oil markets
8 articles
Hormuz Insurance Won't Snap Back Even If a Deal Lands
Underwriters are holding war-risk premiums at $3M-$8M per tanker even as Brent falls on deal optimism, anticipating six months of mine clearance and a re-set baseline that won't reverse quickly.
Iran To Reveal Hormuz Tolls Plan As Trump Warns of 'Very Bad Time'
Tehran says it will soon publish a transit-fee plan for the Strait of Hormuz; Trump warns of consequences as Seoul opposes and Beijing stays silent.
China Sails Through, Russia Profits, India Bleeds: The Hormuz Oil Split
Chinese tankers resume Hormuz transit under apparent Iranian coordination as Russia's oil windfall grows and India's energy crisis deepens — reshaping global crude flows.
IEA: Global Oil Inventories Draining at Record Pace
Global oil stocks fell 117 million barrels in April alone as the Hormuz blockade cuts 14 mb/d of supply, the IEA says, with Brent holding near $106/bbl.
The Strait of Hormuz playbook: what the 1979 parallel actually tells us
Every Iran flare-up gets compared to 1979. The comparison is more useful — and more limited — than most coverage admits. Here's what the historical record actually shows about oil, escalation, and where the off-ramps lie.
What is the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and how does it actually work?
America's emergency oil stockpile — what it is, where it sits, who can release it, and what it actually does for prices during a crisis. Includes lessons from the 2022 record release.
Brent vs WTI — what's the actual difference, and why does it matter?
Two oil benchmarks, set in different oceans, priced differently, used by different industries. Understanding the spread is essential for any reader of energy news.
What is OPEC and how does it actually work?
OPEC sets oil prices for the entire world — except when it doesn't. The cartel's actual mechanics, why members cheat, and how OPEC+ and Saudi Arabia changed the picture in 2016.