Oil & Gas







Fossil Fuels

Governor of Yaroslavl in Russia says that a drone attack on Ukraine has damaged a Russian oil refinery.

On Thursday, the regional governor Mikhail Yevrayev posted on Telegram that a?Ukrainian?drone attack damaged an oil?refinery located in the Russian city Yaroslavl. The drone caused a fire, which was then extinguished. After Donald Trump announced on Monday that Russia and Ukraine had reached an agreement on energy, the Russians have acknowledged their strikes on refineries. However, neither side has confirmed this agreement. On Sunday, Trump urged Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy to stop "targeting" Russian diesel infrastructure. He blamed the attacks for the diesel shortage which is "hurting the whole world". Authorities in Russia's southern region of Krasnodar reported that drone...


Asia

Governor of Yaroslavl in Russia says that a drone attack on Ukraine has damaged a Russian oil refinery.

On Thursday, the regional governor Mikhail Yevrayev posted on Telegram that a?Ukrainian?drone attack damaged an oil?refinery located in the Russian city Yaroslavl. The drone caused a fire, which was then extinguished. After Donald Trump announced on Monday that Russia and Ukraine had reached an agreement on energy, the Russians have acknowledged their strikes on refineries. However, neither side has confirmed this agreement. On Sunday, Trump urged Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy to stop "targeting" Russian diesel infrastructure. He blamed the attacks for the diesel shortage which is "hurting the whole world". Authorities in Russia's southern region of Krasnodar reported that drone...

North America

Crude Oil

North Dakota oil production seen increasing in August, says state regulator

The state's Department of Mineral Resources announced on Monday that North Dakota's?crude oil output is expected to increase in?August, and continue in the months ahead as drilling activity and crude prices remain robust. According to the most recent data available, the output in the third largest oil producing state in the United States increased marginally by 1,846 bpd to an average of 1,157 million bpd during July. Justin Kringstad told reporters at a monthly briefing that "given activity levels and prices, I suspect August will be a better month than July." Department of Mineral Resources statistics show that the number...

Natural Gas

Minister says Canada is interested in a partnership with France LNG

Anita Anand, Canadian Foreign Ministry, said on Monday that Canada and France could form an energy partnership involving liquefied natural gas produced along its Pacific Coast. This comes a day after the leaders of both countries met to discuss energy cooperation. Anand stated that it was "quite possible" for Canada to?execute a partnership in energy with a European nation using LNG imported from Canada's West Coast. In an interview conducted on the sidelines the annual gathering of leaders of the world at the United Nations, she stated that "that goes for France." Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has called for...

Refined Products

Diesel prices in the world hit record levels, and further increases are possible

The price of diesel has risen to record levels in Europe and the United States as the wars in Iran, Ukraine and Russia have severely cut exports by some?of the?largest producers, such as Russia and Saudi Arabia, and there are few options to stop further gains. The price of diesel futures in Europe reached a record high last week, having more than doubled their value at the start of 2026. This was after supply disruptions reached the Red Sea where Saudi Arabia loads the majority of its diesel. Refineries around the world are working hard to produce fuels, despite the...

Energy Markets

QatarEnergy: Hormuz Crisis may delay LNG Expansion Projects

QatarEnergy anticipates that the first train of the North Field East (NFE), liquefied gas expansion project will start production during the first half of the year 2027. Additional trains, however, will depend on Strait of Hormuz crises. The disruptions caused by the 'effective closure' of the strait after the US and Israel began their war against Iran could delay a part of the largest LNG expansion project in the world at a moment when Qatar is attempting to replace the volumes lost following attacks on its Ras Laffan Export Hub. Saad Al-Kaabi (CEO of QatarEnergy and Minister of State for...

Oil & Gas

Iran warns US and its allies against escalating the conflict

Iran warned against a new major attack by the United States or its allies on Sunday, saying it had received information that such an action was in preparation. This added to the tensions already present in a region on edge following drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia. Iran's central military command announced on state-run media that any further attack would result in a sustained retaliation, including against US interests and bases. Washington's regional partners would also be considered as parties to the conflict. It did not provide any further details on the information that it claimed to have about...

Fossil Fuels

Iran warns US and its allies against escalating the conflict

Iran warned against any new major attack by the United States or its allies, saying that it had received information that such a move was being planned. This added to the tension in the 'a'region, already on edge following drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia. Iran's central military command announced on state-run media that any further attack would result in a sustained retaliation, including against US interests and bases. Washington's regional partners would also be considered as parties to the conflict. It did not provide any further details on the information that it claimed to have about an upcoming...

