New U.S. Tariffs Introduce Transatlantic Trade Risks: President Trump has announced a new round of tariffs, this time linked to disputes over Ukraine and NATO. This is a major geopolitical development for energy markets, as the policy could disrupt trade flows between the U.S. and its European allies, adding another layer of volatility to already strained global supply chains.
North American Rig Count Shows Signs of Life: For the second week in a row, the North American rig count has ticked upward. While it's a modest recovery after a long period of declines, it's a notable signal that higher, more stable prices may be coaxing some operators back into the field and helping restore a degree of confidence.
Texas Greenlights New Gas Plants to Meet Surging Demand: State regulators have approved Entergy's plan to build two new natural gas power plants in Texas. This is a direct response to the massive new power demand from industry and the data center boom, highlighting the critical role that natural gas is expected to play in maintaining grid reliability for years to come.
Nigerian Gasoline Arrives in the U.S., Shifting Trade Routes: In a milestone for global fuel trade, the first-ever cargo of gasoline from Nigeria’s newly expanded refining sector has arrived in the United States. This marks Nigeria's emergence as a new supplier of refined products to the Atlantic Basin and underscores the dynamic, shifting nature of global trade routes.
The IEA Reverses Course, Acknowledging Need for Oil & Gas Investment: In a stunning reversal, the International Energy Agency now acknowledges that trillions of dollars in oil and gas investment will still be needed in the coming decades. This is a sharp departure from its previous net-zero forecasts and a major admission that fossil fuels will remain essential to the global energy mix for a long time.
The Complexity of the U.S. Fuel Supply Chain is Growing: The tidbit from our report serves as a key reminder of how interconnected the modern energy market is. The fact that the U.S. now imports refined fuels from more than 50 different countries each year shows that no nation is an energy island and highlights the importance of maintaining diverse and resilient global supply chains.