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Oil & Gas

Oil & Gas

After the disruption of Hormuz, India looks to Latin American and African oil

Data from trade sources shows that Indian refiners have turned to imports of?lubricants from Latin America and Africa, after Middle East supplies were disrupted by the Israeli-U.S. War on Iran. The world's third largest oil importer and user bought the majority of its crude oil from the Middle East before the war began at the end February. Kpler's preliminary data shows that Indian refiners increased their imports of Venezuelan oil in April and may to cover the shortfall. They also continued to purchase Russian oil. India stopped buying oil from Iraq last month as the exports had been halted. It...

Oil & Gas

Source: Qatari team to negotiate in Tehran with Iran to end the war.

Sources with knowledge of this matter said that a Qatari team was in Tehran Friday to "try to secure a deal" to end the "war" with Iran and to resolve outstanding issues. Doha had previously acted as a mediator for the Gaza War and other international conflicts, but it has now backed away from a role of mediation in the Iran War after being attacked by Iranian drones and missiles in the most recent conflict. The source added that "a Qatari team of negotiators is in Tehran this Friday" and that they had traveled in coordination with the United States....

Oil & Gas

SpaceX IPO filing lays bare its losses and Musk's control as it stakes its future on AI

SpaceX released its IPO on Wednesday. It revealed to investors how much Elon Musk loses on?artificial Intelligence, while betting on the future of the company by transforming it into a rocket maker that is a powerhouse in AI. SpaceX's future depends on dominating markets and technologies that don't yet exist, from AI data centers to Mars missions. Musk's track record of turning Tesla into the world's most valuable automaker, developing the first reusable rocket and the largest satellite network and making it the most valuable company in the industry is enough for many to justify investing. Musk has tightened his...

Oil & Gas

Chairman of Bharat Petroleum India says that Bharat Petroleum reviews oil imports every day and buys more on the spot amid Iran War.

Sanjay Khanna, the chairman of India's Bharat Oil Corp. said that it is recalibrating its crude import strategy nearly daily and increasing?spot purchase after the U.S./Israeli conflict in Middle East disrupted Middle East supply. India, which is the third largest?oil?importer and?consumer in the world, has been affected by the rising crude prices as well as supply disruptions after the Strait of Hormuz was closed. South Asian nation raised retail petrol and diesel prices twice in one week. The refiner planned to purchase about 55% of its crude requirements for 2026/27 via annual contracts, mostly from Middle Eastern producers. Khanna stated...

Oil & Gas

Prices of oil rise amid supply concerns as fragile US-Iran negotiations continue

Prices of oil rose by nearly 1% on Tuesday as the talks to end U.S. - Israel's?war on Iran? appeared fragile. Tehran's response?to a Washington proposal highlighted stark differences which have kept supply concerns alive. Brent crude futures rose 86 cents or 0.8% to $105.07 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was up 99 cents or 1% at $99.06 as of 0411 GMT. Both benchmarks rose by nearly 2.8% Monday. U.S. president Donald Trump said on Monday that the ceasefire agreement with Iran is "on life support." He cited disagreements on several demands such as the cessation?of?hostilities across all fronts,...

Oil & Gas

The iron grip of Saudi oil prince faces ultimate test after UAE's shocking OPEC withdrawal

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman is now facing a new OPEC challenge on top of 'the largest disruption in global oil supply ever. Saudi Arabia, along with other oil-producing countries in the group, are now unable to use the spare capacity that is usually used during times of crisis due to the Iran war. The sudden departure this week of OPEC’s fourth largest producer last year, United?Arab?Emirates,?taking along with it spare capacity that is second only to the Kingdom's, presents a formidable challenge for the first Saudi royal oil minister whose approach has shifted away from painstaking diplomatic...

Oil & Gas

Official: UAE to review multilateral ties following OPEC's exit, but does not expect more departures

A UAE official said on Wednesday that the United Arab Emirates was reevaluating its role and contribution?across multilateral organizations but it is not considering further withdrawals 'at this time. The Emirati official who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the country was reviewing its membership in all multilateral organizations. After its unexpected decision to leave the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) and OPEC+?effective May 1, Abu Dhabi's statement has fueled speculation that it could also exit other regional organizations, such as the Arab League or the Gulf Cooperation Council. The UAE's exit from OPEC, as one of its...

Oil Storage

South Korea claims to have secured 273 million barrels of crude oil via routes outside Strait of Hormuz

South Korea has purchased 273 million barrels of crude oil from the Middle East and Kazakhstan by the end of this year. Supplies are being routed outside of the Strait of Hormuz. Kang, who was visiting as a presidential special envoy in Kazakhstan, Oman and Saudi Arabia over the last week, said that Asia's fourth largest economy had also acquired 2.1 million tons of naphtha during the same time period. Kang stated that "in particular, the crude and naphtha obtained this time would be sourced via alternative supply routes, unrelated to the closure of the Strait?Hormuz. This will make a...

