Saudi Arabia has delivered a stark update to OPEC: its crude oil production plunged another 651,000 barrels per day (b/d) in April, hitting just 6.316 million b/d—the lowest level since the 1990 Gulf War. According to a monthly report from OPEC’s secretariat obtained by Bloomberg, the kingdom’s output has now fallen a cumulative 42% since […]
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In a one-two punch that is sending shockwaves through global energy markets, the United Arab Emirates has exited OPEC and OPEC+ — and is now openly discussing a currency swap line with the United States. The moves come at a moment of historic turmoil: an ongoing Iran war has disrupted oil flows through the Strait […]
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The United Arab Emirates’ announcement on April 28, 2026, that it will formally exit both OPEC and the wider OPEC+ alliance effective May 1 marks a seismic shift in global oil politics. As one of the cartel’s most significant producers with substantial spare capacity, the UAE’s departure delivers a major blow to an already strained […]
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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced its withdrawal from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the broader OPEC+ alliance, effective May 1, 2026—marking the end of nearly 60 years of membership since 1967. This move strips OPEC of its third-largest producer and delivers a significant blow to the cartel’s ability to […]
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This is not a rumor—it’s confirmed today (April 28, 2026) via the state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM). The move ends nearly 60 years of membership in OPEC (a founding member) and marks the most significant fracture in the cartel in decades. The official rationale, per WAM and UAE Energy Ministry statements, is a “comprehensive review of […]
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The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz—now in its seventh week—has triggered the largest oil supply shock in modern history. Roughly 20 million barrels per day (mb/d) of crude and products once flowed through this narrow chokepoint. Today, tanker traffic has collapsed, exports have plunged to a trickle, and Gulf producers have been forced […]
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In the energy markets, there’s no single “oil price” anymore — and today’s fractured reality proves it. As highlighted in a sharp analysis posted this morning by commodity trader Jack Prandelli, the spreads tell the real story: Forties (physical) → $134 Dated Brent (physical) → $116 Brent futures → $99 WTI → $87 Canadian crude […]
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The global energy markets are in flux as of mid-April 2026, shaped by severe disruptions from the ongoing Middle East conflict (centered on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz). This has curtailed roughly 7–10 mb/d of crude, NGLs, and refined product exports in March–April, triggering sharp price spikes and inventory draws. Brent crude averaged $103/bbl […]
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The Strait of Hormuz—the narrow 21-nautical-mile chokepoint between Iran and Oman that carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and a quarter of global LNG—remains the epicenter of one of the most significant energy disruptions in modern history. As of today, the strait is not fully closed to all traffic, but commercial shipping has ground […]
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As of April 11, 2026, the global oil market is split into two. On one side sits the “paper” market — the futures contracts and financial instruments that most investors, analysts, and headline writers track. On the other hand is the physical, or delivery, market — the actual barrels of crude that refiners must load […]
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