Fossil Fuels

Dillard's will move its primary listing to Texas when the new stock exchange takes off

Dillard's announced on Friday that it will transfer its primary listings - from the NYSE - to the Texas Stock Exchange. The company joins a growing list of companies moving to this fledgling bourse aiming to compete with the two dominant 'US national' stock exchanges. Texas has been promoting itself as a corporate-friendly, lightly regulated alternative to US coastal states. TXSE supporters say that the new exchange will reflect this environment and counter the trend towards "more regulation and more taxation" at New York and other established financial hubs. In addition to the fashion retailer, regional lender Origin Bancorp and...

Fossil Fuels

Ito-Yokado owner pursuing lower prices to attract inflation-hit shoppers, CEO says

The chief executive of York Holdings said that the company is expanding its range of low-cost products in order to appeal to consumers who have seen their finances impacted by inflation. Seiichiro Itabashi, chief executive of Ito-Yokado & York-Benimaru, said in an interview on Thursday that the company, which was sold to Bain Capital by Seven & i last year, is now looking to adjust its prices and expand the product range to keep up with the competition. Itabashi stated that the pressure of fast-growing discount supermarkets and household finances is forcing a change in strategy. The firm plans to...

Fossil Fuels

Barclays supports the November BoE increase, but warns that Middle East conflict may spur more

Barclays anticipates that the Bank of England will increase rates by 25 basis points in November, after keeping them steady. They cite a "dramatically altered" medium-term outlook for energy and warn of a possible further tightening if the Middle East conflict continues. Barclays joins J.P. Morgan, which has also warned about the possibility of further rate hikes due to the Middle East Crisis. J.P. Morgan had previously predicted that the BoE would raise rates in November 2026, and then cut rates twice in 2027. BoE?kept rates at 3.75% as expected on Thursday, but also forecasted?that inflation would top 4% by...

Fossil Fuels

JP Morgan has said it does not have a clear endgame for the oil market as the Iran conflict drags out

JP Morgan stated on Thursday that they do not have a baseline view of oil markets for the first time since the US-Israeli War on Iran. Analysts at the bank stated that they "simply do not know how to model endgame." The note noted that JP Morgan assumed at the start of the conflict that there would be a few economic thresholds the U.S. government wouldn't cross. However, six months later, these lines had been crossed and no exit strategy was in sight. The bank stated that gasoline is now $4.37 per gallon, and oil has risen above $100 per...

Energy Markets

How tariffs have affected India-US relations under Trump

The latest 'flashpoint' between New Delhi, India and Washington is a sweeping U.S. bill on sanctions and tariffs. It adds pressure to the ties that are already strained due to U.S. tariffs against Indian goods and Washington’s close relationship with India's neighbour Pakistan. Here's a look at the?turns and?turns? that have shaped India-U.S. relations during President Donald Trump’s second term. FEBRUARY 20,25 Trump announced that the U.S. will charge the same tariff rate as India. The two countries agreed to work towards a limited free trade agreement and to double their bilateral trade by 2030 to $500 billion. APRIL 2025...

Oil & Gas Refining

Interior Secretary: US oil export ban unlikely lower energy prices

U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated on Monday that a ban on U.S. fuel or oil exports was unlikely to help lower energy prices for consumers in the midst of the Iran War. Burgum, speaking to reporters at the G20 meeting on energy in Houston, said: "We'd consider an export prohibition if it actually could lower prices. But that's not true." Burgum, a Trump appointee, stated that a ban on the export of oil, gasoline, or diesel could result in retaliatory measures from other countries. This could harm consumers in California, whose energy imports are largely dependent on. Burgum stated,...

Europe

Oil & Gas

France increases targeted fuel price reductions, according to Finance Minister

The French government will provide targeted energy relief to those who are most affected by rising fuel prices. Finance Minister Roland Lescure announced new measures on Tuesday that would help families cope with the spike in fuel costs caused by the Middle East conflict. Fuel prices have been rising and prompted protests from fishermen. There are now calls for larger demonstrations to increase pressure on the government about living costs in advance of the upcoming presidential election. Lescure said at a press conference that "we are aware of the difficult situation for our citizens,?especially those who drive every day to...

