Analysts say that India is most at risk from prolonged disruptions in Mideast oil supply.
Analysts said that India, as a rapidly growing oil consumer, would be the most vulnerable country to a 'crude supply shock' if the Middle East conflict led to a long-term disruption of shipments out of the region. This is mainly due to its thin reserves. China and India are Asia's two largest energy consumers. They import around half their crude oil from the Middle East. However, India has less crude in its storage than China, and it is now more dependent on Middle East crude than the past three years.
Wall Street closes with a narrowly mixed result, but trading is volatile following air strikes on Iran
U.S. stock prices ended Monday close to flat after a volatile session that saw shares fall early following the weekend's?U.S. Israeli air strikes against?Iran.?But there were bounces all day long as investors bought dips. The coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran last weekend resulted in the death of Tehran's Supreme leader, and shocked global markets. Oil prices rose and many overseas stock indexes ended lower. Investors…
Middle East is a major source of oil and LNG globally
India and other Asian countries are most dependent on Middle East oil and gas, which makes them vulnerable to supply disruptions if the conflict that has erupted following the Israeli and U.S. attack on Iran continues. Here is an overview of the imports and stockpiles of major Middle Eastern buyers. INDIA In January, the share of Middle Eastern crude oil in India’s crude imports reached its highest level since late 2022. This is amounted to?about 2,74 million barrels a day. Refiners have reduced their intakes of Russian oil.
EUROPE GAS-European Gas Prices Close Higher on Disruption to LNG Shipments
The benchmark European wholesale gas price closed Monday around 35-40% more expensive, after major LNG exporter Qatar Energy announced that it had stopped production due to attacks in the Middle East. A cargo standstill through the Strait of Hormuz also raised concern about the length of the disruption. Qatar is soon to become the second largest LNG exporter in the world after the United States. It plays a significant role in balancing the demand for LNG on both the Asian and European market.
Minister: Road damage has caused the reopening of the Congo-Zambia Copper corridor on Tuesday.
Zambia's Infrastructure Minister said on Monday that the main corridor for Democratic?Republic of Congo copper, cobalt?and?other mineral exports will?reopen? on Tuesday?after?road?damage halted?flows. Congo is Africa's biggest copper producer, and the second largest copper producer in the world by output. The world's largest cobalt supplier, it produces over 70% of the global cobalt production and exports the majority of the cobalt along with other important battery minerals.
EUROPE GAS - European gas prices rise as Qatar stops LNG production
Benchmark Dutch and British wholesale?gas?prices rose by almost 50% Monday after a major LNG exporter, Qatar Energy, announced that it had stopped production due to the attacks in Middle East. Qatar is soon to become the second largest LNG exporter in the world after the United States. It plays a significant role in balancing the demand for LNG on both the Asian and European market. QatarEnergy, according to a source familiar with the situation, is preparing to declare force majeure for LNG shipments.
EUROPE GAS-European gas prices soar as Iran had conflict halts Qatar LNG output
The benchmark Dutch and British wholesale gas prices rose by nearly?50% after Qatar Energy, a major LNG exporter, announced that it had stopped production because of attacks in the Middle East. Qatar is soon to become the second largest LNG exporter in the world after the United States. It plays a significant role in balancing the demand for LNG on both the Asian and European market. Trade sources report that most tanker owners and oil majors…
Spain's Moeve joins forces with Masdar to launch a $1.2 billion green hydrogen project
Spanish energy company Moeve approved a major green hydrogen project that involves more than 1 billion euros ($1.2billion) in investment, with Abu Dhabi renewable energy company Masdar as a "minority" partner. Moeve announced on Monday that it had made the final investment decision for the first part in the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley, Spain. The project will have a 300-megawatt capacity and the "possibility" to add an additional 100 MW based on grid availability and board approval.
Hang Tung: Brazil sorghum to exports will gain momentum in H2
Brazilian sorghum will be limited by a restricted supply in the first half of 2026, but the director-general for Brazil, 'Hang Tung,' expects a more active second half, as harvest time arrives. Gabriel Cordeiro is the director-general of Hang Tung in Brazil. He said that exporters are competing with producers of animal feed and ethanol for sorghum. This has limited current supplies. Cordeiro stated that sorghum exports will increase as the second crop harvest in Brazil begins.
Minister says Austria will deepen its cooperation with Abu Dhabi
Austrian Economy Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer announced that the country plans to expand economic cooperation with Abu Dhabi following the creation of Borouge Group International (BGI), a chemicals company. In an interview with?Hattmannsdorfer on Friday night, he said that he expects BGI, the?tie up between units of 'Abu Dhabi National Oil Company' and Austrian energy company OMV which is owned by Austria and Abu Dhabi to open new business opportunities. BGI is expected to close in the third quarter.
