Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Middle East News

Reeves, UK's Reeves, says that the Middle East crisis makes predicting when the oil and gas profit levies will end difficult.

The British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves told oil and gas executives on Wednesday that it was harder to predict the end of a tax on their profit due to the conflict in 'the Middle East, but that she was committed to eliminating it. Reeves spoke with representatives of the oil and gas sector, including BP and Adura. He also met with Offshore Energies UK and Offshore Energies UK, to discuss a sudden rise in energy costs following a U.S. and Israeli air strike against Iran.

Cornwall Insight predicts that Britain's energy cap will rise by about 10%.

Analysts from Cornwall Insight said on Wednesday that the UK's energy price cap will rise by about 10% this July due to an increase in wholesale prices linked to a war in Iran. The rise in energy prices would not be welcome news for the Labour government of Prime Minister KeirStarmer, who is under pressure to keep its promise to reduce household energy costs. This would also wipe out any savings from the decision to scrap the policy which forces energy providers to pay for measures like insulation and new heating systems.

India's MRPL Declares Force Majeure on Fuel Exports as Iran Conflict Disrupts Crude Supplies

© Adobe Stock/Grispb

India's Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals has suspended fuel exports due to the Middle East conflict that has disrupted crude oil flows from the Gulf, two sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.The company has declared force majeure on all upcoming gasoline export cargoes for March and April, two separate trade sources said.MRPL had awarded two to three cargoes of gasoline via tenders for early March loading and is in discussions with buyers on settling those supplies…

US-Israeli War on Iran Causes Major Oil, Gas Disruptions

The U.S. and Israel war against?Iran disrupted oil exports to the Middle East, forcing production stops from Qatar to Iraq. Here are the major energy disruptions that have occurred so far. Iraq's OPEC's second largest producer, Iraq, slashes production: Iraq?has reduced almost 1.5 million barrels a day?due...to storage limitations and the lack.of an export route. Officials told. The country could be forced to close 3 million barrels per day within days if the exports don't resume.

EU not planning an emergency response to spike in energy prices caused by Iran

Officials told reporters on Wednesday that the European Union had warned its'member states' about the soaring gas prices caused by Iran, but did not see any immediate threat to supply and was not planning a response of emergency. The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, and Iran's attacks in the Middle East have jolted the global oil and gas market. This has led to a halt of Qatari LNG production and energy shipments across the Strait of Hormuz.

US-Israeli War on Iran Causes Major Oil, Gas Disruptions

The 'U.S. and Israel war against Iran' has caused oil and gas exports to the Middle East to be disrupted and production stops from Qatar and Iraq. Here are some of the major energy disruptions that have occurred. Iraq, OPEC’s second largest?producer has reduced its output. Iraq has cut almost?1.5 mln barrels per day – about half of it – due to storage limitations and the absence of an export route. The country could be forced to close 3 million barrels per day, or nearly all its production, if exports don't resume.

Source: Russia is ready to divert oil from Middle East to India due to Middle East conflict disrupting flows.

An 'industry source' with direct knowledge said that Russia was ready to divert oil from the Middle East to India in order to counter supply disruptions. About 9.5 million barrels of Russian crude are currently on vessels near Indian waters, and could arrive within weeks. Sources declined to reveal the original destination of the non-Russian cargoes, but they said that they could be delivered to India in a matter of weeks. This would provide refiners with immediate relief. India is susceptible to supply shocks.

Palm oil ends Chicago soyoil's lower track, and profit-taking

After three sessions of gains, the price of palm oil in Malaysia fell on Wednesday due to profit-taking and lower Chicago soyoil. The benchmark 'palm oil contract' for May delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange fell 8 ringgit or 0.19% to 4,178 Ringgit ($1,059.87), a metric tonne, at the close. Dalian's soyoil contract, which is the most active, gained?0.46%. Palm oil, on the other hand, was up by 0.22% after falling by as much as 0.49 percent earlier in the session.

The European market is seeking clarity about Qatari LNG supplies, which has led to a reduction in prices.

The Dutch and British gas price were lower on Wednesday, after rising earlier in the week. However, they could still be volatile, as traders try to gauge how long Qatari LNG supply will remain interrupted. Data from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), showed that the benchmark 'Dutch front month contract' at the TTF hub had fallen by 1.02 euros to?53.27 per megawatt-hour (MWh) as of 1018 GMT. The price of electricity rose to a record high of 65.79 euro/MWh on Tuesday, the highest since January 2023.

CEE ECONOMY - Czech inflation slows down in February, but not likely to cause central bank to cut rates

The preliminary data released on Wednesday showed that 'Czech inflation fell further below the central banks target in February. Its headline rate dropped to a lower than nine-month-low of 1.4% on the back of a slower food price increase and lower energy prices. The data comes after the Czech National Bank discussed a renewed policy of easing during its last meeting, on February 5. Conflict in the Middle East as a result of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend has widened and upset?markets.

