US-EU Clean Freight Crests $100/T for First Time
Refined product shipments on medium‑range tankers from the US Gulf to Europe broke the $100 per tonne barrier for the first time in nearly two decades, reaching $108.08/t on a Worldscale 545 voyage. The surge is linked to Iran's de‑facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz following recent US‑Israeli strikes, eclipsing the previous peak set after the Ukraine‑driven Russian diesel bans. Traders are now hiring MR vessels for atypical routes, such as to South Africa, while Jones Act waivers are tightening the US Gulf spot‑tonnage pool and further lifting rates.
Shell, Trafi, Marathon Top SPR Release Buyers
Shell Trading secured the largest share of the first Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) release, receiving 16.2 million barrels, followed by Trafigura (8.86 mn bl) and Marathon Petroleum (7.7 mn bl). The U.S. Department of Energy is delivering 45.2 million barrels of sweet and sour crude from...
Iran Vows to Hit Oil Sites if US Strikes Power Plants
Iran warned it will destroy oil facilities and critical infrastructure across the Middle East if the United States strikes its power plants, following President Donald Trump's ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by March 23. The parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said...
Iran Says Ready to Discuss Hormuz Passage with Japan
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Kyodo News that Tehran will discuss safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz with Japan and any nation that has not attacked Iran. He emphasized the strait remains open for non‑enemy vessels, while it...
Gulf Producers Urge US to Tackle Hormuz Closure Head-On
Gulf oil producers are urging the United States to confront the Hormuz blockage directly, warning that temporary "oil‑on‑water" licences aid Iran while constraining regional exporters. They cite roughly 140 million barrels of Iranian crude stranded at sea and argue that without...
US LNG Sector Sees Risks From Surge in Prices
The war in Iran and attacks on Qatar's Ras Laffan terminal have driven European spot LNG prices above $20 per million British thermal units, more than double pre‑conflict levels. This price surge fuels concerns that volatility could erode buyer confidence...
Argentina's LPG Exports to India More than Double
Argentina exported 50,000 metric tonnes of LPG to India in the first quarter of 2026, more than double the 22,000 tonnes shipped to the country in all of 2025. The surge reflects Argentina’s steady rise in LPG output, which reached...
Iraq Advises Foreign Firms to Curb Output
Iraq has instructed international oil companies operating in the country to curb output, invoking force majeure retroactively to March 3 because export routes through Basrah are effectively blocked. The loss of roughly 3.4 million barrels per day of export capacity follows a...
Texas Grid Rethinks Rules as Data Centers Surge
Texas grid operator ERCOT is overhauling its interconnection process to cope with a surge of data‑center, crypto‑mining and other large‑load projects that total over 200 GW of pending requests. The new "Batch Zero" framework groups all projects of 75 MW or larger...
US Senate Seeks Reporting of Weekly Ferts Sales Data
The US Senate introduced the bipartisan Fertilizer Transparency Act of 2026, requiring nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer manufacturers and wholesalers to report weekly prices and quantities to the USDA for public disclosure. The legislation, sponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar and...
US-Iran War: Latest News
The Argus roundup highlights how the escalating US‑Iran conflict is reshaping energy markets. The International Energy Agency is boosting oil stock releases, while a temporary Jones Act waiver is prompting US crude cargoes to sail under foreign flags. WTI premiums...
US Jones Act Waiver May Alter PX Trade Flows
The United States has issued a 60‑day waiver of the Jones Act, temporarily eliminating the requirement to use U.S.-flagged vessels for domestic shipping. This regulatory shift coincides with a sharp rise in para‑xylene (PX) prices following the Iran‑Israel conflict, prompting...
Brazil's MGO Demand Slumps Due to Export Tax
Brazil imposed a 50% tax on diesel and marine gasoil (MGO) exports on 12 March, causing demand in Brazilian ports to collapse. Suppliers report "non‑existent" MGO volumes as buyers shift to very‑low‑sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO). Even domestically flagged vessels now prefer...
N Dakota Perks up on Widening Brent-WTI Spread
North Dakota regulators are watching a rapidly widening Brent‑WTI price spread, now $11.92 per barrel, after it nearly doubled since early March. State oil output slipped to 1.16 million barrels per day in January, down 13,000 b/d year‑over‑year, as cold weather and...
UK May Extend Heating Oil Subsidy to LPG Fuel
The UK government is considering extending its £50 million heating‑oil subsidy to include liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), giving local authorities discretion to apply the aid. The scheme, which starts on 1 April, allocates £27 mn to England, £17 mn to Northern Ireland, £4.6 mn to...
UK Steel Decoilers Bracing for 50pc Quota Cut
The UK Department for Business and Trade is poised to slash tariff‑rate quotas for steel imports by up to 50%, targeting hot‑rolled coil (HRC) and hot‑dip galvanized (HDG) products. Argus estimates the cuts would create annual shortfalls of roughly 488,000 t...
