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Oil & Gas

US approves Iranian oil sale amid final peace talks

The U.S. Treasury Department approved the production, sale and delivery of Iranian oil on Monday. This was a promise made by Washington and Tehran in an agreement last week. The general license announced by the two sides as they continue their talks to reach a final agreement on peace allows for the production, sale and delivery of crude oil, petrochemicals and petroleum products with Iranian origin through August 21. In a recent post on X, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Iran had 'committed' to allowing free and open passage through the Strait of Hormuz as well as allowing?International Atomic...

Oil & Gas

JODI data show that Saudi Arabia's crude exports in April fell to the lowest level ever recorded.

According to data released by the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI), Crude Oil exports from Saudi Arabia fell for the second consecutive month in April to a new record low. The Iran War?disrupted?shipments?from the Gulf Region. Exports dropped to 3.990 million barrels a day from 4.974 in March. JODI data on Saudi Arabian crude oil exports, and production, dates back to 2002. In April, crude oil production in the country was at its lowest ever level, 6.316 million barrels per day, down from 6.967 in March. Riyadh, along with other members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries(OPEC), provides...

Oil Refineries

Russell: There is plenty of crude oil in Asia, but the refined fuels are scarce.

Asia's crude oil imports are expected to return to pre-Iran Conflict levels, but the flow of refined products is still constrained. Fuel prices reflect this supply stress. According to data compiled by Kpler, the world's largest energy consumer region is expected to import 22.18 millions barrels of crude per day in June. This represents an increase from 20.35million bpd imported in May. The arrivals in June are still below the 26.76m bpd average for the three months leading up to the United States' and Israel's attack on Iran, which took place on February 28. The figures are still well above...

Crude Oil

Russell: There is plenty of crude oil in Asia, but the refined fuels are scarce.

Asia's crude oil imports are expected to return to pre -Iran Conflict? levels, but the flow of refined products is still constrained. Fuel prices reflect this supply stress. According to data compiled by Kpler, the world's largest energy consumer region is expected to import 22.18 millions barrels of crude per day in June. This represents an increase from 20.35million bpd imported in May. The arrivals in June are still below the 26.76m bpd average for the three months leading up to the United States' and Israel's attack on Iran, which took place on February 28. The figures are still well...

Energy Markets

Morales is waiting in the wings as Bolivia crisis tests Trump's government

* Morales keeps in regular contact with protest leaders Paz negotiates with fragile union leaders * La Paz restaurateurs say 42% of venues closed, hospitals short on painkillers By Cassandra Garrison LA PAZ, 19 June - Evo Morales watches and waits in the forests of Bolivia's Chapare Region. The former president, a leftist, is still a strong force from his rural stronghold. 50 days of road blockades by indigenous and labor unions have brought the country to a standstill, killed at least 14, and pushed the center-right government led by Rodrigo Paz close to collapse. In an exclusive video-link interview,...

Energy Markets

Russian-held Crimea restricts motorcycle use, claiming they sound like drones

Moscow-installed officials in Crimea have banned motorised vehicles such as quad bikes, motorcycles and scooters from being used at night. They claim that they sound like drone attacks. The peninsula's Russian-installed Governor, Sergei Aksyonov said that the ban would be enforced between 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Wednesday. He called it a temporary measure for the protection of military and important facilities. The moped's noise interferes with the operation of defense systems. "Their engines sound like drones,"?Oleg?Kryuchkov, Aksyonov’s advisor, said on Telegram separately on Tuesday. "The enemy is enlisting your children for nighttime rides." The Crimea ban does not...

Oil & Gas Refining

U.S. gasoline drops below $4 per gallon for the first time since April

U.S. retail gasoline prices fell below $4 per gallon for first time since April, as optimism grew about a preliminary agreement between the U.S. and Iran, which could lead to a reopening of Strait of Hormuz - a vital passageway for oil supplies around the world. Crude oil prices fell by more than $4 per barrel after U.S. president Donald Trump announced the U.S.-Iran had signed a Memorandum of Understanding to end the near four-month conflict. However, it is still unclear whether this agreement will last. The drop in fuel prices may provide some relief for the Trump administration. They...

