Marketview: Disruptions Drive Up Diesel
Diesel prices have spiked sharply as a series of supply‑chain disruptions converge on the market. Recent refinery outages, geopolitical tensions in key exporting regions, and unexpected weather events have tightened global diesel inventories. The price rally is reverberating through freight, logistics, and manufacturing sectors that rely heavily on diesel fuel. Analysts predict the upward pressure may persist until supply bottlenecks ease and strategic stockpiles are replenished.
Trump, California Clash Over Offshore Oil Field
President Donald Trump announced plans to restart production at an offshore oil field off California’s coast that was shut down after a 2015 spill. The field, long held in a regulatory limbo, could add several thousand barrels per day if...
Oil Marches Higher as Mideast Crisis Persists
Benchmark crude oil prices surged to multi‑year highs on Tuesday after Iran struck a critical Gulf oil terminal and Israel reportedly killed Iran’s security chief in a bombing. The attacks heightened concerns over regional supply disruptions, prompting traders to bid...
Energy Economics Monitor: March 2026 Update
Energy Intelligence’s March 2026 update highlights rapid AI integration across the world’s 50 largest energy firms, with national oil companies leading and three regional hubs emerging in North America, Europe and the Gulf. Simultaneously, the escalating US‑Israel‑Iran conflict is disrupting...
Market Watch: Nymex Clings to $3 Handle as Winter Wanes
April natural‑gas futures on the NYMEX edged up 1 cent to $3.033 per million Btu, keeping the contract near the psychologically important $3 handle. Gelber & Associates highlighted a tug‑of‑war between brief late‑season cold snaps and a broader spring‑warming trend,...
US Pummels Iran’s Key Kharg Island Terminal
The United States launched a missile strike against Iran’s Kharg Island terminal, the country’s main oil export hub, late Friday and early Saturday local time. The attack targeted the facility that handles roughly 30% of Iran’s crude shipments, aiming to...
Brent Tops $103 as Traders Shun Risk Before Weekend
Brent crude futures climbed above $103 a barrel on Friday, extending their run into triple‑digit levels. The rally was driven by traders’ concerns over a potential prolonged disruption of Gulf oil supplies amid the ongoing regional conflict. Simultaneously, several governments...
European Power Prices Held Hostage to High Gas Costs
European power markets are experiencing a sharp price surge as gas costs climb sharply following the outbreak of war in the Middle East. Major gas hubs across Europe have seen prices more than double, pushing gas‑fired electricity tariffs to roughly...
US Venture Global Takes FID on CP2 Phase 2 LNG Project
Venture Global announced a final investment decision for its CP2 Phase 2 LNG export project, a 29 million‑ton‑per‑year facility on the Louisiana Gulf Coast. The approval makes it the first U.S. liquefaction project to receive an FID in 2026, marking a significant...
Will US LNG Exporters Defer Maintenance to Free Up Supply?
U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters are considering postponing scheduled maintenance to increase available cargoes amid a tightening global gas market caused by the Middle East conflict. Current export terminals are operating near peak capacity, leaving little slack for unexpected...
Canadian, Alaskan LNG Could Benefit From 'Concentration Risk'
A recent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz highlighted the vulnerability of LNG buyers reliant on Middle‑East cargoes, prompting a reassessment of supply diversification. Analysts argue that this "concentration risk" creates a strategic opening for existing and planned LNG export...
US Rig Count Continues Cautious Climb
The Baker Hughes rig count rose to a four‑month high in the second week of March, marking the first modest increase since late 2023. The uptick reflects operators’ tentative response to soaring oil prices triggered by the Middle East conflict....
Asian Buyers Eye Floating Russian Barrels After US Waiver
On Thursday, the U.S. Treasury issued a one‑month waiver permitting the sale and purchase of Russian crude and refined products stored on floating vessels. The exemption, intended to alleviate market bottlenecks, sparked immediate criticism from European officials who argue it...
US Plot to Extract Iran's Enriched Uranium Alarms Experts
The United States is reportedly planning a covert operation to remove Iran’s highly enriched uranium (HEU) stockpile, a move that has raised alarms among nuclear‑security experts. The plot follows a series of Israeli attacks and recent US‑Israeli strikes that escalated...
Small Uranium Producers Face Delivery Risks
Small uranium producers are restarting previously idle mines to capture higher spot prices, but they are encountering production shortfalls and transport bottlenecks. Legacy processing equipment and limited specialized carriers are delaying shipments, forcing some firms to buy uranium on the...
Tokyo Embraces Nuclear for Energy Security 15 Years After Fukushima Disaster
Fifteen years after the Fukushima disaster, Japan is reviving nuclear power to curb soaring energy‑import costs amid a global oil and gas crunch. The government has set a goal of reaching roughly 20% of electricity from nuclear by 2030, prompting...