Saudi Maaden Looks to Yanbu for Phosphates Exports
Saudi Arabian phosphate producer Maaden will restart exports through the Red Sea port of Yanbu, shifting from its traditional Ras Al‑Khair gateway. The move circumvents the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blocked since late February. Maaden plans to ship...
EU Hints at 'Soft Price Cap' For the ETS Before 3Q
EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra signaled a soft price cap for the EU Emissions Trading System could be introduced before the third quarter, ahead of the scheduled ETS review in July. The Commission will first tackle the market stability reserve...
Egypt’s NCIC Sells SSP/SOP Higher in Tender
Egyptian fertilizer producer NCIC announced the award of its latest tender, selling the full 25,000 t of single superphosphate (SSP) at $335 per tonne FOB and 1,200 t of sulphate of potash (SOP) at $620‑630 per tonne FOB. The SSP, containing 20.8%...
Attacks on UAE Energy Assets Increase as War Broadens
Iran and its proxies have intensified drone and missile strikes on UAE energy infrastructure, targeting both downstream storage hubs and upstream production sites. A fire at Fujairah port halted oil loading and forced berths to close, while a drone hit...
South Korea Caps Fuel Exports to Safeguard Supply
South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy imposed mandatory caps on refined fuel exports, limiting shipments to 100 % of the monthly 2025 volumes and introducing wholesale price ceilings for gasoline, diesel and kerosene. The measures, effective 13 March, aim to...
US Picks 60 Trade Partners for Tariff Action
The U.S. Trade Representative announced investigations into 59 countries and the EU, selecting a total of 60 major trading partners for new import taxes under Section 301. The tariffs aim to block goods made with forced labor, replacing the 15%+ emergency...
Argentina's Inflation Accelerates in Feb
Argentina’s consumer price index jumped to a 33.1% annual rate in February, up from 32.4% in January. The rise marks a continuation of the post‑low inflation trend that began after a cyclical dip to 31.3% in October. Core sectors such...
US Using Swaps to Enable SPR Refill Plan: Wright
President Donald Trump’s administration plans to use commodity swaps to offset a 172 million‑barrel emergency drawdown from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, aiming to add over 200 million barrels back within a year at no cost to taxpayers. The swaps would exploit the...
Iran War Flips Brazil Diesel vs Biodiesel Prices
The outbreak of the Iran war has pushed global oil‑derivative prices higher, causing imported 10 ppm (S10) diesel in Brazil to trade above biodiesel for the first time since October 2023. On 6 March, S10 diesel at Paranaguá reached R5.173 /m³, surpassing the R4.656 /m³...
European Jet Hits All-Time High, Cracks over $100/Bl
European jet fuel reached an all‑time high of $1,646.25 per tonne on 12 March, with premiums soaring to $109.72 per barrel over Brent crude and $518.5 per tonne over ICE gasoil. The price surge follows the war in the Middle East,...
Refiners Stick to Maintenance Despite Crack Surge
European refiners are maintaining their spring turnaround schedules despite a sharp surge in crack spreads triggered by the US‑Iran war’s disruption of Strait of Hormuz flows. Jet crack spreads peaked at $109.19 per barrel and diesel cracks at $63.92 per...
Italy to Ask for Immediate EU ETS Suspension
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that Italy will request an immediate suspension of the EU Emissions Trading System for fossil‑fuel‑fired power generators, arguing the scheme adds roughly €30/MWh, or about a quarter of household electricity costs. The move is...
Tanks Damaged in Omani Port Attack: Sources
Storage tanks at Oman’s Salalah port were heavily damaged by a bomb attack, igniting fires and prompting staff evacuations. The port, a key transshipment hub, recently expanded capacity to 6.5 million TEU across six berths. The strike is part of a...
Opec Keeps Forecasts Unchanged Despite Supply Outages
OPEC’s latest Monthly Oil Market Report leaves its global supply, demand and economic forecasts unchanged despite major supply disruptions in the Middle East Gulf following the US‑Iran conflict. The organization notes that geopolitical developments warrant close monitoring, but any impact...
Mideast Naphtha Supply Tightens as Disruptions Mount
Mideast Gulf naphtha supplies are tightening after Kuwait's KPC and Bahrain's Bapco Energies announced force majeure, removing roughly 560,000 t/month and 167,000 t/month respectively. Additional shipment delays from ADNOC and cargo cancellations by QatarEnergy, alongside drone attacks on Ras Laffan and Duqm,...
Ice Brent Volatility Passing Onto Ice Gasoil
Ice gasoil futures swung wildly on 9 March, peaking at $1,381 /t before closing at $1,116 /t, the highest level since June 2022. The move mirrored a surge in Ice Brent crude, which touched $119.50 /bl and settled above $100 /bl – the first breach since...
Vietnam Plans Oil Tax Cut on Escalating US–Iran War
Vietnam's finance ministry announced a proposal to cut the most‑favoured‑nation (MFN) import tariff on selected petroleum products to 0 % effective until 30 April 2026. The move aims to broaden the supplier base and secure crude volumes as the US‑Iran war has disrupted...
