of only a few bulk supply points along the growing Panhandle region.

Murphy USA also operates products terminals in Anniston, Montgomery and Sheffield, Ala, as well as Walnut Ridge, Ark.