Refined Products

France asks EU to delay methane reporting due to tight energy supply

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, wrote to the European Commission to urge it to delay new rules on methane reporting for oil and 'gas importers. He argued that they could create legal risks if energy supplies are tightening. Les Echos, a French newspaper, first reported on Macron's September 18 letter to Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. The new regulations, which will come into force on 'January 1', will require monitoring and verifying methane emission for fuel deliveries in the?Block. They aim to reduce leaks of this powerful greenhouse gas, and to impose a?fine if companies violate the regulation. Macron...

Oil & Gas

Investors assess Saudi export recovery as oil prices fall

Oil prices fell on Monday, as investors hoped for a recovery of shipments from Saudi Arabia. This was despite the ongoing attacks by the?Yemeni Houthis which have escalated the tensions in the Middle East. Brent crude futures fell 81 cents or 0.78% to $103.06 per barrel at 0031 GMT, after falling 0.91% Friday. US West Texas Intermediate crude traded at $99.41 per barrel, down by 89 cents or 0.89% after a 1.58% drop in the previous session. Yemen's Iran supported Houthis claimed they attacked "sensitive sites" in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, on Saturday using?missiles or drones. They also said that...

Western Europe

Middle East

Fossil Fuels

Wall Street Journal, September 22,

These are the most popular stories from?the Wall Street Journal. The?Wall Street Journal has not verified the accuracy of these stories. - Meta ?Platforms and Shopify are teaming up, with plans to allow the social-media company's personal artificial-intelligence agent to complete purchases on behalf of users with the ?e-commerce platform's roster of stores. The Trump administration has proposed $5 billion to a fund that would help Middle East nations rebuild their energy infrastructure damaged in the 'Iran war' and reduce their dependence on the Strait of Hormuz for oil and gas transportation. Western pharmaceutical companies want the administration to let...

Energy Markets

After protests over fuel prices, Syria offers cheaper diesel

DAMASCUS 17th September - Syria is offering cheaper diesel fuel for heating, agriculture, and industry. Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir announced this on 'Thursday. Days after a fuel hike triggered some of the largest protests - since the fall Bashar al-Assad. The government's move is a partial retreat after the increases last weekend sparked protests across the country. Protesters burned tyres and?blocked?roads to demand the increases be reversed. UN estimates say that 90% of Syrians are below the poverty level. Bashir said at a press briefing that diesel will be sold for three different prices, 115,150 and 175 Syrian pounds a...

Refined Products

Libyan power cuts drive small businesses and tired citizens to the brink

Naseem al-Akkari has been experiencing power cuts for many years. He owns a restaurant chain in the capital of Libya, Tripoli. It wasn't until the summer heatwaves of this year that his business was put in danger. He lost an estimated $40,000 within a few months. The generator must run in order to keep the goods from spoiling. "You have no other choice than to buy diesel on the black market in order to keep running," he said during an interview where the power had gone out more than ten times. The combination of rising temperatures and global energy disruptions,...

Oil & Gas Refining

Poland's Orlen buys 16 extra crude cargoes amid Saudi disruption

Poland's Orlen announced on Wednesday that it had purchased?16,000,000 barrels of additional oil for its Polish,?Lithuanian, and Czech plants. Traders said the company was rushing to secure crude in order to cover disruptions in Saudi supply until November. Saudi Arabia's petroleum industry is struggling to cope with the effects of a series of attacks from Iran-aligned militias, one of which shut down its East-West Pipeline?on 10 September. Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil company, has been Orlen’s biggest supplier of oil since 2022. It provides around 40%. Orlen announced in a Wednesday statement that it had contracted for 16 additional deliveries...

Crude Oil

Saudi oil production has dropped to a record low following the Houthi attack, according to the IEA

The International Energy Agency said that Saudi Arabia's crude oil supply dropped by 2.3 million barrels per month to 6,000,000 bpd, its lowest level in over 30 years. Attacks on Saudi energy plants were cited as the reason. In a recent report, the IEA noted that groups affiliated with Yemen's Houthis had targeted ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb and Saudi Arabia Jazan refinery, as well as shipping near Yanbu. Iran-backed militias used drones in Iraq to attack Saudi Arabia Abqaiq's oil processing site. Saudi Arabia's own assessment of its supply of 7.122?million bpd in August was lower than the...

