According to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Malaysia exported 7.67 million tonnes of palm oil in the first half of the year, representing a 10.3% increase from the previous year. However, export earnings grew by just 1.9%, highlighting a growing gap between shipment volumes and actual revenue. Export Trends and Market Shifts in Malaysian … Read more
Saudi Arabia’s crude oil exports to Asian buyers face severe logistical bottlenecks as regional conflicts choke traditional maritime corridors, forcing state shippers to rely heavily on Red Sea transit routes that are increasingly targeted by militant attacks. Strait of Hormuz Closure and the Red Sea Workaround The ongoing regional war in Iran has effectively closed … Read more
The United States has expanded its military campaign against Iran into an eleventh consecutive day of airstrikes, targeting infrastructure near the city of Tabriz and western regions including Abdanan and Chovar. As the conflict intensifies, President Donald Trump has signaled that diplomatic negotiations remain unlikely in the near-term, while the Pentagon confirms the war has … Read more
Indonesia has completed its first import of Russian crude oil, marking the start of a strategic shift to secure national energy supplies. Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia confirmed on Tuesday that the government, acting through the Research and Development Center for Oil and Gas Technology (Lemigas), managed the shipment. This procurement is part … Read more
The recent deaths of U.S. service members following an Iranian attack on a base in Jordan have pushed the two nations toward the brink of all-out war. According to reports, the escalation follows a week of intensified military friction, including a reinstated U.S. naval blockade, retaliatory airstrikes on Iranian infrastructure, and Iranian strikes on commercial … Read more
Global financial markets are recalibrating as escalating military tensions in the Middle East drive a resurgence in oil prices, prompting a flight to safe-haven assets. U.S. Treasury yields have retreated from session highs, with the 10-year yield holding at 4.570%, while European bond markets track this volatility, according to Tradeweb data and analysis from ING … Read more
Iran has generated more than $23 billion in oil revenues during the first half of 2026, exceeding its own pre-war forecasts despite a U.S. naval blockade and renewed sanctions. According to Obsidian Risk Advisors sanctions specialist Brett Erickson, Tehran leveraged high global oil prices and a “shadow fleet” to outpace its projected $35.5 billion annual … Read more
Iran fired at least two missiles at commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, causing significant damage to a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker and the Qatari-flagged LNG carrier Al Rekayyat, according to reports from Axios and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). No casualties were reported following the attacks, which occurred as tensions rise … Read more
The United Nations has suspended evacuation efforts for some 600 ships and 11,000 sailors trapped in the Gulf after a cargo ship was struck by a projectile near the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump characterized the incident as a “foolish” violation of the Middle East ceasefire, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) … Read more
The Los Angeles City Council voted 14-0 on Tuesday to advance a plan that would phase out oil drilling across the city. The proposed ordinance directs the city attorney to prohibit new oil and gas extraction and classify existing operations as nonconforming uses, following new state-level legal authorities that grant cities broader regulatory power. Why … Read more