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 […]
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With fertilizer shortages driving up input costs and an ongoing energy crisis squeezing every link in the fuel supply chain, America’s decades-long experiment with corn-based ethanol is under fresh scrutiny. The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) still mandates roughly 15 billion gallons of conventional (corn) ethanol blending annually, supported by new tax credits such as the […]
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Russia’s two largest oil export terminals on the Baltic Sea — Primorsk and Ust-Luga — have suspended all crude oil and petroleum product loadings following a series of intense Ukrainian drone attacks this week. The shutdowns represent one of the most severe disruptions to Russian energy exports in modern history and come amid escalating Ukrainian […]
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Southern Nevadans are paying over $5 a gallon for gas — and Congresswoman Susie Lee wants you to believe it’s all because of “Trump’s war.” In a now-viral X post, Rep. Lee (D-NV) claimed: “Southern Nevadans are now paying over $5/gallon for gas because of Trump’s war. We need to lower costs for hardworking families. […]
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Chevron Corp. has issued a stark warning to California: the state is barreling toward a full-blown fuel crisis unless the ongoing war with Iran eases and state officials slash taxes and regulations that have strangled its refining industry. The world’s second-largest oil company is signaling it may walk away from refining in the Golden State […]
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In a significant boost for California’s energy security and domestic oil supply, Chevron Corp. announced plans to purchase up to 20,000 barrels per day of crude oil from Sable Offshore Corp.’s newly restarted Santa Ynez Unit platforms off the coast of Santa Barbara. The deal, reported today, marks one of the first commercial sales of […]
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The global agriculture sector is staring down a perfect storm of fertilizer disruptions, diesel fuel shortages, and skyrocketing energy costs—all triggered by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East after “Operation Epic Fury” on February 28, 2026. What began as a geopolitical flashpoint has rapidly […]
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Energy News Beat Special Report – March 2026 Escalating conflicts have turned oil refineries into strategic targets worldwide. Ukrainian drone campaigns continue to hammer Russian facilities, while the 2026 Iran war (U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Iranian retaliation across the Gulf) has triggered widespread damage to refineries, terminals, and related gas infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, […]
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Port Arthur, Texas — A powerful explosion rocked Valero Energy’s massive Port Arthur refinery on the evening of March 23, 2026, triggering a shelter-in-place order, a towering plume of black smoke visible for miles, and immediate operational disruptions at the 435,000-barrel-per-day facility. The blast occurred around 6:30 p.m. CDT. Residents across Port Arthur, Groves, and […]
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Energy News Beat | March 23, 2026 In a bold escalation of Ukraine’s long-range drone campaign against Russian energy infrastructure, a massive swarm of Ukrainian UAVs struck the Port of Primorsk overnight on March 22-23, 2026. The assault ignited fires across multiple fuel storage tanks and damaged critical oil-loading infrastructure at Russia’s largest Baltic Sea […]
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