As tensions flare once again around the Strait of Hormuz—with recent incidents including a vessel struck off Oman’s coast and Iranian Revolutionary Guard warnings—Gulf oil producers are racing to secure alternative export routes. While the strait has historically carried nearly 20% of global seaborne oil trade, Iraq is moving decisively to reduce its vulnerability through […]
Continue Reading
Iraq’s Basra Oil Company has directed operators at the giant West Qurna/2 oilfield to suspend pumping operations entirely and slash output to just 50,000 barrels per day (bpd), effective midnight on June 23. The move comes under an ongoing force majeure declaration, explicitly citing the continued absence of available tankers to lift the crude. This […]
Continue Reading
OPEC released its 20th edition of the World Oil Outlook (WOO 2026) on June 18, 2026, delivering a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of global energy trends through 2050. The report projects continued strong growth in global oil demand, reaching 124.1 million barrels per day (mb/d) by mid-century — an increase of approximately 19 mb/d from 2025 […]
Continue Reading
US physical crude prices are easing as the wartime risk premium fades and Middle Eastern barrels prepare to return to global markets. The shift comes amid clear signs of de-escalation in the US-Iran conflict, including the passage of Iranian tankers past the US naval blockade today and the resumption of flows through the Strait of […]
Continue Reading
The recent U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has triggered a wave of optimism in oil markets. Traders are pricing in a swift reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a rapid normalization of supply chains, and a return to lower pre-crisis price levels. Brent crude has already dropped toward $83–$84 per barrel, with WTI near $80–$81, […]
Continue Reading
In a major escalation of the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, President Donald Trump has signaled that U.S. forces will strike Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT” and, in the near future, take control of Iran’s critical oil infrastructure, including Kharg Island. This development draws direct parallels to the administration’s approach in Venezuela and aligns with commentary from energy […]
Continue Reading
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 […]
Continue Reading
Even the most optimistic reopening of the Strait of Hormuz won’t deliver a quick fix. Physical barrels tell a far harsher story than paper futures. Art Berman (@aeberman12) nailed it in his May 25, 2026, post: There is no clean, modelable “successful reopening” of the Strait of Hormuz. Even in the wildly optimistic scenario, the […]
Continue Reading
In a decisive move that underscores its strategic pivot amid ongoing regional tensions and its recent departure from OPEC, the United Arab Emirates is accelerating infrastructure to dramatically expand its oil export capacity, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. On May 15, 2026, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan directed […]
Continue Reading
In a move that signals business-as-usual intent amid extraordinary disruption, OPEC+ delegates have outlined plans to press ahead with a series of oil production quota increases, aiming to fully unwind the final layer of voluntary cuts announced in 2023 by the end of September 2026. According to Bloomberg reporting, key members intend to raise targets […]
Continue Reading