Oil & Gas

IMF cuts growth forecasts for Middle East exporters as Gulf exporters suffer from the impact of war

International Monetary Fund announced on Tuesday that the Middle East and North Africa will 'experience a sharply lower growth rate this year due to the oil exporting countries dealing with the 'fallout' of the Iran War. IMF's World Economic Outlook's forecast for the region's real growth in GDP was cut to just 1.1%, which is 2.8 percentage points below its original January projection. In 2027, growth is projected to return to 4,8%. IMF estimates assume that energy production and transportation will be normalised in the next few months. It noted that the assumption could need to be revised, if the...

Oil & Gas

Netanyahu: Israel wants peace talks to begin with Lebanon as soon as possible

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said on Thursday that he had 'instructed Israel to start 'peace -talks' with Lebanon which would include disarming Hezbollah. In a statement, Netanyahu said: "In view of Lebanon's repeated request to begin direct negotiations with Israel as soon as possible." The negotiations will be centered on disarming Hezbollah, and establishing peaceful relations between Israel & Lebanon. The?Lebanese Government did not respond immediately to Netanyahu's comments. Aoun had said, an hour before Netanyahu made his?statement: "The only way to resolve the situation in Lebanon would be to reach a ceasefire, then to have direct negotiations...

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

Russell: The ceasefire in Iran is a sign of hope, but the physical oil market will remain stressed.

The physical oil market is still in a state of turmoil despite a planned two-week stopfire between Iran and the United States. Brent crude oil contracts plunged as much as 16% in the early Asian trade on Wednesday, after finishing at $109.27 on Monday. The sharp drop in prices reflects relief that President Donald Trump's alarming threats against Iran civilisation to be wiped out have been postponed. This also reflects the optimism that crude, refined products and liquefied gas (LNG), may be able to resume and continue through the Strait of Hormuz if negotiations are successful. There is a rule...

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels

Hengli, China's silk-to-petrochemicals empire, faces the chill of US sanctions

Hengli Group has been thrust in the middle of a geopolitical struggle. The group, which was built over 30 years by a husband and wife team from a failed textile mill to a Fortune Global 500 company and one of China’s largest private oil refiners is now a Fortune Global 500 firm. The United States imposed sanctions on its Hengli Petrochemical unit, which operates a 400,000 barrel per day refinery in Dalian (northeast China), for allegedly buying Iranian oil. Hengli, along with about 40 other shipping?firms? and vessels? were blacklisted as Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met and Washington was...

Fossil Fuels

SpaceX's IPO: The Road to Success

Elon Musk filed SpaceX's hotly anticipated U.S. Initial Public Offering?on Wednesday. This move has transformed space exploration from being a speculative endeavor to a mainstream investing theme. Here's a timeline of SpaceX’s journey towards its blockbuster IPO. Elon Musk founded SpaceX in March 2002 using the money he earned from selling PayPal. SpaceX launched its first rocket in March 2006, but it failed. September 2008 - Falcon 1 was launched successfully by SpaceX for the first launch and became the world's first liquid-fuel rocket. SpaceX signed its first major contract in December 2008 with NASA for the transportation of cargo...

Fossil Fuels

Prices of oil rise amid supply concerns as fragile US-Iran negotiations continue

The oil prices increased in the early Asian trading on Tuesday as negotiations to end the "war" between the United States of America and Iran appeared 'fragile.' Tehran’s response to the U.S. proposal highlighted stark differences which kept supply concerns alive. Brent crude futures rose 30 cents or 0.29% to $104.51 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was up 31 cents or 0.32% to $98.38 at 00:02 GMT. Both benchmarks rose by nearly 2.8% Monday. U.S. president Donald Trump stated on Monday that the Iranian ceasefire was "on life support." He cited disagreements on several demands such as the cessation...

Crude Oil

Refined Products

Refined Products

Chairman of India's BPCL says that the company reviews its oil imports every day and buys more on the spot amid Iran War.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation, India's state refiner. Sanjay Khanna, the chairman of Bharat Petroleum?Corp. said on Tuesday that it is recalibrating their crude import strategy nearly daily and ramping up its spot purchases following the U.S./Israeli conflict against Iran which disrupted Middle East supplies. India, which is the third-largest oil importer and consumer in the world, has been affected by the rising prices of crude and the disruption of supply following the closing of the Strait of Hormuz. South Asian nation raised retail petrol and diesel prices twice in one week. BPCL planned to procure about 55% its crude requirements?for 2026/27...

Refined Products

Russell: Refined fuel prices in Asia are declining, but supply is still stressed.

The price of refined fuels has fallen sharply, in line with the declines seen in crude oil after the tentative ceasefire agreement between the United States & Iran. However, the prices remain at levels that indicate a shortage. The prices of gasoil and jet fuel in Singapore, the Asian trading center, all dropped by?double digits on Wednesday amid relief from the market that the 'deal' may lead to the reopening of Strait of Hormuz. The 'ceasefire' and commitment to peace talks announced by the United States in separate announcements looks already to be on its way out. Tehran said it...

