Middle East Oil Producers Face Export Hurdles Amid Hormuz Disruptions: Demand Destruction or Market Mispricing? Analyst Views on the Road Ahead for Oil Prices

Middle East oil producers are grappling with significant challenges in selling their crude, even as global benchmark prices (Brent and WTI) have surprisingly softened below or near pre-conflict levels. This comes despite a major supply shock from disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz following the early 2026 Iran conflict (U.S./Israeli strikes on Iran). The market […]

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Micron Breaks Ground on $9 Billion Plant Expansion in Japan

Hiroshima facility expansion targets high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for AI as the company reports record earnings and advances global capacity buildout Hiroshima, Japan – July 5, 2026Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) held a groundbreaking ceremony on July 4, 2026, for a major expansion of its semiconductor manufacturing facility in Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan. The project […]

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Jack Prandelli stops by the Energy News Beat Global Oil and Gas Markets Update

You won’t want to miss this episode with Jack Prandelli from Switzerland. As an international trader and Substack Author, Jack has been on target with his articles on global oil and Gas Markets. Check out The Merchant’s News : https://themerchantsnews.substack.com/ Follow Jack on X @jackprandelli Connect with Jack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prandelligiacomo/ Add Free for our SubStack Subscribers. 1. LNG […]

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China Merchants Stay the Course on VLCCs – What does this mean for the energy markets?

China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) is doubling down on Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), signaling strong long-term confidence in global crude oil trade despite short-term market volatility. In a recent Lloyd’s List report, the Chinese shipping giant dismissed a nearly 40% drop in VLCC spot rates since late June 2026 as a temporary distortion, raising […]

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Calls for Oil Glut May Not Consider Realistic Oil Movements and Exploration

Recent analyst predictions of an impending oil glut and sharply lower prices have gained traction amid falling benchmark crude prices and reports of recovering tanker flows through the Strait of Hormuz. However, a closer look at actual oil movements, inventory dynamics, refinery constraints, and exploration activity suggests these calls may be getting ahead of reality. […]

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Europe’s Industrial Death Spiral due to Net Zero Energy may not be recoverable

Europe’s once-mighty industrial engine is sputtering, and Germany—the continent’s manufacturing powerhouse—is at the epicenter of a deepening crisis. High energy costs driven by aggressive Net Zero policies, renewable intermittency, heavy regulations, and carbon pricing are accelerating deindustrialization. Major firms are slashing jobs, closing plants, and relocating production to the United States and Asia, where energy […]

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