Energy Intelligence Uranium Market Update: Mar. 13, 2026
Energy Intelligence’s March 13 uranium market update highlights rising geopolitical tension and supply‑chain strain. Experts warn a U.S. plan to extract Iran’s highly enriched uranium could set a precedent, while small uranium producers confront heightened delivery risks amid logistics bottlenecks....
Attacks, Growing Exports Put Fujairah in the Spotlight
Fujairah, the United Arab Emirates’ primary oil‑export gateway, has become the most critical outlet for crude as the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked by the ongoing Gulf war. In the past ten days the port endured two aerial attacks, testing...
NET Power Pushes Back Project Permian FID
NET Power, backed by Occidental Petroleum, has postponed the final investment decision for its flagship Project Permian clean‑power plant to the back half of the year. The project, which targets a 400‑MW zero‑carbon output using Oxy‑fuel technology, was previously slated...
Iran Raises Stakes on Hormuz in Oil Price Narrative Battle
Iran has escalated its rhetoric and threats around the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that moves roughly one‑fifth of the world’s oil and LNG. The move is part of a broader narrative battle with the United States amid the ongoing...
Trump Considers Raids to Recover Iran's Enriched Uranium
The Trump administration is reportedly weighing a covert special operation to seize any remaining enriched uranium in Iran’s stockpile. The plan, still under discussion, would involve a rapid raid on Iranian nuclear facilities to physically remove the material. Non‑proliferation experts...
BP Pays Big Money for US Gulf Block
BP announced a $21 million bid for a single offshore lease block in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The purchase stands out in an otherwise muted lease sale that has attracted limited interest from other operators. The transaction comes as geopolitical...
Disruptions Reinforce China's Self-Sufficiency Drive
China is intensifying its drive for energy self‑sufficiency by accelerating investments in low‑carbon technologies such as solar, wind, batteries and electric vehicles. The ongoing war in the Middle East, which has disrupted oil and gas imports, underscores Beijing’s anxiety over...
Mideast War Brings Fresh Risks for Low-Carbon Investments
The Gulf conflict has jolted oil and gas supplies, reinforcing the long‑term economic case for clean‑energy projects. Yet the immediate fallout—rising inflation and tighter credit—could choke funding for low‑carbon initiatives. Analysts warn that the war’s duration and the speed of...
Russia's Yamal LNG Maintains Focus on Exports to Europe
Yamal LNG, Russia’s Arctic liquefied natural gas project, has announced that its current cargoes will be shipped exclusively to European markets. This decision comes despite a surge in Asian demand driven by the Middle East conflict and the restart of...
Exxon Commits to Indonesia's Largest Oil Field
Exxon Mobil’s operating contract for Indonesia’s Cepu Block has been extended through 2055, securing the country’s largest oil field for another three decades. The extension comes amid ongoing talks over fiscal terms, but the core agreement ensures continued production and investment....
Oil, Gas Futures Surge in Volatile Trade
Crude oil futures benchmarks Brent and WTI surged to their highest intraday levels since 2022 on Monday, with Brent briefly topping $90 a barrel and WTI crossing $85. The rally was short‑lived, as both contracts slipped later in the session,...
Hormuz Tanker Traffic Remains at Effective Standstill
Oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has effectively frozen following a weekend of coordinated strikes on energy and related infrastructure across the Middle East. The attacks have shut down the primary maritime conduit for Persian Gulf crude, leaving...
Hormuz Closure Sends Gas Prices Soaring, LNG Cargoes Toward Asia
The recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a sharp rise in global natural‑gas prices, except in North America, which remains insulated by abundant domestic supply. The disruption forced several LNG carriers originally bound for Europe to reroute...
US Shale Offers No Quick Fix for Lost Mideast Crude
U.S. shale producers are unlikely to fill the gap left by reduced Middle East crude exports, even as oil prices climb. Analysts argue that the war‑driven supply loss will be prolonged, and shale’s long lead‑times and capital intensity prevent a...
South Bow Eyes Increase in Oil Export Capacity to US
South Bow Energy is pursuing binding take‑or‑pay agreements from Canadian producers to fund a new pipeline spur that would add 450,000 barrels per day of crude to its Keystone system. The line would feed directly into the existing Keystone network,...
Qatar’s Al-Kaabi: Market Missing Giant LNG Shortfall
Qatar’s energy minister Khalid al‑Kaabi warned that the ongoing Middle‑East conflict is creating a far larger shortfall in liquefied natural gas (LNG) than market participants anticipate. Damage to export terminals and logistical bottlenecks are curbing Qatar’s ability to meet its...
Prolonged Disruption Turns Focus to Inventories
The International Energy Agency’s chief announced that global oil markets are currently well‑supplied, eliminating any immediate need to tap strategic inventories. While some regions continue to experience supply disruptions, the agency sees no justification for coordinated production cuts at this...
Which Basins Will Supply US LNG Build-Out? Maybe All of Them
U.S. LNG demand is set to surge, but the Haynesville Shale’s production is waning, forcing gas producers to look beyond traditional sources. Analysts argue that the upcoming export capacity will be fed by a mix of basins—including the Permian, Marcellus,...