Refined Products

US and Iran agree on two-week ceasefire brokered through Pakistan

The United States, Iran and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire for two weeks, which was mediated by Pakistan. This could potentially end a six-week war that has claimed thousands of lives, spread throughout the Middle East, and disrupted the world's supply of energy. Trump announced the deal late Tuesday night, only?two hours after a deadline that he set for Iran:?opening the Strait of Hormuz blockade or face destruction of their "whole civilization". Shehbaz sharif, the Pakistani prime minister, said he invited Iranian and U.S. delegates to meet at Islamabad this Friday. Trump said that the deal was contingent on Iran...

Refined Products

Starmer, UK's Starmer, heads to the Gulf for talks on reopening Strait of Hormuz

His office announced that British Prime Minister Keir starmer would 'travel to the Gulf tomorrow to 'hold talks with regional leaders to...?ensure that the Strait of Hormuz is permanently opened after a U.S. Iran ceasefire. Starmer, in a press release, said: "I welcome the overnight ceasefire agreement which will bring relief to the area?and world." "Together, with our partners, we must do everything possible to support and sustain the 'ceasefire. We need to turn it into an agreement that will last and reopen the Strait of Hormuz." Starmer, who has been heavily criticized by U.S. president Donald Trump for not'supporting...

Refined Products

Russell: The key to a boost in crude oil production from OPEC+ is the duration of the disruption caused by Hormuz.

OPEC+'s decision to increase crude oil production by 206,000 barrels a day (bpd), starting in April, is likely?the most unimportant decision that the group has taken during its nearly decade-long existence. Addition of 0.2% to global oil demand in a month is nothing more than a symbol in light of the escalating conflict in the Middle East that is already causing serious disruptions in supply. There was not much the 'eight members' of OPEC+ who are voluntarily cutting production could have done if they had met on Sunday in order to reassure the market that the supply would be secure....

Refined Products

Russell: China is changing its crude oil purchases in response to the price rally.

China's role in setting the floor and ceiling prices for crude oil is one of the less discussed dynamics of the global market. The world's biggest crude?importer is known to buy excess oil and build up inventories when the refiners or government consider prices to be low. They also pull back imports when they feel that prices are rising too quickly. Analysts and journalists covering the crude oil market are not aware of the changes in imports because they occur with a delay of several months. There are early signs, however, that China will shift its imports in favor of...

Refined Products

S-Oil, South Korea's oil company, reports a Q4 profit surge and says that Q1 refining profits will remain robust

S-Oil, a South Korean oil company, announced on Monday that it had recorded a 91% increase in its fourth-quarter operating profits. It expects the first-quarter refinery margins to be robust due to the steady demand and disruptions of supply as well as a planned U.S. refining plant closure. According to market expectations, the refinery, which is owned 63% by Saudi Aramco reported an operating profit for the quarter of 424 billion won ($293 millions). The operating profit of its refining division increased by 55%, to 225.3 billion won. It said that the refining margin of gasoline from Dubai crude had...

Refined Products

Sources say that Midad, a Saudi company, is among the frontrunners for Lukoil to sell its global assets.

Three people with knowledge of the matter claim that Saudi Arabia's?Midad Energy?is one of the top contenders for the international assets of Russian?oil giant?Lukoil, taking advantage deep political ties between Moscow and Washington. Sources have confirmed that the assets, which are valued at around $22 billion, include oilfields, refineries, and thousands of fuel station worldwide. About a dozen investors have made bids for these assets, including U.S. major oil companies Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and private equity firm Carlyle. Lukoil wants to sell off its foreign operations, which were crippled by the U.S. sanctions that were imposed on October to pressure...

Refined Products

OPEC oil production slips in November despite an agreed-uplift, survey finds

A survey on Thursday found that OPEC oil production fell in November despite an OPEC+ deal to increase production in the month due to unavailability in some members. This brought the supply of the group even further below their target. According to the survey, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) pumped 28,40 million barrels of oil per day in October, a decrease of 30,000 barrels per days from the total for October. Nigeria and Iraq recorded the largest declines. OPEC+ - a grouping of OPEC, Russia and its allies - has slowed down the rate of monthly production...

Refined Products

Kpler data indicates that India's November Russian crude oil imports are set to reach a five-month high.

India's oil exports to Russia are expected to reach their highest level for five months in November, according to preliminary data from Kpler, as refiners scrambled to secure barrels before a U.S. date to stop transactions with Russian oil producers sanctioned by the United States. India, which is the third largest oil importer in the world, was the biggest purchaser of discounted Russian crude shipped by sea after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. According to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit South Asia next month. His last visit was in December of 2021, just a few months after...

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...