Kuwait








Energy Markets

Oil & Gas

Heating Oil

Brent paper and physical prices continue to fall as Hormuz flow increases, traders report

The Crude Oil differentials in Europe that help set the Brent benchmark for the world have dropped further this week, as increased flows via the Strait of Hormuz has eased fears about Middle East supply disruptions. JD Vance, the Vice president of the United States, said that on Thursday 12.5 million barrels flowed through strait since the U.S. signed an interim agreement with Iran to end their conflict. Since the beginning of the fighting in late February, the strait has been closed to oil flow. It used to carry up 20 million barrels a day before. Six grades are used...

Oil & Gas

Kuwait's KPC has delivered the first spot fuel cargoes after the Iran War, according to sources

Kuwait Petroleum Corp. (KPC) is offering fuel on-demand for the first since the start of the Iran War, according to four sources who are familiar with the matter. Separately KPC is 'offering 4,000,000 barrels of?crude? via tender. A fifth source who has direct knowledge of the issue said that the oil is being offered to Asian buyers. Three sources confirmed that the state firm had offered at least 90,000 metric tons (670,500 bar) of 10ppm gasoil, and a 55,000-60,000 tonne (489,500-534,500 barrels) of naphtha via private negotiations for a June loading. It was not possible to determine immediately if any...

Oil & Gas

IRGC officer: Iran now considers Strait of Hormuz a much larger zone

According to a'senior officer' in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, Iran has expanded the definition of the Strait of Hormuz far beyond what it was before the Iran war. Fars, a news agency affiliated with the Iranian government, reported Tuesday that the strait was no longer viewed by the IRGC Navy as a small stretch of water around a few islands, but had been significantly enlarged and given a greater military significance. "In the past the Strait of Hormuz has been defined as a small area around islands like Hormuz or Hengam. But today, this view is changing," said...

Oil & Gas

World Bank lowers its Middle East growth projection for 2026 after turmoil in the energy sector

The GCC's growth forecast for 2026 has been reduced to 1.3% due to lower hydrocarbon revenue Kuwait and Qatar's economies are expected to contract in this year The World Bank warns about lingering risks in the region DUBAI, 8 April - In a report released on Wednesday, the World Bank slashed the growth forecast for the Middle East's economies in 2026 as a "consequence" of the conflict between the U.S. and Israel, along with Iran. The report also warned of widespread risks. Donald Trump announced late Tuesday a ceasefire of two weeks in the conflict. The conflict is now in...

Oil & Gas

The closure of Hormuz has divided the fortunes between Middle Eastern oil states

A study found that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the subsequent?surge of global oil prices has brought financial windfalls for Iran, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Other states, however, who lack alternate shipping routes, have suffered?billions of dollar losses. Iran closed the Strait, a route that accounts for a fifth or more of the global oil and gas flows. This was after U.S. airstrikes and Israeli strikes on Iran in February triggered a wider conflict. Later, it said that vessels with no U.S. and Israeli connections would be allowed to transit the Strait. Some tankers have managed to...

Oil & Gas

Kuwait Petroleum Corp. reports damage to units following Iran drone attacks

On?Sunday?, Iranian drone attacks hit multiple targets in Kuwait. State?energy company Kuwait Petroleum Corporation reported fires and "severe damage" to some units. KPC stated in a press release that teams are working to contain fires at National Petroleum Company and Petrochemical Industries Company affiliates. KPC said earlier that a drone had attacked the complex housing the KPC headquarters and oil ministry in Shuwaikh. Kuwaiti state media, citing Kuwait's finance ministry, reported that an Iranian drone had allegedly 'hit an office complex of government ministries, inflicting significant material damage, but no injuries. Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity and Water said that two...

Oil & Gas

South Korea asks Gulf Nations for a steady supply of energy and safety of Korean vessels

The South Korean Ministry of Finance announced that Koo 'Yun-cheol, Minister of Finance, met with envoys of Gulf countries on Sunday to discuss energy security and the safety of 'Korean vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. This is due to the escalating Iran conflict disrupting shipping. The ministry said that during the Friday meeting, Koo requested the ambassadors of the Gulf Cooperation Council to ensure a constant supply of oil, liquefied gas, naphtha and urea as well as other critical resources. He also asked them to ensure the safety and security for Korean vessels and crews near this vital strait....

