The global oil market remains on edge as the Strait of Hormuz — the world’s most critical oil chokepoint — stays effectively paralyzed amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict that began in late February 2026. JP Morgan has issued a fresh, more urgent update, warning that the situation could drive Brent crude sharply higher in the […]
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In a significant move to bolster energy security amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, Japan’s JERA — the world’s largest buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) — has secured a landmark 20-year supply contract with Malaysia’s state-owned Petronas. The deal, announced today following high-level talks between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Malaysian […]
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Kuwait is actively pursuing pipeline routes to bypass the Strait of Hormuz as ongoing tensions have effectively choked off the Persian Gulf’s primary oil export artery. Sheik Nawaf Al-Sabah, Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Petroleum Corp. (KPC), the state-owned oil producer, disclosed the initiative during a conference in Washington on Tuesday. According to Sheik Nawaf, […]
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The global energy markets are in the midst of a historic shock. As the 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis—triggered by the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran—enters its fourth month, roughly 20% of the world’s seaborne oil and 20% of LNG flows have been disrupted. Prices spiked above $100 per barrel (peaking near $126), with Brent briefly […]
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We had a great discussion, and the global oil and gas markets have been changed permanently. “ Iran will have permanent control over the Strait of Hormuz. As though that necessarily, in and of itself, is bullish for oil prices. I would argue that, in fact, it isn’t. “ Doomberg, Substack Author, Energy Analyst This […]
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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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As the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, Iraq is racing to reroute its crude exports northward. The Iraqi government has approved an urgent plan to nearly triple pipeline shipments of crude oil from the Kurdistan region to Turkey’s Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, aiming to ease the severe […]
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In a sharp escalation of the ongoing 2026 Iran conflict, Iranian drones and missiles struck Kuwait International Airport overnight on June 2-3, hitting Terminal One and causing significant material damage. Kuwaiti authorities reported at least one fatality and dozens of injuries (with some sources citing up to 63 wounded), prompting the immediate suspension of all […]
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In a wide-ranging Bloomberg Surveillance interview aired today, Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth painted a sobering picture of ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz while signaling that the industry is accelerating plans for alternative infrastructure to reduce reliance on the critical chokepoint. Wirth confirmed that multiple vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz have […]
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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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