Red Sea Attacks Continue to Threaten a Critical Chokepoint: Geopolitical risks are escalating in the Middle East, with the Houthis claiming another missile strike on an oil tanker in the Red Sea. With nearly 10% of global seaborne oil trade passing through this region, these ongoing attacks add a significant and persistent risk premium to the market.
African Supply Lines are Increasingly Fragile: The fragility of global supply is being highlighted in Africa, where Sudan has been forced to shut down its Heglig oil facilities following drone attacks. This is another example of a non-OPEC producer facing significant disruptions, further tightening the global supply-demand balance.
The UK's Conservative Leader Calls for a Pro-Production Shift: In a major European policy debate, the UK's Conservative Party leader is now calling for a significant ramp-up in domestic oil production. This is part of a growing movement among Western nations to prioritize domestic energy security over a reliance on imports from less stable regions.
Chevron's CEO Rejects "Peak Demand" Narrative: Pushing back against forecasts of a looming collapse in oil demand, Chevron’s CEO was adamant this week that global consumption will remain strong well into the 2030s. This represents the long-term industry view that despite the energy transition, the world will continue to rely on oil for decades to come.
India Remains Committed to Russian Crude: In a clear statement of its "nation-first" energy policy, India's oil minister publicly defended the country's continued imports of discounted Russian crude. This underscores the reality that for major growth economies, energy security and cost will continue to drive trade decisions, even in the face of international pressure and tariffs.
Oklahoma Remains a Pocket of Strength in U.S. Drilling: Back in the U.S., the Oklahoma rig count held steady again last week, even as the national tally continued to decline. This highlights the state's importance as a key region of drilling activity and a pocket of resilience in the domestic energy landscape.