Oil & Gas

Fears of wider Iran conflict has led to a relaxation in the Gulf markets

Investors' sentiment was affected by the sagging of most Gulf stock markets in early Sunday trading, as concerns about a wider conflict linked to Iran weighed heavily on their minds. This came after Yemen’s Houthis launched the?first? attacks on Israel since the conflict started and the U.S. sent additional forces into the Middle East. The Washington Post reported Saturday that U.S. officials had said that the Pentagon was preparing for a possible multi-week?operation on the ground in Iran. However, it remained unclear whether President Donald Trump would authorize the deployment. The Qatari Index fell by 1.1% as Qatar National Bank,...

Oil & Gas

Sources say that Fujairah in the UAE resumes oil loading after an attack

Four sources confirmed that oil loading operations at the United Arab Emirates Fujairah, a major 'bunkering hub' and crude export terminal, had re-commenced despite a Saturday drone attack and fire. However, it is unclear whether the operations are back to normal. The U.S. - Iran war has already reduced Middle Eastern oil supply by more than?7m barrels a day, or 7% of the global supply. The disruptions?at Fujairah could force OPEC’s third largest crude producer to cut more?production, after already cutting production at its offshore oil fields. According to Kpler, Fujairah outside the Strait of Hormuz exported on average?more? than...

Oil & Gas

Official: Gulf trio reviews sovereign investments to offset Iran War Impact

Gulf officials said that three Gulf states were reviewing the way they invest trillions of dollars from their sovereign wealth funds to offset the losses caused by the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran. The official who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the review could include divestments, reversals of investment pledges, and a reevaluation of global sponsoring deals. This is because the oil and gas-rich states are assessing how to deal with the financial shock. The top four economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council are Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait. Three of the four largest economies in the...

Oil & Gas

Official: Gulf trio reviews sovereign investments to offset Iran War Impact

Gulf officials said that three Gulf states were reviewing the way they invest trillions of dollars from their sovereign wealth funds to offset the losses caused by the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran. The official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter was sensitive and without naming the states, explained that these reviews could include reversing investment pledges, divesting and re-evaluating global sponsorship deals. The top four economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council are Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait. Three of the four largest economies in the GCC will be assessing current and future investments and sponsorships...

Oil & Gas

UAE markets fall on renewed geopolitical worries

The stock markets of the United Arab Emirates ended lower on Friday. Dubai was impacted by weakness in financial and utility shares, after U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his threats against Iran. Donald Trump stated on Thursday that he hoped not to have to use the "armada", warning Tehran to stop killing protesters and restarting its nuclear program. Dubai's main stock market fell 0.2% in the session after reaching a near 20-year high. Dubai Islamic Bank, a lender affiliated with the?Islamic bank Dubai Islamic Authority, slid 0.2%. Tecom Group, a business park operator, gained 0.6% when it acquired 125 million...

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels

Rubio pledges security to Gulf leaders amid Iran deal concerns

U.S. Secretary Marco Rubio met with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait (Kuwait) on Wednesday. He pledged not to undermine the security of these Gulf allies, as he tried to reassure Gulf Allies sceptical about a 'proposed deal' to end the U.S. - Israeli war against Iran. The U.S. and Iran?accord signed last week is the first between American and Iranian Presidents since the?1979 Islamic Revolution. It includes a $300 billion fund proposal and the lifting of certain sanctions against Tehran. Rubio, who arrived in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE late Tuesday night for...

Mineral Resources

Middle East crude prices drop as U.S. Iran deal boosts supply outlook

Data showed that the Middle East crude market fell sharply, and even slid into discounts. This was after the United States, Iran, and other countries reached a framework agreement to reopen Strait of Hormuz. The 'Asian refining market led by China is still subdued despite months of?run-cuts.' Hopes for higher supply following the deal have pushed Dubai and Middle East benchmarks to contango, and provided rare arbitrage opportunities in Europe and the United States. Benchmark Dubai’s premium to swaps fell into a 46-cent discount on Tuesday. This is the first contango structure in January. A contango market structure is one...

