Thursday, March 26, 2026

Energy Prices News

Iran has been seen as focusing on renewable energy investments with a focus on security and not climate.

Executives at the CERAWeek Conference in Houston said that energy security concerns, which once limited investment into renewable energy, could now accelerate its growth more than climate change worries. This is because oil and gas supplies are facing a new wave of uncertainty due to the war against Iran. The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran has?removed a?million barrels of oil per day from the global markets, causing energy prices to reach multi-year-highs and causing shortages of fuel in countries that rely on oil and natural gas flowing through Strait of Hormuz.

After a month of high energy prices, Big Oil will reap billions in profits from the war with Iran

While Big Oil executives met this week to discuss the largest-ever disruption to global energy supply due to the conflict in Iran, they didn't address one aspect of the impact: the multi-billion-dollar windfall that they will make because of the soaring price for the energy they are selling. Brent crude, the global benchmark oil, has averaged $97 per barrel so far in March. This is up 33% compared to $69 in February. It's even higher than $65 in January. The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, which began?on 28 February, has halted a quarter of the world supply of oil that flows through the 'Strait of 'Hormuz.

S&P increases its inflation forecast for Turkey due to the energy impact of war

S&P Global has raised its forecast for Turkish inflation to almost?29% this year, mainly?due to?surging energy prices. This highlights the country's vulnerability due to Iran War fallout which is already testing its long-term inflation-fighting efforts. Ratings agency expects an average inflation rate of 28.9% by 2026. This is up from the previous forecast of 23,4%. The agency said that Turkey's high import dependency leaves it vulnerable to swings in oil prices and gas, as net energy imports account for between 3.5% and 4.5% of GDP.

Palm gains nearly 2% due to stronger Chicago crude oil, soyoil and export data

Malaysian palm oil futures rose nearly 2% Thursday after two sessions of losses. Stronger Chicago soyoil and crude 'oil prices, along with robust export data, supported the'market. The benchmark contract for palm oil delivery in June on the Bursa Derivatives exchange closed up 85 Ringgit or 1.89% at 4,581 Ringgit ($1,147.55). Anilkumar Bagani, head of commodity research at Sunvin Group in Mumbai, said that crude palm oil futures traded sharply higher as a result of a resurgence in energy prices and gains in Chicago soyoil. The strong palm oil outlook also helped. According to cargo surveyors, exports between March 1-25 rose by 38.4% to 50.6%.

Palm prices surge on higher Chicago soyoil and crude oil prices, according to export data

The 'Malaysian Palm Oil Futures' gained over 1% on Thursday after two sessions in which they had lost ground. This was aided by a stronger Chicago Soyoil and Crude Oil prices, as well as 'robust export data. By midday, the benchmark palm oil contract on Bursa Derivatives exchange for June delivery was up 74 Ringgit or 1.65% to 4,570 Ringgit ($1,145.08). Anilkumar bagani, head of commodity research at Sunvin Group in Mumbai, said that crude palm oil futures had been trading strongly higher. This was due to gains in Chicago soyoil as well as a rebound?in energy prices.

Oil Prices Fall 4% as US Proposes Iran Peace Plan

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Oil prices slid about 4% on Wednesday on reports that the U.S. had sent Iran a 15-point proposal aimed at ending the war, prompting talk of progress toward a ceasefire.Brent futures fell 3.96, or 3.8%, to $100.53 a barrel at 10:41 a.m. EDT (1441 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell $3.57, or 3.9%, to $88.78.Pakistan has delivered a U.S. proposal to Iran, and either Pakistan or Turkey could be a venue for discussions to de-escalate the war, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday.Iran has denied that direct talks had taken place and an Iranian military spokesman said the U.S.

Gulf Stocks Mixed amid Confusion over US-Iran Talks

Gulf markets closed mixed on Tuesday. Qatar?extended losses, while other bourses stabilized as investors parsed contradictory signals about potential U.S.Iran 'talks. The mood was volatile when U.S. President Donald Trump delayed attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure and spoke of "productive" talks to end the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. But Tehran dismissed this comment as "fakenews". Semafor, citing an official from the United States, reported that the U.S. would continue to strike Iran. The pause, however, only applied to energy sites. The report said that Israel was not included in Washington's contact with Tehran.

UAE shares fall on Iran's warning of retaliation against Gulf water and energy infrastructure

The stock markets of the United Arab Emirates fell on Monday, 'after Iran warned that it would attack energy and water infrastructure in the Gulf region if U.S. president Donald 'Trump followed through with a threat to attack its electricity grid. Trump threatened on Saturday to "obliterate", Iran's nuclear power plants, if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz in 48 hours. This is a significant step up from the day before when he spoke about "winding down" this war which has now entered its fourth week. Tehran has demonstrated its ability to effectively retaliate after more than three weeks intense U.S.