Energy Markets

The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve has its lowest oil stock since 1983

According to Department of 'Energy data released on Monday, crude oil stocks in the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve have fallen to 340.3m barrels. This is the lowest level since 1983. It signals a?shortage of supplies at a time when?the u.s. Iran and the United States agree to a deal that will end the war in the Middle East and open up the Strait of Hormuz. The government's emergency stock fell by 8.9m barrels. This is the third-largest draw in history. The U.S. agreed to "loan" 172 million barrels to the facility in order to lower fuel prices which have risen...

Refined Products

The RV industry in America is feeling the effects of high gas prices and war.

Coley Brady, in late March, cut production on the majority of assembly lines in his sprawling complex in Elkhart (Indiana) from five to four days per week, when it became clear that spring sales had slowed. At the time of the U.S./Israeli war against Iran, the global energy market disruptions had already caused American gasoline and diesel fuel prices to rise by 33% and 43% respectively. "Clearly, the war and increased gas prices are the easiest things to blame," said Brady. He is co-founder at Alliance RV which manufactures high-end motorhomes and fifth-wheels. The RV industry, which is located in...

Oil & Gas

Reports from Kommersant state that Russia has authorized refineries to reduce the environmental standards for gasoline to prevent fuel shortages.

Kommersant reported that the Russian government had authorized a few oil refineries to produce fuels at lower environmental standards for the domestic market. This is because the country has been experiencing fuel supply disruptions. According to data collected by, media reports and social media posts have indicated that there are supply disruptions in Russia in a dozen different regions. Only two regions of Siberia, besides the Russian-held Crimea have formally?confirmed these disruptions. Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak requested fuel market forecasts in order to avoid problems with fuel distribution and meet domestic demand. Ukraine has been targeting Russian...

Refined Products

Reports from Kommersant state that Russia has authorized refineries to reduce the environmental standards for gasoline to prevent fuel shortages.

Kommersant reported that the Russian government had authorized a few oil refineries to produce gasoline and diesel fuel with lower environmental specifications for the domestic market. According to data compiled by, fuel shortages have been reported in Russia by media and social media users?in about a dozen different regions. Only two regions in Siberia, besides the Russian-held Crimea have confirmed shortages. Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak called for fuel market forecasts to protect against difficulties in fuel distribution. Ukraine has been targeting Russian refineries, fuel depots, and pipelines for several months in order to limit Moscow's financial support...

Refined Products

US consumer sentiment rises from record lows, as gas prices fall

U.S. consumer confidence bounced back from record lows early in June, as lower gasoline prices provided some relief to households. However, concerns about inflation caused by the Middle East conflict still lingered. The University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers reported on Friday that lower-income households were the main drivers of the improvement in consumer sentiment. According to AAA data, gasoline prices dropped over the last 'three weeks' from their four-year highs. Oil prices also remained below $100 per barrel, despite an unstable ceasefire. The increase in sentiment is likely due to the labor market's resilience, which has been marked by...

Europe

Energy Markets

Trump threatens new attack after Iran closes Hormuz again

Prices of oil rose on Monday as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was slowed, and talks between U.S. officials and Iranian officials in their first meeting pursuant to an interim "peace" deal got off to a rocky start. Brent crude futures rose 54 cents, or 0.67% to $81.11 per barrel at 0030 GMT after reaching a high price of $82.30 when trading began. The U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude Futures contract was trading at $78.62 per barrel, an increase of $2.02 or 2.64%, ahead of its expiration later that day. The August contract, which is the most active, rose...