Fossil Fuels

UAE's Gargash warns against a renewed war, despite '50-50' odds for a US-Iran agreement

The advisor to the president of the United Arab Emirates said that there is a 50-50 chance of a U.S. - Iran peace agreement. However, he stressed that any settlement should address the causes of instabilities in the region, if it's to prevent future conflict. Pakistan is mediating a U.S. - Iran ceasefire in order to end a war that has shaken 'the global economy, and disrupted the trade through the Strait of Hormuz. This route is a major one for oil and liquefied gas shipments around the world. "There is a 50% chance that we'll reach an agreement." Anwar...

Crude Oil

Refined Products

Fuel Oil

Singapore's oil products stockpiles recover, but hover at a 13-year low

Singapore's oil product inventories, Asia's main trading hub, remained near 13-year lows for a second consecutive week, mainly due to softer distillates and stable residual stocks. Official data on Thursday showed that middle distillates inventories had risen. Enterprise Singapore's data shows that onshore oil product inventories totaled around 35.26 millions barrels for the week ending 17 June, a slight increase from the 34.41million barrels of the previous week. Since the U.S. - Iran war began, oil stocks have been dwindling globally due to a lack of cargo shipments from the Strait of Hormuz as well as a reduction in existing...

Refined Products

After the US-Iran agreement, spot oil premiums have fallen to levels seen before the war. However, shipping anxiety provides a floor.

After the U.S. and Iran deal to end the Middle East conflict, spot premiums for crude oil in Asia are back to their pre-war level. However, caution over how soon normal shipping will resume is keeping the oil markets afloat. Prices fell across the board after U.S. president Donald Trump announced that a preliminary deal had been signed. Details have not yet been released, and the U.S. as well as Iran say that a permanent ceasefire is still being negotiated. Dubai's premium for swaps on Middle East crude returned to its pre-war level of $2.06 a barrel on Monday. This...

Refined Products

Sources say that Saudi Arabia and Iraq allocated full-term crude volumes to Indian refiners by December.

Sources at three Indian refiners reported on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia and Iraq, producers from the Middle East, have allotted full-term crude volumes for Indian refiners in December while also offering additional quantities under optional contracts. After halting their Russian oil purchases due to the tightening of Western sanctions, Indian suppliers have increased demand for Middle East crude. Last month, the United States, Britain and European Union designated Russian Top oil producers Rosneft, and Lukoil caused immediate disruptions in trade as fears of sanctions drove away buyers from India and China. Sources said that the Indian refiners received their full...

Refined Products

Sources say that Kuwait's KPC has offered more heavy crude in December due to refinery shutdown.

Kuwait Petroleum Corp. has offered heavy crude to be loaded in December through a spot bid, according to sources within the industry and the tender document. This is because it sells extra oil that Al-Zour Refinery cannot process. The producer offered to load 500,000 barrels Kuwait Heavy Crude on December 6 and 7, as well as the same amount of Eocene Crude on December 8 and 9. The bids will be valid until Thursday. KPC now has a total of 3.9 million barrels in heavy crude spot sales. Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (KIPIC) has announced that on October 21...

Refined Products

Kuwait minister 'optimistic' about oil market fundamentals

Kuwait's Oil Minister said he is optimistic about the fundamentals of the oil market and that OPEC+'s efforts aim to achieve market balance, according to the state news agency KUNA on Tuesday. Tariq Suleiman Al-Roumi made his comments after the OPEC+ Meeting on Monday. Al-Roumi, along with other ministers of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee, met online to have a brief discussion and stress the importance of full compliance with oil agreements. KUNA reported him saying that he was "optimistic" about the fundamentals on the oil market, and that OPEC+'s efforts were aimed at energy security and the market balance....

Refined Products

Kuwait's KPC offers more high sulphur fuel oil for April-June

Kuwait Petroleum Corp. ( KPC) has provided a semiterm tender offering more high sulphur. fuel oil (HSFO) for loading between April to June, trade sources. stated on Wednesday. This marks its second semi-term tender in simply a week, after. it closed another semi-term tender for March to June loading. throughout the previous week. The refiner is offering 4 380-cst HSFO freights of 60,000. metric loads each for lifting from Kuwait during the period, the. sources stated, with the current tender closing on Wednesday. The first freight is anticipated to load between April 10 to 19. and the second cargo will...