Two VLCC Tankers and Two LNG Tankers Pass Through the Strait of Hormuz en Route to China and India

In a significant sign of cautious normalization amid the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and at least two LNG tankers have successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz this week, with cargoes bound for key Asian buyers in China and India. The vessels operated in “dark mode” — transponders switched off to […]

Continue Reading

Europe’s Gas Crisis Just Repriced 8 Of My 12 Positions – The Merchant’s News

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 […]

Continue Reading

We are about to price the oil and gas markets for absence rather than scarcity

In a recent appearance on Squawk Box Asia, veteran commodities strategist Jeff Currie (Co-Chairman of Abaxx Markets) delivered a stark warning that resonates deeply with current market dynamics. He described an emerging “rare earth moment” — a qualitative shift where markets have been neglecting the physical world (“atoms”) in favor of financial narratives and tech […]

Continue Reading

European Gas Storage Approaching Critical: Can’t Survive 3 More Months of Hormuz Disruptions

Europe is entering the critical summer injection season with dangerously depleted natural gas storage, leaving the continent vulnerable to even moderate supply disruptions. A recent analysis from OilPrice.com highlights stark warnings from senior Equinor executives: if disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz persist for another 1–3 months, Europe risks a critical shortfall in gas stocks […]

Continue Reading

Tankers Entering Hormuz During Iran War Are Exiting with Cargo — But Many Are Going Dark on AIS

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 […]

Continue Reading

Alaska LNG Locks in ConocoPhillips on 30-Year Gas Supply Deal — FID for Phase One Pipeline Now Within Reach

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 […]

Continue Reading