Energy Markets

Sources say Asian refiners are seeking a Brent price swap in Saudi crude term negotiations

Two Asian refiners, according to sources familiar with the matter, have asked Saudi Aramco to switch the benchmark for their long-term crude contracts from Dubai to ICE Brent. Middle Eastern price indicators have surged over Brent since August, due to the increasing tensions between Iran and the United States. The APPEC Conference in Singapore is an annual gathering of Middle Eastern producers and Asian refining companies to discuss long-term contracts. These are usually finalised by the end of the year. Sources said that refiners requested supplies for 2027 during this week's discussions. They cited the increased volatility of the Middle...

Crude Oil

Trump threatens to attack Pickaxe Mountain after he says the Iran war will end after US midterm elections

Donald Trump has said that he expects the war against Iran to end following the midterm elections in November. He also threatened to 'again' attack a nuclear site linked to the Islamic Republic after both sides launched their 'biggest wave of strikes on shipping since the beginning of the six-month war. Saudi civil defense authorities issued emergency alerts on Thursday in Khamis Mushait, a city in southwest Yemen, for the fourth consecutive day, after clashes with the Houthis, who are backed by Iran. Brent crude prices were above $100 per barrel, as both supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz...

Jet Fuel

Singapore's Aster plans on increasing naphtha cracker usage, executive says

Aster Chemicals & 'Energy, Singapore's energy company, has run its naphtha cracker between?75% and 80% over the last five months. The company plans to increase utilisation rates even further. Andre Khor told the APPEC Conference that Aster will continue to ramp up and start supplying petrochemicals. Aster, a joint venture of Indonesia's ?Chandra Asri and trading major Glencore, operates a 1.1-million-metric-ton-per-year ?steam cracker on ?Singapore's Bukom Island. He added that the naphtha cracker resumed its operations in September's first week after being shut down for maintenance in August. Khor said the company is using naphtha ?from its 237,000-barrel-per-day refinery and...

Oil & Gas

WSJ reports that Trump advisors warn Iran war may continue through the end of Trump's term

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that top 'White House' advisers, including Vice President JDVance and Secretary Marco Rubio have privately warned Donald Trump that the conflict could last 'throughout the rest of his presidency. The White House did not respond immediately to a comment request. Journal: The 'advisers' told Trump privately in the Situation Room and the Oval Office that Iran could continue to resist U.S. Pressure, possibly prolonging the conflict past Inauguration day in January 2029. The reported warning is in contrast to Trump's public statements about the war. The president stated on Wednesday that he expects 'the...

Fossil Fuels

Data shows that despite the 'dark crossings,' one third of Gulf Oil is still missing.

* The global shortage of uranium has been eased by clandestine shipments Oil prices have risen because of the uncertainty over oil volumes * Difference between peak daily flows and the average Dmitry Zhdannikov & Anushree Mukerjee LONDON, September?9, - Estimates of Middle Eastern oil flows have been wildly varying since tankers started "dark crossings", meaning that they sail without transponder signals, to avoid Iranian attacks. The clandestine "shipments" have greatly increased supplies while the incertitude over their scope has added to the premium on international oil prices. Last week, U.S. Diesel prices reached a record high. Last week, the...

Oil & Gas

Oil prices rise to $100 due to conflict fears Why isn't the price higher?

Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, hit $100 per barrel Wednesday. This was the first time this has happened since late July. However the price increase is relatively slow despite the escalating conflict in the Middle East that fuels fears of more disruptions to oil shipments. Russell Hardy, CEO Vitol - the world's largest independent oil trader - told the APPEC Conference in Singapore on Tuesday that the Middle East has exported approximately 9 million barrels of crude per day and another 1 million bpd in refined products in recent days. This compares to roughly 20,000,000 barrels of...

Crude Oil

Why isn't the price of oil higher than $100 despite disruptions in supply?

Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, has risen this month. However it has remained below $100 per barrel despite the recent escalation of the U.S. - Iran conflict which has caused disruptions in Gulf exports via the Strait of Hormuz or the Red Sea. According to Argus, Crude Oil?shipments are now at 11 million barrels a day (bpd), down from 18 million bpd prior to the Iran War seven months ago. What are the factors that influence oil prices? SIGNIFICANT VOLUMES CAN FLOW?THROUGH HORMIZ Claudio Galimberti, Rystad's Chief Economical Officer, stated that in the week prior to fighting...