Palm oil mirrors the strength of its Chicago rival; crude provides support
Malaysian palm futures closed Monday higher than they had done in a week, following gains made by Chicago edible oils. Meanwhile, advances?in energy complex?also added support. The benchmark?palm-oil contract for May delivery at Bursa Malaysia's Derivatives Exchange rose 104 ringgit or 2.57% to 4,146 Ringgit ($1,056.57) per metric ton. The price of CPO futures on the Bursa Malaysia exchange opened higher today, following the price spreads for rival oilseeds, according to a Kuala Lumpur-based trader.
Russia warns of a possible oil shortage due to the closure of Strait of Hormuz
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that the closing of 'the Strait of Hormuz' to shipping would lead to "significant imbalances" in a global oil and gas market. Trading sources reported on Saturday that a number of tanker owners, major oil companies and trading houses had suspended crude oil, fuel, and liquefied gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz following the U.S. and Israel's attacks against Iran. Hormuz is the route through which?20% global oil from Saudi Arabia…
Venezuela suspends 19 oil, gas production-sharing contracts signed under Maduro, sources say
Four sources familiar with the matter said that Venezuela's oil ministry suspended 19 contracts signed with private companies under the?administration? of President Nicolas Maduro. Sources say that the suspension of the contracts has not affected the oil and gas production in the country. The sources added that the state oil giant PDVSA sells the crude produced by the contracts even though they are suspended. Sources said that Washington and Caracas would review contracts and could recommend "revocating" some of them.
Prices for gas in Europe are mixed as traders take into account geopolitical risks, weather and outages in Norway
The European benchmark wholesale gas price was mixed on Friday. Prices in Britain were higher due to outages in Norway, while Dutch prices were lower because of mild weather. This slightly offset concerns about a possible escalation? in the Middle East. LSEG data revealed that the Dutch March contract?at the TTF hub?was down 0.57 euros at 31,35 euros per Megawatt Hour (MWh), which is $10.85/mmBtu by 0904 GMT. The contract for April dropped by 0.62 euro to 31.35 Euro/MWh. Prices rose in the British market.
Wartsila CEO sees boost from Trump Datacenter Push
The CEO of the Finnish energy company said that a push to have U.S. datacentres use their own power would boost the demand for Wartsila’s environmentally friendly products and?help support a "double digit" increase in the hiring of service staff over the next 2 years. The White House announced on Wednesday that it will meet with technology companies such as Microsoft and Amazon on March 4, to discuss a plan for protecting consumers from rising energy costs linked to the surge in demand?for AI-focused, datacenters.
GKN's cancellation of plans for a magnet factory is a setback to Europe's goal for rare earths
GKN Powder Metallurgy scrapped plans to manufacture rare earth permanent'magnets' in Europe. Three sources familiar with the matter confirmed this, highlighting Europe’s struggle to create a domestic rare Earths?industry that can compete with China, the dominant producer. China controls 90% of the rare earth output processed and 70% of the mining production. Europe is being criticized for falling behind the U.S. when it comes to offering financial support to projects that develop its own supply.
Iran's main oil, gas and infrastructure production
On Saturday, Israel and the United States launched an offensive against Iran. The attack could cause oil and gas production to be disrupted and damage the energy infrastructure in the Middle East. Iran is the third-largest oil producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). It pumps 4.5% or so of world oil. Iran produces 3.3 million barrels of crude oil per day, plus another 1.3 million barrels of condensate. According to FGE, Iran's domestic refining capacity is 2.6 million barrels per day.
DNO and Dana Gas stop Kurdistan production after U.S. - Israel strikes on Iran
Oslo-listed DNO, and Dubai-listed DNA Gas, halted oil and gas production in their respective fields, located in Kurdistan, Iraq, out of caution, following the United States' and Israel's strikes against Iran. In the last year, both the Tawke gas?field and Khorm Mor oilfield production facilities were attacked. An Iraqi government source told reporters at the time, however, that pro-Iranian militants were suspected. He said…
Barclays predicts Brent crude oil will reach $100 per barrel following the US and Israel's strike on Iran
Barclays increased its Brent crude oil futures forecast to around $100 per barrel, up from $80.00 on Friday, following the bombing of several Iranian sites by Israel and the United States. Oil markets may have to confront their worst fears Monday. The bank stated in a report that Brent (per barrel) could reach $100 as the market grapples with the potential of a supply disruption in light of the'spiraling Middle East security situation.
Putin condemns the killing of Iran’s Khamenei, but has offered little more than condolences.
The Russian president Vladimir Putin condemned Sunday the murder of Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling it a "cynical", but offered Moscow's ally little else in public than condolences. Khamenei's fall is the 'third Russian ally that has been toppled? in the last 15 months. This follows the fall of?Moscow backed?leaders?in Venezuela and Syria. The Kremlin is now facing a major strategic setback after Khamenei's death.