Will US Diesel Inventories Decline to Record Low?
U.S. diesel inventories slipped by 2.1 million barrels in the latest weekly report, pushing total stocks to roughly 5.5 million barrels, the lowest level in over a decade. Refinery utilization climbed to 94%, indicating strong production capacity that is unable to fully offset the drawdown. Exports remained robust while imports declined, tightening the domestic supply balance. Analysts warn that continued inventory erosion could lift diesel prices and strain freight costs.
From the Hype of Destruction to the Hype of Ceasefire
Oil prices plunged about 14% after President Trump posted that the United States would pause bombing Iran for two weeks, contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz for safe shipping. Iran accepted the conditional ceasefire, and diplomatic talks are...
Hormuz Between Trump and Iranian IRGC (A Podcast)
The U.S. International Development Finance Corp. doubled its reinsurance guarantees for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to $40 billion, adding major insurers such as AIG and Berkshire Hathaway. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump warned Iran with a 48‑hour deadline to...
US Diesel and Jet Fuel Shortages Looming in 2026? Will the Government Ban Exports?
U.S. diesel and jet fuel inventories have slipped sharply, with diesel down about 5 million barrels and jet fuel off 4 million barrels compared with the previous month. Refinery utilization is hovering near 92%, squeezing supply even as demand from trucking and...
The Hormuz Panic Spiral: How Market Fear and Policy Chaos Are Fueling Energy Shortages
Recent attempts by the IEA and the United States to flood the market with strategic petroleum reserves—totaling roughly 572 million barrels—failed to curb soaring oil prices. Even temporary waivers that allowed the sale of sanctioned Russian and Iranian crude did not...
US Weekly Oil Data
The latest US weekly oil report shows crude inventories rising by 3.2 million barrels, while exports climbed to 4.1 million barrels per day. Imports slipped 0.5 million barrels, marking the lowest level since 2022. Refinery utilization surged to 92%, approaching...
The SPR Release: Why Did Oil Prices Increase? (Video)
Oil prices rose despite the International Energy Agency and U.S. government announcing a large Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) release. Analysts say the release was too modest to offset ongoing supply constraints from OPEC+ cuts and heightened geopolitical risk in the...
From Leverage to Dependence: Russia's Gas Sector Four Years After the Invasion
Four years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moscow’s gas strategy has shifted from dominating Europe to seeking new markets amid a severe EU storage shortfall. The EU’s gas inventories sit at just 30 % of capacity, prompting a short‑term reconsideration of...
(Public- No Paywall) Oil Prices Could Rise to Unprecedented Levels- Anas Alhajji On Iran War Economics
Anas Alhajji warns that the escalating Iran war could push oil prices to unprecedented levels, potentially driving Brent above $120 per barrel. He cites a likely sharp reduction in Iranian output and limited OPEC spare capacity as key supply constraints....
700 Cargoes, $40 Billion, and the Russian Exit Threat: How the Hormuz Shock Shattered Europe’s Energy Calculus
The sudden closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted roughly 700 oil cargoes, representing about $40 billion in trade, and exposed the vulnerability of Europe’s post‑2022 energy strategy. Simultaneously, Russia warned it could exit the European market before any formal ban,...
Global LNG Crisis: Top Stocks to Watch as Hormuz Remains Blocked & Qatar’s LNG Production Is Halted.
The Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, choking a key route for Middle‑East gas shipments, while Qatar has temporarily halted its LNG production, tightening global supply. Spot LNG prices have spiked above $30 per million British thermal units, prompting buyers to...
Back to Normal? For How Long?
The latest Energy Information Administration data show U.S. crude inventories increasing by 3.2 million barrels in March, while exports rose to 5.1 million barrels, approaching record levels. Imports declined by 1.8 million barrels, indicating stronger domestic demand. Refinery utilization climbed...
Qatar’s LNG Crisis: The Massive Geopolitical Risk Premium—And How You Can Profit From It
Qatar, the world’s largest LNG exporter, faces a supply crunch as regional geopolitical tensions and export‑capacity constraints tighten the market. The disruption has injected a hefty risk premium into spot and forward LNG prices, pushing contracts up 15‑20% year‑over‑year. Buyers...
Iran Conflict Triggers Tangible Oil & Gas Supply Losses – Production Down, Exports Stranded (Short Video)
The outbreak of armed conflict in Iran has immediately curtailed the country’s oil and gas output, with crude production dropping roughly 15% and gas processing operating at about half capacity. Export pipelines and terminal facilities have been forced to suspend...
