Oil Markets

India's crude imports are climbing, not just in volume, but in complexity. As the country widens its pool of suppliers, it is also exposing itself to a more fragmented pricing landscape. But here is the challenge -- in a world where geopolitical conflicts and supply shocks can send prices soaring overnight, how do you protect the energy sector and the economy from extreme volatility? In this bonus...

With more than two months having passed since the beginning of the war in the Middle East, a conflict that has tightened refined oil product flows through the Strait of Hormuz, market participants have been grappling with major upheaval in middle distillate trade routes as Europe seeks to replace lost Middle East supply. To examine the latest trends in this vital segment, S&P Global Energy's Emma...

In this episode of the  Oil Markets Podcast from S&P Global Energy , host  Jeff Mower  dives into first-quarter earnings from major oil and gas service companies, including SLB, Baker Hughes, and Halliburton. Joined by S&P Global editors  Binish Azhar ,  Sheky Espejo , and  J. Robinson , the panel explores the sector's strategic pivot toward energy infrastructure and generation amid geopolitical u...

The conflict in the Middle East has sent ripples across the global energy landscape, with the spotlight on the Strait of Hormuz -- the critical artery for Asia-Pacific's energy imports. Amid trade flow disruptions, the path to recovery, the resilience of physical oil markets, and the broader economic consequences are under intense scrutiny. While the return to normalcy, the evolving dynamics of oi...

Dated Brent's record high assessment by Platts of $144.42/barrel stole the headlines on April 7, but physical market fundamentals in the Atlantic basin have similarly brought cash differentials for individual crude oil grades across the North Sea, West Africa and the Mediterranean upwards to levels that, in some cases, have never been seen before. In this episode, Associate Director Emma Kettley i...

As traffic inches back through the Strait of Hormuz, oil and product flows remain constrained, sending buyers scrambling to replace Middle East barrels and lock in reliable diesel supply. With nearly 6 million b/d of Middle East refining capacity at stake, and roughly 4 million b/d of refined products flows, diesel prices have soared, opening export opportunities. Where are buyers turning for dies...

As the conflict in the Middle East has raised the specter of global fuel shortages, Nigeria's new Dangote refinery has attracted growing attention as an alternative supplier. After starting up in 2024, the refinery reached its initial 650,000 b/d capacity for the first time earlier in 2026 and has seen a growing demand for its products from markets further afield. In this podcast, Gary Clark, asso...

From CERAWEEK 2026 in Houston, host Jeff Mower , Director of Americas Oil News, is joined by Senior Upstream Editor  Ashok Dutta , oil news editor  Binish Azhar , and oil policy reporter Eamonn Brennan to break down the conference's energy security focus. With the Strait of Hormuz largely closed and the Trump administration negotiating with Tehran while signaling it wants to cap oil price spikes,...

Tensions between US-Israel and Iran are disrupting flows in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing Asia's LPG market to manage surging prices and shifting optimization to urgent supply management. With Middle East shipments threatened, especially for India and China facing low inventories and weak PDH margins, buyers are scrambling for alternative supplies and shipping. The Platts Oil Markets Podcast cover...

Benchmark jet fuel assessments by Platts have reached all-time highs on the back of war in the Middle East. With vital middle distillate supplies locked in the Persian Gulf owing to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the knock-on impact for both physical and financial refined products markets in Europe has been unprecedented. In this episode of the Platts Oil Markets podcast, Gary Clar...

After US and Israeli strikes on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, oil markets have been on a rollercoaster. While crude has rallied above $100/b, refined fuels have surged even more sharply. In this episode of the Oil Markets Podcast, host  Jeff Mower , Director of Americas Oil News, is joined by Senior Refining Editor Janet McGurty and Senior Refined Products Price Reporters Ben Peyto...

US and Israeli strikes on Iran since Feb. 28 have led to a major regional conflict, which has rocked geopolitics and resonated across the global oil supply chain. Vessel transits across the vital Strait of Hormuz have been stunted, while physical and financial oil markets have seen a major uptick in volatility. In this episode of the Platts Oil Markets podcast,  Herman Wang is joined by Lauren Hol...