Japan's Middle East Energy Dependency - and How it Mitigates Shocks

Around 95% of Japan's oil and 11% of its liquefied gas is imported from the Middle East. Around 70% and 6% of these imports come via the Strait of Hormuz which has been effectively closed by the Iran War. Here's a breakdown of Japan's energy dependence on the Middle East and how it can reduce its import risk. Around 95% of Japan's oil imports come from the Middle East. In January, Japan imported an average of 2.8 million barrels per day of crude oil…

Asia LNG price spike opens arbitrage to West to replace Qatari LNG supply

Analysts said that Asia's liquefied gas prices have risen, creating arbitrage opportunities for traders who want to ship cargoes to the east from the Atlantic in order to replace the Qatari supply which was lost during the U.S. - Iran?war. As the Middle East conflict reduces shipments, and Qatar's output is halted, cargo diverts could increase competition between the Atlantic basin and the Pacific basin. According to Kpler's data, Asian buyers account for more than 80% of Qatar's LNG sales. He added that the U.S.

METI does not see any need for an emergency LNG supply, despite the fact that Japanese utilities have increased their LNG reserves

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said that major Japanese utilities have increased their liquefied gas stocks by 10% to?2,19 million metric tonnes last week. The LNG stocks of Japan's utilities, the second largest LNG buyers in the world, equaled around 12 days domestic consumption for the week ending March 1. The LNG stockpiles of utilities in Japan, the world's second-largest LNG buyer, are equal to around 12 days domestic use for the week ending on March 1.

Palmetto falls after three sessions on the basis of profit-taking

Malaysian palm futures declined on Wednesday, after reaching a near four-week-high in the previous session. Profit-taking and falling edible oil prices from Dalian and Chicago weighed on the contract. After three consecutive sessions of gains, the benchmark palm oil contract for?May delivery at the Bursa Derivatives exchange lost 32 ringgit or 0.76% to 4,154 Ringgit ($1,052.18) per metric ton. Today's crude palm future will track the soft Dalian and Chicago soybean oil to take profits?after the rally.

US-Israeli War on Iran Causes Major Oil, Gas Disruptions

The U.S. and Israel war against Iran has 'disrupted oil and gas exports out of the Middle East and forced production stops from Qatar to Iraq. Here are the main energy disruptions that have occurred so far. Iraq, the second largest producer in OPEC, has slashed its?output. Iraq has reduced nearly 1.5 million barrels a day - or about half - because of storage limitations and the absence of an export route. The country could be forced to close 3 million barrels per day, or nearly all its production, if exports don't resume.

US considers oil tanker insurance to ease Middle East crude shipping, sources say

Two sources say that U.S. president Donald Trump will review on Tuesday a number of policy options to control energy prices in the face of the escalating conflict in the Middle East. One option is for the government help oil tankers obtain insurance. Since Israeli and U.S. troops began attacking Iran on the weekend, fighting has disrupted Middle East oil tanker deliveries. Sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said…

US-Israeli War on Iran Causes Major Oil, Gas Disruptions

The U.S. and Israel war against Iran has caused oil and gas exports to be disrupted from the Middle East, and production from Qatar?to Iraq was forced to stop. Here are the major energy disruptions that have occurred so far. Iraq, OPEC’s?second largest producer, has reduced?output by almost a third due to storage limitations and the absence of export routes, officials said. The country could be forced to close 3 million barrels per day, or nearly all its production, within days, if exports don't resume.

Russian Oil Exports Curtailed By Drone Attacks, Weather

© Adobe Stock/Alexander

Russia has been unable to capitalize on this week's surge in global crude prices, as days of Ukrainian drone attacks and harsh winter storms have sharply curtailed its capacity to export oil, industry sources said.Russia's Sheskharis oil terminal in Novorossiysk port suspended oil loadings on Monday after a Ukrainian drone attack left a fuel terminal ablaze and damaged dozens of buildings, Russian and Ukrainian officials and three trade sources said.Crude oil benchmarks rose about 8% on Tuesday…

Global Energy Prices Jump as Middle East Crisis Interrupts Shipping, Oil Production

© Adobe Stock/blackday

Global oil and gas prices jumped on Tuesday as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran halted energy exports from the Middle East, with Tehran attacking ships and energy facilities, closing navigation in the Gulf and forcing production stoppages from Qatar to Iraq.The benchmark Brent crude oil contract gained nearly 8% on Tuesday to above $83 per barrel, the highest since July 2024, taking gains since Friday to more than 15%. European gas prices soared as much as 40% before paring gains, adding to a 40% surge on Monday.

TSX drops nearly 4% amid inflation fears fueled by Middle East conflict

Canada's main index of stocks fell on Tuesday, as the Middle East conflict entered its 4th day. This was due to sector-wide losses. As of 10:24 a.m., the S&P/TSX Composite Index was down 3.97%, at 33,173.05 point. The S&P/TSX composite index was down 3.97% at 33,173.05 points as of 10:24 a.m. ET and appeared to be on track for its biggest single-day decline since April 2025 when U.S. president Donald Trump announced reciprocal duties.