Europe is staring down a structural gas deficit heading into the critical summer refill season. Storage levels sit near historic lows, Russian pipeline flows have all but vanished, and Middle East LNG supply disruptions (triggered by the ongoing Strait of Hormuz constraints since late February) have forced buyers to scramble for every available cargo—primarily from […]
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Russia is capitalizing on elevated global oil prices triggered by the ongoing Middle East conflict, pushing crude export volumes near 2026 highs while redirecting flows to key Asian buyers—most notably India. According to tanker-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg, Russia’s four-week average crude shipments reached 3.66 million barrels per day (bpd) in the period ending May […]
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Even the most optimistic reopening of the Strait of Hormuz won’t deliver a quick fix. Physical barrels tell a far harsher story than paper futures. Art Berman (@aeberman12) nailed it in his May 25, 2026, post: There is no clean, modelable “successful reopening” of the Strait of Hormuz. Even in the wildly optimistic scenario, the […]
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The United States has stepped into an extraordinary role amid the 2026 Iran conflict and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz: the world’s primary swing supplier of crude oil and refined products. Record exports are helping offset massive global supply shortfalls, but this “filling station” status comes with clear limits—depleting strategic reserves, tightening domestic inventories, […]
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A viral post on X by Pascal Najadi (@JfkPascalNajadX) on May 19, 2026, has reignited discussion: “ MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT: At least 121 EMPTY OIL TANKERS are making their way to the United States of America right now. 68 of them can carry 2 MILLION BARRELS EACH. Holy smokes! We are the world’s gas station now! […]
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A small but determined group of shipowners is successfully running the gauntlet through the Strait of Hormuz. According to vessel-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg, at least 19 oil- and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-carrying ships without Iranian links have both entered the Persian Gulf and exited with cargo since March 1, 2026 — the period since […]
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In a major breakthrough for Alaska’s long-awaited natural gas infrastructure, Glenfarne Alaska LNG announced on May 18, 2026, a 30-year gas sales precedent agreement with ConocoPhillips Alaska. The deal supplies natural gas from Alaska’s North Slope for Phase One of the Alaska LNG project. Combined with existing agreements from ExxonMobil, Hilcorp Alaska, and Great Bear […]
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Houston, TX – May 17, 2026 – Caturus LLC announced a positive Final Investment Decision (FID) on May 15 for its Commonwealth LNG export facility in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, unlocking full construction on one of the most cost-competitive and efficient LNG projects in the United States. The $13 billion project, backed by $9.75 billion in […]
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Vietnam’s largest refinery, the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical LLC (NSRP), has confirmed it will maintain stable operations through the end of June 2026. According to a company statement reported by Bloomberg, the facility is actively diversifying its crude oil supply by strengthening cooperation with both domestic and international suppliers across multiple regions. The 200,000 […]
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In a notable development for global energy markets amid the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis, the Chinese-owned VLCC supertanker Yuan Hua Hu has successfully transited the vital chokepoint and is now en route to China. The passage comes on the heels of high-stakes meetings between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in […]
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