Leaders
Do not politicise a geopolitical crisis – Ydreos
The Strait of Hormuz disruption has exposed weakness in the global energy system and reignited debate over security of supply, but it should not be used to justify an accelerated shift away from fossil fuels, says the secretary general of the IGU
Forward Intelligence
OPEC+ boosted production before crisis
Petroleum Economist analysis sees increases in output from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Kazakhstan among others before region’s murky descent
Trump’s bid to reshape the global energy order
From Venezuela to Hormuz, the US—backed by the most powerful military force ever assembled—is redrawing not only oil and gas flows but also the global balance of energy power
Through the oil looking glass
The extent of the US-Israel war with Iran means there will be no going back to the previous market equilibrium no matter how the conflict ends
The key arteries of the energy world
The Strait of Hormuz crisis highlights how key waterways can become global chokepoints
Will policymakers panic before the oil market?
Risks of shortages in oil products may cause world leaders to panic and make mistakes instead of letting the market do what it does best
Letters
Letter from the US: Oil refining gets a do-over
It is an unusual story of out with the new and in with the old, as America First Refining shows the US going back to trusted energy security developments
Letter from London: The oil market should panic tomorrow
Emergency oil stocks provide a last line of defence to oil market shocks, so the IEA’s unprecedented 400m bl release represents something of a double-edged sword
Letter from the Middle East: LNG – the weak link the Gulf crisis just exposed
The crisis in the Middle East has put LNG’s ability to offer security and flexibility under uncomfortable scrutiny
Letter from Dubai: A safe haven under fire
Missiles over Dubai and disruption in Hormuz are testing the emirate’s reputation—and shaking the energy hub at the centre of the Gulf economy
Letter from the US: The oil market abyss
The overlooked oil supply issue is that even after the Strait of Hormuz opens, barrels won’t readily return
Americas
Hormuz crisis delivers tailwinds for US LNG
Disruptions to Qatari LNG exports have highlighted the risks of concentrated supply, potentially strengthening the long-term position of US exporters despite limited near-term flexibility
Do not fear runaway Henry Hub prices
Rising LNG exports and AI-driven power demand have raised concerns that US gas prices could climb sharply, but analysts say abundant shale supply and continued productivity gains should keep Henry Hub within a range that preserves the competitiveness of US LNG
Energy dominance as diplomatic leverage
Energy sanctions are becoming an increasingly prominent tool of US foreign policy, with the country’s growth in oil and gas production allowing it to impose pressure on rivals without jeopardising its own energy security or that of its allies, argues Matthew McManus, a visiting fellow at the National Center for Energy Analytics
Dow restarts construction on its Path2Zero project
The company plans for phase-one startup in late 2029 as it seeks to maximise value from chemicals project following nine-month hiatus
Asia Pacific
India taking pole position on oil demand growth
The country’s rapidly expanding economy is boosting its consumption of oil as demand for the fuel slows elsewhere in the world
Asia’s patchy oil storage
The Iran crisis is exposing the gaping holes in the region’s stockpiles and asking questions of its longer-term energy strategy
EMEA
The spectre of a European gas price cap returns
Brussels is again weighing a cap on gas prices amid the Hormuz crisis, but the measure could backfire by deterring the LNG cargoes Europe urgently needs
European gas: From bad to much worse
The continent’s inventories were already depleted before conflict erupted in the Middle East, causing prices to spike ahead of the crucial summer refilling season
How Russia gains from the Hormuz supply shock
The US may be systemically stripping Russia of key geopolitical allies, but Moscow can reap rewards from the Hormuz crisis, both in the short and long term
Rethinking the Middle East oil topography
The regional crisis highlights the undervalued role of fixed pipelines in the age of tanker flexibility
A bigger and longer crisis
Attacks on key oil and LNG assets across the Gulf mean a prolonged supply disruption, with damage to Qatar’s export capacity undermining confidence in the global gas system
LPG in Africa: Big potential but big barriers
LPG could rapidly expand access to clean cooking across Africa and prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths from indoor air pollution each year, but infrastructure shortages and regulatory barriers are slowing investment and market growth