In a significant sign that Gulf crude is once again finding its way to market, Kuwait is offering at least 4 million barrels of its main export-grade crude to Asian refiners—the first such sales to the region since the Iran war erupted in late February 2026. The volumes are loaded onto two very large crude […]
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In a striking display of persistence amid one of the most volatile energy chokepoints in the world, QatarEnergy has successfully moved its ninth known LNG cargo out of the Persian Gulf since the Iran conflict erupted in late February 2026. Bloomberg energy reporter Stephen Stapczynski highlighted the latest transit on X today, noting that the […]
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US military surveillance has documented nearly 1,000 commercial vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz in the roughly two months since the US-Iran ceasefire took effect on April 8, 2026. The figure, shared by an official familiar with US Central Command operations, exceeds private-sector estimates that rely primarily on ship transponders (AIS data). Military analysts […]
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The Strait of Hormuz has long been the world’s most critical energy chokepoint—handling roughly 20 million barrels per day (b/d) of oil and a significant share of global LNG before the 2026 crisis. But Iran’s de facto closure of the strait since late February 2026, amid escalating conflict, has forced a permanent rethink. Even if […]
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In a recent appearance on Squawk Box Asia, veteran commodities strategist Jeff Currie (Co-Chairman of Abaxx Markets) delivered a stark warning that resonates deeply with current market dynamics. He described an emerging “rare earth moment” — a qualitative shift where markets have been neglecting the physical world (“atoms”) in favor of financial narratives and tech […]
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In the shadow of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran — marked by the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the largest oil supply disruption in modern history — Saudi Arabia stands out as a clear winner. While many Gulf producers face sharp production cuts, export halts, and economic contractions, the Kingdom under Crown […]
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In a notable development signaling cautious thawing in one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, the Qatari LNG tanker Al Sahla is transiting the Strait of Hormuz today, heading directly to China’s Tianjin LNG terminal. Expected to arrive around June 14 with a cargo capacity of approximately 211,842 cubic meters, this marks the third […]
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In a notable development for global energy markets still reeling from disruptions in the Persian Gulf, a Japan-bound crude oil tanker has successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel, identified as the Eneos Endeavor and owned by Japanese refiner Eneos, is the second Japan-bound tanker to clear the critical chokepoint since U.S. and Israeli […]
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In a sharp rebuke that underscores the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” doctrine, President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s latest peace proposal as “totally unacceptable,” signaling that backchannel talks remain deadlocked and energy markets could face renewed volatility. The rejection comes amid a fragile ceasefire that has held since early April 2026 but is now strained […]
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QatarEnergy has formally extended its force majeure declaration on liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies through mid-June, according to Bloomberg. Customers received the latest notice as the Strait of Hormuz remains almost entirely closed to tanker traffic following Iranian missile strikes on the Ras Laffan Industrial City in March. This isn’t a surprise—it’s a continuation of […]
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