US AI Boom Creates Big Market Opportunity for Renewable Gas
The United States is experiencing a rapid surge in artificial‑intelligence workloads, prompting a projected 30 percent increase in electricity demand by 2030. To satisfy this growth, utilities are turning to renewable natural gas (RNG) as a low‑carbon, dispatchable fuel for data...
BlackRock-AES Deal Highlights Gas' Edge Over Renewable Power
A BlackRock‑led consortium will take AES private in a $33.4 billion deal, valuing the power producer at roughly $70 billion. The transaction underscores private‑equity interest in regulated energy assets amid soaring electricity demand. It also highlights the competitive pressure gas and nuclear...
Market View: Ample Supply Mutes War's Impact on US Gas Prices
The war in the Middle East has driven global oil benchmarks to multi‑year highs, yet U.S. gasoline prices have remained relatively modest. Ample domestic crude output and record‑high gasoline inventories have insulated the U.S. market from the price shock. Retail...
US Natgas Storage Falls by 132 Bcf
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported a 132 billion‑cubic‑foot draw in natural‑gas storage for the week ending Feb. 27, bringing net working inventories down to 1,886 bcf. This decline reflects heightened heating demand and robust LNG export activity as winter deepens. The reduced...
Druzhba Idle as Hungary Secures Russian Oil Supply Guarantees
Hungary has secured a guarantee from Russia to resume crude deliveries, yet the Druzhba pipeline remains idle for both Hungary and Slovakia. The EU stepped in to mediate the dispute, but no operational agreement has been reached. The suspension persists...
Mideast War Casts Cloud on Gulf Petchems, Other Industries
Iran's retaliatory strikes on energy infrastructure in the Gulf have effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for a fifth of global oil shipments. The shutdown immediately disrupted energy‑intensive sectors in the region, notably petrochemicals, fertilizers and aluminum, curtailing...
Brent, WTI Crude Prices, Mar. 5, 2026
On March 5, 2026 Brent and WTI crude futures were trading near eight‑month highs as geopolitical risk and trade policy uncertainty intensified. Prices were buoyed by lingering US‑Iran tensions, which have kept supply‑disruption fears alive, while a recent U.S. Supreme Court...
Oil Products Feel Knock-On Impacts as Hormuz Closure Holds
Oil markets are grappling with heightened volatility as the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly one‑fifth of global oil passes—remains effectively shut. The closure is forcing traders to reassess supply‑demand balances for refined products, especially diesel and gasoline, which are seeing...
No EU Energy Security Concerns For Now, But Long-Term Risks Rise
European gas prices surged 70 % in a single week as the Middle East conflict intensified, coinciding with historically low storage levels. Despite the spike, EU officials assert there is no immediate risk to gas or oil supplies, citing existing contracts...
US to Insure Hormuz Tankers After Policies Canceled
President Donald Trump announced that the United States will provide war‑risk insurance for vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz after commercial insurers pulled coverage. The move may be paired with U.S. naval escorts to safeguard tankers amid heightened regional tensions....
US Shale Producers to Hold Capex, Output Steady in 2026
U.S. shale producers have signaled that 2026 capital expenditures will remain flat or dip slightly, while overall output is expected to stay level or edge higher after accounting for acquisitions, divestments, and the cyclical nature of multiyear upstream projects. The...
Iran Expands Attacks to Targets Outside Strait of Hormuz
Iran escalated its campaign against regional energy assets, deploying armed drones against the United Arab Emirates' main oil export hub and striking major ports in Oman. The attacks, which originated beyond the Strait of Hormuz, signal a widening of Tehran's...
China's Gas Output Expected to Rise Amid Shale Push
China’s domestic natural‑gas production is set to climb in the near term as the government backs unconventional shale projects. Analysts forecast a steady output rise, driven by new drilling licences and financial incentives. The push aims to offset growing demand...
LNG Prices Surge on Qatari Supply Disruption
LNG spot prices jumped sharply after a supply disruption in Qatar, one of the world’s largest exporters. In Northeast Asia, the price rose $1.75 week‑on‑week to $12.45 per MMBtu, while Southwest Europe saw a $5.05 increase to $14.75 per MMBtu....
Oil Prices Surge Higher as Market Adjusts Ceiling Scenarios
Brent crude rose to $85 per barrel on Tuesday, marking a notable surge amid heavy trading. The rally reflects market reaction to escalating tensions in the Middle East and concerns over supply disruptions. Traders are now focusing on how constrained...
Venture Global Strikes Five-Year LNG Deal With Trafigura
Venture Global, one of the United States' leading LNG exporters, has signed a five‑year supply agreement with global commodity trader Trafigura, effective from this year. The contract locks in a steady volume of U.S. liquefied natural gas for Trafigura’s worldwide...