Refined Products

Zelenskiy, Ukraine's Zelenskiy, confirms drone attack on refinery facilities in Russia's Tyumen Region

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, said that Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in Russia's Tyumen Region, located in western Siberia. This was more than 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles), from Ukraine. He said that Ukraine has also developed long-range drones with a range of more than 3,000 kilometers. In his video message, Zelenskiy thanked the Ukrainian military's special forces for reaching Tyumen Region, Russia, and a?oil refinery. More than 2,000 kilometers from our state boundary. "This is effective work." Ukraine's military is engaged in a long-term campaign of?strikes against Russian targets. The focus has primarily been on the oil industry,...

Energy Markets

US allows waiver to expire on Russian oil

The U.S. Treasury did not publish a new extension to its waiver on sanctions against Russian oil carried by sea that expired at midnight on Wednesday. However, President Donald Trump and officials of the administration did not confirm if this meant that measures would be reinstated. Trump's administration waived U.S. oil sanctions during the war against Iran to assist vulnerable economies with the energy crises. Washington and Tehran have reached an agreement to end the conflict, which would allow Middle East oil to reach the global market. Trump was noncommittal on Wednesday about the possibility of reimposing sanctions by the...

Western Europe

Middle East

Energy Markets

ADNOC sold at least 18,000,000 barrels of oil in the third tender, traders claim

Sources in the trade said that Abu Dhabi National Oil Company sold "at least 18,000,000 barrels" of crude oil from United Arab Emirates during its third spot tender this month. ADNOC has sold at least 48,000,000 barrels of crude oil in June, according to calculations. ADNOC is also offering more volumes in a 4th?tender due to close this week. Kpler data showed that the UAE exported 101.4 million barrels of oil in January, and 95.2 millions in February before the U.S. - Iran war blocked the Strait of Hormuz. Two trade sources reported that an Indian refiner bought 2 million...

Oil Refineries

Quotes-Russians Nabiullina, Zabotkin, and Zabotkin discuss the key rate, fuel shortages and war in Iran

Elvira Nabiullina, the Russian Central Bank Governor and Alexei Zabotkin, her deputy, addressed a Friday press conference after the central banks cut its key interest rate by 25 basis point to 14.25%. Nabiullina spoke in Russian and Zabotkin in English. The following quotes were translated into English by. NABIULLINA ON RATE DECISION "...The positions of the participants in the discussion on the important rate decision differed along 3 main lines. First, the first thing to consider is the stability of inflation rates in recent months. The second item is an assessment of inflationary factors which have emerged since the last...

Crude Oil

Oil slips again as US, Iran sign peace deal

Early trading on Thursday saw oil prices fall after the U.S. signed an interim deal with Iran that would end the Iran War, reopen Strait of Hormuz, and waive U.S. sanction s on Tehran's crude, ending the largest energy supply disruption ever. Brent crude futures fell 89 cents or 1.12% to $78.66 per barrel at 0005 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate dropped 98 cents or 1.28% to $75.81 per barrel. The benchmarks have resumed their fall, reversing the gains made on Wednesday after U.S. president Donald Trump stated that he would resume his bombing campaigns if Iran's leaders "don't behave"....

Oil & Gas

Trump claims that 'nobody attacked Iran girls school on purpose'

U.S. president Donald?Trump stated on Wednesday that a?girls' school in Iran was not attacked deliberately in February. He cited?an investigation of the incident. First reported that an initial internal U.S. Military investigation indicated U.S. Forces were most likely responsible for the deadly strike in Minab, southern Iran. Since then, the Pentagon has elevated its investigation but hasn't acknowledged any preliminary results. According to Iranian officials, the strike on February 28th, the first day in the conflict, resulted in the deaths of more than?175 teachers and children. Trump said, "That is under investigation" at a press event held on the sidelines...

Crude Oil

Oil prices drop as investors consider a deal to end the Iran War, but uncertainty remains about Hormuz

The oil prices fell on Wednesday as investors evaluated the?U.S. - Iran peace deal. However, uncertainty about?the full resumption?of shipping through the?Strait?of Hormuz's?limited further drops. Brent crude futures fell 16 cents or 0.2% to $78.80 per barrel at 0340 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate dropped 25 cents or 0.3% to $75.80 per barrel. On Tuesday, both benchmarks fell 5% in a second session straight to reach their lowest levels in three months on the hope that an agreement between the U.S. and Iran would allow oil to flow through Strait. "Markets have stripped out the embedded geopolitical risks premium in...