Adnoc Adjusts Flows, Deliveries to Maintain Supplies
Abu Dhabi’s state‑owned oil giant Adnoc announced it has activated contingency protocols to keep crude flowing despite the Iran‑US‑Israel conflict disrupting tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The company is adjusting offshore production, leveraging the 1.5 million b/d ADCOP pipeline that...
Kuwait Cuts Crude Output on Hormuz Disruption: Update
Kuwait’s state‑owned oil company KPC announced a precautionary cut to crude output and refinery runs after the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut down oil exports amid escalating conflict between the US, Israel and Iran. The firm issued a force majeure...
Kuwait Cuts Crude Output After Hormuz Disruption
Kuwait's state‑owned oil company KPC announced a precautionary cut to crude production and refinery runs after the Strait of Hormuz became effectively closed following U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran. In February, Kuwait produced 2.59 million barrels per day, with...
US Recycled Plastics Hold Steady Amid Iran War
US recycled plastics markets stayed largely flat this week despite the outbreak of war in the Middle East, as participants adopt a cautious stance amid feedstock and shipping uncertainty. Recycled PET prices were unchanged, while recycled PP rose 1¢/lb and...
US Weighs Military Powers to Restart Oil Pipeline
The Trump administration is weighing the use of the 1950 Defense Production Act to override a California state court order and restart an offshore oil pipeline serving Sable Offshore. A Justice Department opinion argues the law can preempt state consent...
Brazilian Steel Slab Exports Double in February
Brazilian steel slab exports more than doubled in February, reaching 835,327 metric tonnes, up 117% year‑over‑year. The United States and the European Union drove the surge, with U.S. shipments rising 54% despite 50% tariffs and EU imports jumping from 50...
Falling Mortgage Rates May Boost US Housing, PVC
U.S. mortgage rates slipped below 6% for the first time in over three years, reviving affordability and prompting forecasts of an 8% rise in home sales by 2026. Despite the rate dip, new‑home construction is expected to decline modestly, with...
Alaska North Slope Crude Hits Record High: Correction
Delivered prices for medium sour Alaska North Slope (ANS) crude hit a record high on Thursday, trading around an $8.30 per barrel premium to July Ice Brent, the highest since Argus began tracking in January 2018. Purchases by South Korean...
Carbon - In Focus: Biomethane ACCU Pathway Uncertain
Australia is reviewing its carbon‑crediting framework to broaden the ACCU pathway for the fledgling biomethane sector, while a new Alternative Waste Treatment ACCU method could extend crediting periods and include biomethane generation. Overlaps with renewable‑gas guarantees of origin (RGGOs) and...
India Mulls Mandate to Raise Imported Coal Generation
India is weighing an emergency directive under Section 11 of its Electricity Act to compel imported‑coal‑fired power plants to increase output ahead of the summer peak. The move comes as seaborne coal prices surge due to the US‑Iran conflict and LNG...
Drones Hit Airport in Azeri Exclave, Baku Blames Iran
On March 5, two drones struck the airport in Azerbaijan’s Nakhichevan exclave, injuring two people and damaging the terminal. Baku blamed Iran for the attack and warned it could take corresponding measures. The incident comes amid a series of regional drone...
Mideast Gulf Ports Resume Operations After Drone Strike
Operations at several Gulf ports have resumed after precautionary shutdowns caused by drone incidents linked to the US‑Iran conflict. Cargo movements between Iraqi ports and regional destinations are proceeding normally, but all tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains...
Americas MGO Prices Soar on US-Iran War
Marine gasoil (MGO) prices in the Americas surged toward $1,000 per metric tonne, marking the highest levels since October 2023. The rally follows the US‑Israel weekend attacks on Iran, which threaten the flow of middle‑distillates through the Strait of Hormuz....
France to Help Secure Shipping Lanes
French President Emmanuel Macron announced a new coalition to secure vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea amid the US‑Iran war. The initiative will mobilize military assets, including repositioning the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to...
Mideast War to Tighten LatAm Polymer Supply: Update
US‑Iran hostilities have disrupted Middle‑East sea lanes, prompting carriers to suspend loadings, impose a $3,000 emergency surcharge and reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope. The resulting capacity crunch is tightening polyethylene and polypropylene shipments to Brazil and the...
ExxonMobil Optimizing Assets to Offset Disruptions
ExxonMobil said its worldwide scale and diversified portfolio allow it to mitigate disruptions from the latest Middle East conflict. Senior vice president Jack Williams highlighted the company’s ability to shift feedstock and products using its trading arm and long‑term charter fleet....
US Gulf MR Freight Trades Just Under All-Time Highs
Freight rates for medium‑range tankers loading on the US Gulf coast surged as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz nearly stopped, prompting buyers to scramble for alternative diesel supplies. Chevron’s Europe‑bound voyage hit Worldscale 365 ($72.39 per tonne), while ATMI’s Caribbean...