Oil Prices Drop 8% Ahead of Possible Middle East Peace Talks

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Oil prices dropped about 8% on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would postpone any military strikes against Iranian power plants for five days and cited constructive talks to resolve hostilities in the Middle East, hours before a deadline that threatened to escalate the four-week-old war.Brent futures fell $8.92, or 8.0%, to $103.27 a barrel at 12:31 p.m. EDT (1631 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate lost $7.17, or 7.3%, to $91.06.Extreme price changes in recent weeks - Brent closed at its highest since…

Energy Prices Jump After Iran Attacks Qatar LNG Plant

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Energy prices surged on Thursday after Iran struck the world’s largest LNG complex, causing damage that Qatar said could take five years to repair, as the energy sector's worst fears about the war launched by the U.S. and Israel on Iran came true.QatarEnergy CEO Saad al-Kaabi told Reuters the state-owned gas company may have to declare force majeure on long-term contracts to Italy, Belgium, South Korea and China after the attack meant a loss of around 17% of Qatar's liquefied natural gas exports for between three and five years.Gas prices in Europe soared as much as 35% on Thursday and oil jumped as much as 10%…

UN Climate chief: Iran war a'simple lesson' in fossil fuel dependency

The U.N. Climate Secretary will inform EU policymakers that the disruption of energy markets caused by the Iran War is an "abject" lesson in the dangers?of?relying?on fossil fuels. The European Union, despite being geographically distant from the Middle East crisis, has been affected by it through the soaring global energy prices. The European gas price has risen by 50% in the past two weeks. "Fossil?dependency is ripping national security and sovereignty away, and replacing them with subservience, rising costs, and Simon?Stiell will tell EU officials at a?Brussels event.

EU scrambles for energy cost reductions as Iran war hits the markets

Energy ministers from the European Union will meet on Monday to discuss options for reducing 'energy costs. Officials are drafting emergency plans to temper the 'impact of surging gas and oil prices caused by war in Iran. According to EU officials who are familiar with the discussions, the European Commission is developing emergency measures to protect consumers from rising energy costs. They will also examine state subsidies for industries and tax cuts at national level, as well as a revision of EU carbon markets to reduce CO2 permits. Ursula von der Leyen, the Commission president, said that Brussels is also looking at capping gas costs.

The ruling party of South Korea says that the country will lift its coal cap and increase nuclear production amid the Iran crisis.

South Korea's ruling Democratic Party announced on Monday that the government would lift limitations on coal-fired power generation and increase nuclear plant utilisation to as much as 80%, as part of a response to the Middle East Crisis. In a briefing, members of the Middle East Crisis Economic Response Task Force of the party said that the measures were intended to stabilise energy prices and supply as tensions along the Strait of Hormuz have blocked oil and gas supplies from South Korea. According to Korea International Trade Association data, South Korea imports most of its?energy.

Globally, governments are taking measures to mitigate the impact of Iran's war on energy prices for consumers

Fuel subsidies, price caps and emergency commodity releases are just some of the measures that governments from Asia to Europe have taken to protect consumers from rising fuel and food prices - a result of the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran. The conflict in the Middle East has caused a halt to a fifth of world oil and gas supplies. It has also forced the top energy producers Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates Kuwait, Iraq, and Qatar to reduce their output. This is what the International Energy Agency has called the biggest disruption to global energy supply ever.

Document shows that eight countries have warned the EU against a weakening of carbon markets

Spain, the Netherlands, and six other countries have urged the European Union to not dismantle the emissions trading system of the bloc, which is its primary climate change policy. This comes as Brussels searches for ways to reduce energy prices. Energy?prices are surging due to disruptions in Middle Eastern oil and natural gas supplies. Brussels faces calls from governments, including Italy, to suspend the ETS. The ETS requires power plants to purchase permits to cover CO2 emissions. In a paper published by a group of EU countries…

Norway's Prime Minister says Europe shouldn't cap gas prices

The Norwegian prime minister said that Europe should not cap the price of natural gas, even though costs are rising due to the conflict in the Middle East. The benchmark TTF front-month gas contract on the continent has increased by around 60% since the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, as well as the attacks of?Tehran on ships in Strait of Hormuz. On Wednesday, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said that the European Union is considering measures to reduce energy prices. This includes setting a cap on gas prices.

Mike Dolan: ECB hawks want a rematch in 2021/22 after the Iran oil shock

Hawks at the European Central Bank are eager to change history. The energy price shock this month may not be as severe as the fallout of Russia's invasion in Ukraine, but officials seem to be wary of repeating their'slow' post-pandemic tightening policy that left them scrambling back in 2022. There will be intense debate in the ECB Governing Council about how and when to react to this potential inflationary spike in oil and gas prices. Few will be able to make a decision as soon as the next policy meeting due to the uncertainty surrounding the Iran conflict. The financial markets don't wait to see who will win.

S&P warns that the surge in energy prices could affect Hungary's credit rating

S&P's top analyst warned on Wednesday that Hungary's investment grade credit rating may be threatened if energy prices continue to rise. Frank Gill, S&P’s lead sovereign analyst for EMEA, said that if gas prices were to rise as they did after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, it would cause a severe deterioration of Hungary’s current account, increase inflation, and damage its currency. Gill stated that the "extremely generous "?subsidies are in place to prepare for its April 12th election. S&P has rated Hungary at 'BBB+', which is one notch higher than junk?territory. The outlook is negative and a downgrade in the future seems more likely.

EU considers gas price cap as a way to control rising energy costs

The European Union is considering measures to?reduce energy prices. This includes capping gas price, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday. Before the Iran War caused oil and gas to surge, Brussels was drafting proposals for industries who claim that high energy costs make it impossible to compete with their rivals in China or the United States. The EU's electric system is set up so that the price of electricity is determined by the last power station needed to meet the total demand. Gas plants are often the last power plant needed to meet total demand.

US Energy Department blames its staff for an errant Navy escort Post

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Energy allegedly posted a message on Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s official X page on Tuesday, which incorrectly stated that the U.S. Navy escorted a tanker through the Strait of Hormuz. The post was deleted quickly, but it had raised expectations in the global oil industry that oil and gas would be able to flow again through this vital 'waterway', which is effectively closed after the Israeli and U.S. strike on Iran began Feb. 28. The narrow strait between Iran and Oman is normally the route for a fifth or more of the world's oil &?gas. Its closure has caused a surge in energy prices.