Khamenei Eliminated — Hormuz Strait Semi-Shut — All Eyes on OPEC+ V8 Decision This Sunday
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been eliminated, sparking a regional power vacuum and heightened political uncertainty. The Strait of Hormuz is operating at reduced capacity, causing semi‑shutdown conditions that disrupt global oil shipments. Market participants are closely watching...
Attack on Iran and Iran's Retaliation (Update 2)
Iran has evacuated all large oil tankers from the Persian Gulf, a maneuver that lifted its crude exports to the strongest levels seen since 2017. The clearance follows a recent attack on Iranian interests, which Tehran frames as a catalyst...
Monster 16 Mb Build Rocks EIA Data – But Market Shrugs It Off Amid Iran War Drums & Near Record...
The U.S. Energy Information Administration released data showing a massive 16 million‑barrel‑per‑day increase in crude output, the largest build in years. Despite the headline‑grabbing surge, equity and commodity markets barely moved, as traders remain fixated on escalating Iran‑Israel tensions. Simultaneously, the...
Storm-Powered Mega Draw: U.S. Crude Inventories Plunge 9 Million Barrels – Biggest in 5 Months!
The episode breaks down the sudden 9‑million‑barrel drop in U.S. crude inventories—the steepest decline in five months—driven by a powerful storm that disrupted refinery operations and boosted demand for heating fuel. Analysts explain how the draw reshapes the supply‑demand balance,...
Lingering Storm Impact Still Visible in Latest US Weekly Oil Figures
The episode examines the latest U.S. weekly oil inventory data, highlighting how the lingering effects of a recent storm continue to distort supply figures. Analysts discuss the discrepancy between reported crude builds and actual market conditions, noting that refinery outages...
US Weekly Oil Data
The episode breaks down the latest U.S. weekly oil production and inventory figures, highlighting recent shifts in crude output, refinery utilization, and stockpile levels. It explains how these data points are influencing price movements and market sentiment, especially in the...
No Glut in Sight: Why Oil Bears Remain Mistaken—Despite OPEC+ V8 Easing the Taps in April
The episode explains that recent oil price gains are driven primarily by sharp production cuts in the United States and Mexico caused by an unusually harsh winter, rather than by OPEC+ policy changes. Geopolitical tension, including rumors of a possible...
Inventories Before and During the Storm: A Reliable Predictor of… Nothing
The episode examines U.S. oil inventory data, highlighting that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) has accumulated more barrels since early 2025 than the increase in domestic crude production. This discrepancy undermines claims of a true global oil surplus, as much...
Iraq’s January Oil Exports Surge: A Short Explanation.
The episode examines recent Kpler data showing Iraq’s seaborne crude oil exports jumping to an average of 3.457 million barrels per day in January, a rise of roughly 208 kb/d from December. It notes that pipeline shipments to Turkey have stayed steady...
Gasoline Inventories Rise to Highest Level Since 2020
The episode examines the recent surge in U.S. gasoline inventories, which have climbed to their highest level since 2020, and explores the factors driving this buildup, including weaker demand, refinery outages, and seasonal storage patterns. Analysts discuss how the inventory...
Annual Review of EU’s Gas Market in 2025 and the Outlook for 2026
The episode reviews the EU gas market in 2025, noting a modest 1.2% demand rebound after two years of decline and a sharp increase in LNG imports that offset a 15 bcm loss of Russian pipeline gas following the end of...
Are the Attacks on Kazakhstan’s Petroleum Sector Potentially Linked to Retaliation Against Trump’s Venezuela Strategy?
In this episode, A.F. Alhajji examines a sudden decline in OPEC+ oil output, focusing on recent attacks on Kazakhstan’s petroleum infrastructure and their possible connection to U.S. policy toward Venezuela under former President Trump. He argues that the disruptions may...
The Gasoline Build Paradox: Weather and Shale Vs. Economic Growth?
The episode explores the paradox of rising gasoline consumption despite advances in shale production and the influence of weather patterns on fuel demand. It examines how economic growth, seasonal temperature shifts, and the resilience of the oil market interact to...
Kazakhstan, Venezuela, and Iran: Key Wildcards Driving Oil Price Volatility
The episode examines three emerging wildcards that could destabilize oil markets: a sharp decline in Kazakhstan’s crude exports due to Ukrainian drone attacks and weather‑related production cuts, political and operational uncertainties in Venezuela, and renewed sanctions and geopolitical tension surrounding...
Annual Review of the Global LNG Market in 2025 and Outlook for 2026
The 2025 global LNG market was driven by strong European demand as the region reduced reliance on Russian pipeline gas and rapid import growth in the MENA region, especially Egypt, while Asian demand, notably China, softened due to higher domestic...