Prior to the decision by Baghdad, Syria was importing some ~120,000 barrels of Iraq crude daily. Meanwhile, supplies of crude oil from Iran have also ended following the news of the change in power in Syria. Fuel prices in Syria have skyrocketed due to acute shortages during the transitional period.
The Suez Canal is one of the most important channels of the global oil trade. Northbound traffic worth ~3.9 million bpd is dominated by crude oil from Middle East producers to Europe and also middle distillates from India and the Middle East. Southbound traffic, estimated at 2.9 million bpd, comprises crude flows mainly from Russia to Asian customers, and also refined products naphtha and fuel oil. The United States, Qatar and Russia are the leading shippers of LNG via Suez.
Prices could receive additional support now from the latest GDP data from China, which showed the country hit its target for 2024, at 5%, versus analyst expectations of 4.9% growth. Even with forecasts about peak demand for crude oil, China’s economy is still dependent on hydrocarbons, meaning the news is bullish for crude.
The focus of the BHP-Anglo deal was on copper, as demand prospects for the basic metal remain extremely bright amid the energy transition push. Copper would be a key consideration for a potential tie-up between Rio and Glencore as well, with majors angling for access to more of the transition metal.
The outgoing U.S. administration last Friday slapped the most severe sanctions on Russia’s oil yet, designating two major Russian oil companies, Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, as well as 183 vessels, dozens of oil traders, oilfield service providers, insurance companies, and energy officials.
Just days after the US imposed sweeping sanctions on the Russian oil industry, NATO committed to a new strategy in the Baltic Sea designed to protect critical undersea infrastructure including pipelines from sabotage attacks it said are linked to Russian shadow fleets.
In October of that year, Opec+ members agreed to cut output by 2 million bpd oil after benchmark prices fell by around a quarter from above $110 per barrel as recession fears trumped conflict-related supply concerns.
US onshore driller Helmerich & Payne (H&P) has closed its $1.97 billion acquisition of UK competitor KCA Deutag, and in the process it acquired the remaining 10% of KCA Deutag that had been held by Italian contractor Saipem.
Russian privately held oil producer Lukoil appointed Sergey Kochkurov as executive chairman, replacing Vadim Vorobyov, who resigned after being included on the US sanctions list.
Australia’s offshore regulator Nopsema has slapped Subsea7 with an improvement notice relating to its multipurpose vessel Seven Pegasus, after some workers onboard contacted Nopsema stating that fatigue is affecting their work.