Crude Oil

Investors weigh the impact of Iran's war ending and Hormuz reopening on oil prices as they stabilize.

Investors questioned whether the Iran War will end and the Strait of Hormuz will reopen. Brent crude futures rose 47 cents (0.6%), to $79.43 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was up 48 cents (0.6%), to $76.53 per barrel as of 0038 GMT. The benchmarks for both fell 5% on Tuesday, a second consecutive session. They reached three-month lows in hopes that a U.S. Iran deal would allow oil to flow through the Strait. Oil markets fell on the expectation that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen after the?peace accord, but traders held back further sales pending more details, said...

Oil & Gas Refining

Russian exports of seaborne oil products down 15% m/m from June 1-15, according to data sources

According to LSEG and market sources, Russia's seaborne exports of oil products fell 15% a month on a monthly basis to about 3.3 mt in the first 15 days of June. This was due to?unplanned maintenance?following repeated ukranian drone attacks. Shipping data shows that the number of diesel loadings at the Baltic port Primorsk - Russia's main outlet for ultra-low sulphur fuel (ULSD) – dropped by 18% to 520,000 tonnes in the first half of June compared with the same period last year. Ukraine has intensified drone strikes on Russia's energy infrastructure, with the number of oil refining facilities targeted...

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...

Energy Markets

Oil prices rise more than $1 after traders become uneasy over the escalation of US-Iran tensions

The oil prices rose on Thursday after Iran declared that the Strait of Hormuz was a 'critical energy chokepoint' and 'closed it if necessary. This came as the U.S. launched more strikes against Iran, while President Donald Trump threatened to launch even more attacks in the event of a failed peace agreement. Brent futures were up $1.48 or 1.59% to $94.58 per barrel at 0243 GMT. Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI), which is a blend of WTI and Brent, was up $1.71 or 1.90% to $91.74. U.S. crude oil futures rose by more than $3 in the early...

Oil & Gas

Energy secretary: Companies will add 40 million barrels to US SPR when the Iran war ends.

After the war in Iran, companies that have borrowed oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve will receive an 'extra 40 mln barrels - of crude as premiums. Fuel prices have risen since the U.S. and Israel war against Iran began in early February. Wright, however, said that he was not concerned about low stock levels at?the SPR. Wright told Fox Business's "Varney & Company," "I am not concerned because we are not'selling' any barrels of crude oil. We're supplying oil 'to the market 'in the short-term when it is needed, and we trade those barrels." "For every barrel we...

Refined Products

Data shows that Iranian oil exports have fallen to their lowest level in six-years.

According to shipping data, and analysts, Iranian crude oil exports and condensate fell to their lowest levels?in six years?in?May. They were well below 300,000. barrels per day. This was mainly because of the U.S. Naval Blockade. The U.S. started enforcing its blockade in April, which choked Iranian exports. This is because the oil market has been facing a shortage of supply due to the Iranian closure of the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off exports from Saudi Arabia. Vortexa data indicates that Iran's exports in May averaged around 209,000 bpd, down sharply from the 1.34 million in April and almost 1.9...

Refined Products

Sources say that South Korea's jet fuel exports returned to pre-war levels in May.

Analysts and trade sources reported that South Korea's refiners increased jet fuel exports to pre-Iran War levels in May, helped by an increase in?crude oil imports, and encouraged by the robust margins of refining. The rebound of?one of Asia’s top fuel exporters as seen in a series of spot cargo sales has eased concerns about a tight supply, and helped to cool down prices in the area. In the last two weeks, spot premiums on aviation fuel fell by 50% to about $2 per barrel. This compares to a record-high of more than 20 dollars in March. Data from Kpler...