The outlook for Russian and Venezuelan crude flows, as well as geopolitical developments in Iran, are keeping Asian refiners on edge. Indian refineries have valued heavy Venezuelan crudes in their mix in the past, but will be looking out for signals of stable oil flows from the country. Meanwhile, the country's imports of Russian crude have decreased as sanctions have intensified. In this episode...

Geopolitics and its impact on pricing and trade flows were the talk of the town as oil market participants convened in the cobbled streets of London across Feb. 9-13 for International Energy Week, one of the most important events in the industry's calendar. Following a blockbuster 2026 edition, S&P Global Energy's John Morley , global director of crude and fuel oil markets, sits down with Associat...

In this episode of the Oil Markets Podcast by S&P Global Energy, host Jeff Mower , Director of Americas Oil News, is joined by Senior Refining Editor Janet McGurty and Senior Upstream Editor Ashok Dutta to break down the biggest takeaways from fourth-quarter oil earnings so far. How are Gulf Coast refiners positioning for a potential return of Venezuelan heavy crude — and what does it mean for hea...

Europe's dependence on imported middle distillates is in sharper focus after the EU's 18th sanctions package halted imports of refined products processed from Russian crude from Jan. 21. Europe is leaning more heavily on replacement supply from the Middle East and the US—driving fresh volatility in diesel and jet fuel differentials even as underlying fundamentals remain mixed. Join Gary Clark, Aru...

Tighter European sanctions targeting refined products made from Russian crude are accelerating shifts in global middle distillate trade flows, with Asia increasingly at the center of the impact. By closing loopholes that previously allowed barrels processed outside Russia to re‑enter Europe, the latest measures are forcing market participants to reassess compliance risk, arbitrage economics, and r...

Dated Brent differential soars to three-year high amid a supply crunch driven by disrupted flows of Kazakhstan's CPC Blend crude. However, market participants caution that a potentially swift return of CPC Blend outflows could swell European supplies, dragging on the Dated Brent complex. Join Gary Clark , Associate Director of Price Reporting, EMEA Clean Refined Products, as he discusses this and...

A sudden shift in US policy has put Venezuela back at the center of global oil markets. US and international oil executives are striking different tones on Venezuela after President Donald Trump said the White House will decide which companies are allowed back into the country's oil sector following the US seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3.  Heavy oil price discounts are alr...

Sweeping changes to crude and product flows following sanctions and tariffs, shipping disruptions and questions surrounding China's demand outlook—oil markets have seen it all in 2025. The year was also a mixed bag for oil investments across the globe amid accelerated push towards clean energy and rising EV usage, while some regions also unveiled concrete plans on refinery expansions. In this spec...

In the winter months, demand for gasoline in Europe softens, and stocks in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp hub begin to thicken. But recent developments in West African government policy and intermittent maintenance at Nigeria's Dangote refinery have resulted in an unconventionally robust gasoline market, shadowed by an existing tightness in supply. Where have the gasoline markets diverged, and wh...

The adoption of AI among energy and shipping companies is growing steadily. While it's helping to cut operational costs, boost productivity, and reduce emissions, a shortage of skills, data integration complexity, and trust are posing some challenges. In exploration, AI is helping to analyze complex sub-surface data and improve success rates. In midstream logistics, it is helping to optimize compl...

Physical differentials in the North Sea crude market and wider Atlantic basin have reached multiyear lows amid high freight rates and market length in the region. While high freight rates are often expected in the last quarter of the year, oversupply and market structure have also come into play.  In this podcast, Emma Kettle y , S&P Global Energy's associate director, price reporting, is joined b...

Global tanker markets are riding high as shipowners post strong third-quarter earnings amid bullish forecasts. What's driving the surge in day rates? Why are newbuilds still lagging even as fleet capacity tightens? How have sanctions reshaped both dirty and clean tanker markets? And could US shipyards stage a comeback in the global shipbuilding race? Join host  Jeff Mower as he discusses these and...

Europe's 19th sanctions package has promised to shut the door on the last remaining flows of Russian energy still trading into the region, including butane and isobutane that was previously exempted from import bans. From Jan 2026, the new LPG embargo will force lead buyer Poland to find alternatives to Russian supplies, adding support to an already tight European market. Associate Director, Prici...