As the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed following the escalation of the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict in late February 2026, the world is witnessing what energy experts are calling the largest supply shock in history. Traffic through the strait has plummeted by over 95%, choking off roughly 20% of global oil and LNG flows, along with […]
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The global energy markets are in flux as of mid-April 2026, shaped by severe disruptions from the ongoing Middle East conflict (centered on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz). This has curtailed roughly 7–10 mb/d of crude, NGLs, and refined product exports in March–April, triggering sharp price spikes and inventory draws. Brent crude averaged $103/bbl […]
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In just six weeks, the global energy paradigm has flipped. What a decade of climate summits, net-zero pledges, and green industrial policy could not achieve, Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz—and the raw reality of AI’s insatiable power hunger—has done in a flash. Energy security is no longer a side note; it is […]
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The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, saw dramatically reduced maritime traffic in March 2026 amid ongoing regional tensions following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent Iranian restrictions on shipping. According to data shared by MarineTraffic and analytics firm Kpler, a total of just 220 vessels transited the strait during […]
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The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed amid the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, halting nearly all tanker traffic through the critical chokepoint that normally carries about 20% of global oil and LNG trade, along with roughly 5 million barrels per day (mbd) of refined petroleum products. JP Morgan Commodities Research has modeled the ripple […]
Continue ReadingIn a rapidly escalating geopolitical drama, U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Canada: proceed with a new trade partnership with China, and face a blanket 100% tariff on all goods entering the United States. This threat comes on the heels of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney\’s announcement of a strategic agreement […]
Continue ReadingAs we kick off 2026, the commodities market is heating up with oil, gold, and silver all posting gains amid a cocktail of geopolitical risks, supply constraints, and economic uncertainties. I do not think this will end up being a new Christmas Carol, \”Silver, Oil and Gold\”, but rather the return to comedies is a […]
Continue ReadingWasif Latif, Co-Founder, President & Chief Investment Officer at Sarmaya Partners, stops by the Energy News Beat and Energy Impacts Podcasts – With Stu Turley, and David Blackmon for an in-depth look at the global oil and gas financial markets. 1. The performance and investment strategy of the Sarmaya Partners ETF called “Lens”. Wasif Latif, […]
Continue ReadingIn a landmark diplomatic and economic event, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) at the White House on November 18, 2025, marking a significant escalation in bilateral ties. During the high-profile meeting, MBS announced that Saudi Arabia would ramp up its investment commitments in the United States from an […]
Continue ReadingIn a significant shift for global energy markets, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has revised its long-standing predictions on oil and gas demand, prompting major financial institutions like Goldman Sachs to adjust their forecasts accordingly. This \”U-Turn\” by the IEA, as it\’s being dubbed in industry circles, moves away from earlier projections of an imminent […]
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